Wait, Do You Know Samsam?
Three Global Gates missionaries gathered a group of Muslim-background believers in their city for trauma healing counseling and encouragement. One woman, Samsam, traveled across the country to attend. Born and raised in a devout Muslim family in an East African country, Samsam is a Muslim-background believer who had surrendered her life to Jesus. She was hungry for healing, and fully participated in every activity with humility.
After the gathering, she shared, “Since that day, we’ve started sharing the gospel with our people. We were so encouraged and inspired; it helped us have the confidence to not keep our faith to ourselves.”
One day, Samsam called a Global Gates missionary with a question: “If someone wants to follow Jesus, what do we do? Is it okay for us to have them recite the Apostles’ Creed in our language?” The missionary affirmed her decision, and Samsam continued to share passionately, seeing many respond to Jesus.
Later, these missionaries were in an East African country, serving and training believers. They were sitting in a sunny courtyard with a young man named Amir, when he began to tell his story. At just 20 years old, Amir had been an Imam leading a mosque in East Africa. One day, he saw a Facebook post featuring 1 John 2:7 in his language. The verse began with the word “Beloved.” It struck Amir deeply—he had never been called “beloved” before, by anyone: not his parents, grandparents, or friends. “Who wrote this scripture, and why would they call me beloved?” he thought.
This question led to a friendship with the woman behind the Facebook profile, where Amir heard the gospel for the first time. Months later, he professed his faith in Christ through the Apostles’ Creed, and his life was forever transformed.
“Wait,” I said, “Do you know Samsam?”
“Know her? She’s my mother in the faith!” Amir responded.
Sure enough, it was Samsam who led him to faith, discipled him, and coached him as he led 2 others to faith who were in attendance at the healing retreat!
Amir and I shared a massive hug like you wouldn’t believe! He thanked us for our care of his beloved mother in the faith.
The Lord is bringing men and women like Samsam from the ends of the earth to North America. Here, encountering the love of Jesus, they are transformed and then take the gospel back to their people wherever they may be found.
Samsam is now a Global Gates Missionary Catalyst, discipling her people through online media platforms. God is using her and her team to reach many just like Amir.
