Muslim meets Jesus in Finland's first prayer room - 2 Jul 2005
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Prayer rooms are centers of prayer, art, self-expression, safety, community and outreach. As we draw near to God in the place of prayer, He often reveals Himself in radical ways. Here is one such story, in which a Finnish Muslim met Helen Da Costa...and then he met Jesus.
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Helsinki, Finland |
"I often ask myself," Helen writes, "how did I end up in Finland that summer? It must have been God...
I was helping with a 24-7 prayer room that was organized as part of an annual conference in the main ice hockey stadium in Helsinki. | |
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It was such an amazing time - God did so much more than we could ever have thought or imagined. When I first arrived, I was introduced to Eva. Eva had organized the Finnish prayer meetings after being inspired by the Boiler Room in Manchester, England. | ||
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As Eva showed me the prayer room, I looked out of the window to see around 500 Africans gathered and playing football in the complex that housed the 1952 Olympics. It was not what I had expected to see in Helsinki at all!
A bit later I wandered down to find out why such a large crown had gathered. As it turns out, a football competition involving teams from all over Africa and South America was scheduled that same weekend - imagine that!
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 Helsinki's 'Olympiastadion' | |
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"I told him I was here for a week of 24-7 prayer. Immediately he asked me, 'If I wanted to convert, how would I become a Christian?'" |
I began watching the Ghana vs. Kenya match when a Kenyan man came over and, assuming that I was a Kenya fan, said in Swahili, 'jambo!' (Hello).'
I told him a little bit about myself, and he shared that he was from Tanzania and had grown up a Muslim. I told him I was here for a week of 24-7 prayer and immediately he asked me, 'if I wanted to convert...how would I become a Christian?'
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I was shocked - that was certainly not the kind of question I expect from a Muslim! I began to explain the gospel as best I could, but I could see that he wasn't quite getting it. So I invited him to visit the prayer room.
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When we got up to the prayer room, he wandered around looking at the prayers and people's prayer art. He studied the prayers that people had posted on the walls.
I remember how he froze when he got to a picture and prayer thematic of John 15 1-5. He stood staring at the artwork for what seemed like ages. I was praying, "God, please show Yourself to Him."
Eventually I approached him and he said in his broken English: 'the picture is speaking to me. I understand. Jesus is the branch and we are to be the leaves'. I could see from his expression that something was happening in his heart.
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'The picture is speaking to me. I understand. Jesus is the branch and we are to be the leaves'.
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Shortly thereafter he had to leave for his football match. I invited him to write a prayer and put it in the prayer bowls at the back of the room.
'What shall I say?' he asked.
'Whatever is in your heart' I replied. | |
When he left I was wondering what God had done in him. Bursting with curiosity, I went and rummaged in the prayer bowls until I found his prayer.
When I found it, it simply said 'I love you Jesus'...and his name was signed at the bottom.
I burst into tears! Thank you God!"