Church leaders living under persecution in the Middle East have urged the global church to pray for better discipleship.
Church Mission Society report an “extraordinary spiritual awakening” across countries like Syria and Iran, “at a pace not witnessed in generations."
However, as the number of new believers rapidly rises, a new challenge springs forth: finding a suitable number of mature Christians gifted in leadership to match. Church Mission Society have called it a “discipleship gap”.
A partner on the ground highlighted that conflict in the region has been a catalyst in drawing people to seek the Lord. New believers have reported direct dreams and visions of Jesus, which prompted them to ask others about who he is.
“Although the world is in chaos, God has been preparing the scene for the biggest revival ever. People have been dragged out of the normal rhythms of life and into deep pain – and in their pain, they are truly searching for God,” the source, known as ‘S’, said.
However, the Church Mission Society estimates that only one in ten new believers goes on to have a firm understanding of the Bible, as the pressures of persecution and family shame can deter them from pursuing faith.
Tanas Alquassis, the organisation's director for the Middle East and Northern Africa, told Premier Christian News that the need cannot be met by simply importing missionaries from Western Christian nations.
"It has to be someone who knows the culture," he said. "If someone is from here, then a language barrier is not an issue. They know the context, they know the people - and then they know how to lead them to the Lord."
The Church Mission Society has launched training across the region, and urged people to pray for a fresh anointing of new leaders.
"Pray for the people who come for training, that they won't let fear or persecution stop them," Tanas said. "That they will be able to take in the word and not let the circumstances around them stop them from that."
"One partner said to me: 'Stop treating us new Christians as babies... feed us so we become lions [in the faith] and can help our own people'."