Volunteering with The Ephraim Project has been a perfect way for Joy* to do ministry. She says, ”I really feel like God called me to do this in this phase of my life.”
As a stay-at-home mom and part-time professional violinist, Joy loves how she is able to engage with people in the Middle East from her own home while being able to maintain her family as first priority.
Esther* says, ”I love the fact that I can do this very conveniently from home and don’t have to get dressed up, don’t have to put on makeup, or do my hair. I just start talking and meet them where they are.” Many of Esther’s conversations happen in the morning, ”It’s like I am sitting down and having breakfast with friends!”
Suzanne* sees opportunities to reach even more people with the limit being determined only by the number of Christian volunteers—especially men. Anyone with a computer or mobile phone who has a heart for missions can engage in evangelism with the Islamic world. ”But more importantly,” Suzanne says, ”The Ephraim Project is about being a friend and having a friend. It goes both ways. These relationships are not projects; they’re friendships with people you want to win to Christ.”
Suzanne points out that there are no prerequisites to volunteering with the project. ”You don’t have to come with previous experience with Muslims. We provide training. We provide help. We provide mentoring. We find ways to engage, and you’re not going to do this alone.
”We’re just asking people to pray about it and listen if God taps them on the shoulder.”
Engaging with people in the Middle East is important to Joy. She says, ”Each of these precious souls have been lied to all of their lives about who they truly are, what their purpose in life is, what makes them worthy, and especially who God is. It is an indescribable joy to share truth with them, the amazing love and grace of Jesus.”
”The most fulfilling part for me,” Esther says, ”is making true heart-to-heart connections with people on the other side of the world who I’ll probably never see in my life. And who I would otherwise never know, but who I can fall in love with and share Jesus with. And that’s why I’ve always wanted them to have the Scriptures in their hands, chapter by chapter. I enjoy sending them the Word of God, reading it with them, hearing them learn the truth about Jesus and the whole Biblical story, how it all points to God’s saving grace. It’s extremely satisfying to think of those whose world is totally closed to the Gospel receiving the precious words of Jesus, the knowledge of Jesus, the experience with Jesus, and the experience with a Christian. They can talk with a Christian on this project, on this platform, and they can really know someone who follows Jesus and loves them.”
Joy says, ”I love the opportunity to share the light, the love, the truth of Jesus Christ, and the true teachings of Jesus Christ in the Word of God—The Bible—to places where it has been blocked. And I can do this unique kingdom work from my own home!”
Volunteers like Joy and Esther rejoice in seeing the friends they’ve made through the Ephraim Project decide to follow Jesus—friends like Hassan*, who now says, ”Jesus is my only hope. Nothing can separate me from Him. Without Him, my life would be like a trip without a destination.”
*names changed for security
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