By God’s grace, 41 former Muslims were recently baptized in the Middle East. Leaders of the Bibles for Mideast organization conducted the baptismal ceremony in a highly restricted area.

All candidates had accepted Jesus as their personal savior and Lord, fully believe he was crucified and died at Calvary for their sins, and that he rose from the dead. They knew that through and by his blood they had received redemption. Each personally requested this next step in their Christian journey, wanting to be purified in the Spirit and the water and be ready to meet Him. Our Lord’s return is imminent, they all believe.

Bibles for Mideast had called for five days of global fasting and prayer the previous week, and all candidates had taken part to prepare themselves for the planned mass baptism. When their bus arrived at the seashore at dawn that day, they discovered the area to be tightly patrolled by police.

“We smelled a dangerous situation at the seashore,” reports Pastor Paul, Director of the organization. “So we returned back to spend another day in fasting and prayer. We also divided the people into three groups, and conducted the service in three different places the next day.”

The organization had a special meeting later on the day of the planned baptism (Dec. 5) to discuss and formulate plans for the growth of the church in Asia, Africa and the Middle East among Muslims.

Close to 150 underground house churches worship the Lord in different areas under the directorship of Bibles for Mideast.

Pastor Paul said in his inaugural address to those gathered that all of the house churches must come under a separate church administration. He also said every church must become a self-supporting, missionary-sending church. Serious discussion ensued and a sub-committee was appointed for further action.

Bibles for Mideast is not a church, but a missionary organization spreading the gospel, distributing bibles and establishing churches. So it was decided all the separate churches need separate administration and curriculum.

Pastor Paul also strongly urged each church to give a bible to every believer as a Christmas and New Year’s gift. They should also, he advised, present a bible with an accompanying message of salvation to one of their best Muslim friends. This would serve to win others to Christ as well as train believers to be missionary-minded people, part of a missionary church.