When the Story Matches the Dream

Recently, a wave of refugee families arrived in a gateway city. One of our missionaries joined an Arabic-speaking believer for home visits and met a family whose father was bedridden from health issues—leaving his 18-year-old son to provide for the household.

Wanting to offer encouragement, our Global Gates missionary shared a story about healing—one they hadn’t planned to tell but felt led to share. It was the Bible story of the paralyzed man whose friends lowered him through the roof to meet “the teacher.”

When they reached the part where the teacher says, “Rise up and walk,” the mother and father began whispering excitedly. The missionary’s friend laughed and said, “They want you to finish—they have a story to tell too.”

When asked who they thought the teacher was, no one was sure—until the father answered, “I think it was Isa.” With joy, the missionary confirmed it was Jesus—and that’s when the father shared something incredible.

He explained that 20 years ago, he had been unable to walk. One night, he had a dream: a man dressed in garments so white they looked like light appeared to him and said, “Rise up and walk.” When he awoke, he stood up and walked—healed by the man in white. But he had never known who the man was.

The missionary opened the Arabic Bible to the story of Jesus’ transfiguration, where His clothes are described as “white as light.” The family was amazed and grateful to finally put a name to the one who had healed him so long ago.

Our missionary is hoping to return with more stories for this family who has so clearly been prepared to hear more about Jesus.

Please pray for this family:

That their eyes would be opened to the truth of who Jesus is

For healing for the father once again

For employment for the son

For peace as they adjust to a new life in an unfamiliar place