The Park Bench Encounter That Led to a Full-Circle Gospel Movement

R* grew up in a devout Muslim household in South Asia. Faithful to his religion, he followed Islamic practices closely. But one day, everything began to change. His mother, who was ill in bed, was reading from a few pages of the New Testament—in their language. She handed those pages to her son. Through conversations with his mother and reading the New Testament she gave him, he was deeply moved by the grace and love revealed in Jesus’ life and teachings—so unlike the works-based approach he’d known growing up in Islam. In 2002, R surrendered his life to Christ.

Facing intense persecution, R moved to a gateway city in America in 2012. Here, God began weaving together the next threads of his story. R met Global Gates co-founder Brad, who became both a friend and mentor. R himself became a Global Gates missionary and has since shared the gospel with countless Muslims from many different ethnic backgrounds, witnessing firsthand God’s power to transform lives.

One of those lives was Y*, a woman who moved to America from South Asia who often visited the same park as R. One day, R sat beside Y and her husband on a park bench and started talking with them. Later, he offered her a Bible in their language. Out of politeness, she took it and tucked it away in her purse—only to later pull it out and begin reading. The more she read, the more God stirred her heart. Y reconnected with R, began being discipled, and eventually surrendered her life to Christ.

But she didn’t keep this good news to herself. Y shared her faith with her Muslim family back in her home country—and several of them also decided to follow Jesus. These are people who may never have had a chance to hear the gospel if it hadn’t been for their own family member bringing it to them.

Today, Y is preparing to serve full-time as a missionary catalyst with Global Gates, raising her support so she can devote her time to reaching the unreached in her city.

This is the full circle strategy in action: God bringing the nations to our doorstep in gateway cities, transforming lives here, and sending new believers back—whether physically returning to their homeland or staying connected through technology—to carry the good news to their own people. And the circle continues.

*Names changed for security

If you’re encouraged by this story and feel led to support these Global Gates missionaries, we’d love to help you take the next step. Reach out to us at development@globalgates.info to learn how you can be part of what God is doing through them in their city.