How Celebrating Muslim Women Turns Into a Growing Movement Effort

How does a Disciple-Making Movement begin? Does it start with finding and befriending one or two souls, hungry for more of God, and ready to learn? A group of European women discovered that there were many ways to see a Disciple-Making Movement (DMM). Jesus would build one through each of their unique gifts.

Celebrations of Women

*Nancy, felt lead by the Lord, alongside a few other women to host “celebrations of Muslim women.” Within their group were women with different gifts. Some were creative or artistic. Others were gifted in the area of hospitality. Some carried an evangelistic and/or prophetic gifting. They came from different churches and ministries. Their goal was to reach out to Muslim women in their city.

Eating, dancing, and sharing the Gospel, these celebrations grew. Soon there were 100-150 women in attendance. The team saw the rapid growth of these meetings. They recognized the need for disciple-making. So, they started some discipleship groups.

Unfortunately, these had difficulty gaining traction. The meetings would start running, but soon, for different reasons, the meetings would stop again.

The start and stop of groups were hard. Nancy didn’t let discouragement overcome her but turned to prayer. The Lord was faithful to speak. God told Nancy that she would meet a Person of Peace. Soon, this person appeared!

Finding a Person of Peace

A Kurdish woman was interested in following Jesus. Not only did she start following Christ. She started bringing other women with her to the meetings. Soon the get-togethers were thriving. The team began putting on a monthly celebration for the families of these Muslim ladies. What had started as a desire to “celebrate Muslim women,” grew into discipleship. Evangelistic opportunities and monthly gatherings of entire families were the results. Surely, this was the beginning of a Movement, right?

Was evidence of a movement there? Does a consistently scheduled meeting mean the Holy Spirit is transforming a community? How can we look at this example from Europe and learn?

A Transformed Husband

Nancy recalls a particular woman was unable to attend the family celebrations. Her husband was adamant: “No Jesus!” If only this man could have known the work the Lord was about to do.

One day, Nancy received a phone call from *Marilyn. Her son had gotten into trouble with the law and had an upcoming court date. Nervous for her child and his ruling, the woman invited the YWAM team to attend court with the family. It was a show of solidarity and love.

The court decision came, and the son was released with only a fine. In that courtroom, something broke inside her husband’s heart. Before the entire courtroom, he announced, “Thank you to my dear friends who came with us today. Next week I am going to church, to thank God!” Nancy notes that their meetings had never once been called “church.” She knew that a move of God had happened that day, and this man had truly encountered His Savior.

Immediately, this man became a faithful attendee of their monthly meetings. He also began hosting a men’s group in his home! He also became a net thrower, bringing new people to meetings more and more. His boldness in Jesus grew, as seen in this testimony from his wife: “Our neighbor was sick and had to go to the hospital. As they were leaving, my husband leaned out our window and shouted ‘Don’t worry! Jesus is with you! I am praying for you!’” What an amazing transformation had taken place!

What Caused the Growth?

Nancy and the team continue to see groups meeting and beginning to multiply. What started as a celebration of a particular group of people began to grow into a Disciple-Making Movement. How?

• Was it the creative approach Nancy’s team took to meeting these women? Maybe.
• Was it the atmosphere of hospitality they provided? Perhaps.
• Was it the regular sharing of the Gospel, Mark sixteen style? I’m sure it played a part.

At the end of the day, it seems that God used it all. The Body of Christ came together with gifts of creativity, hospitality, and evangelism. God moved. Different denominations and ministries put aside their varied approaches. They chose to unite around a unified goal and more happened. Sacrifices were made to uplift the lowly, and God smiled upon them.

Today, there are eleven people on Nancy’s team. Europeans and Kurds, from different denominations, and from different ministries. God is using them to start a Disciple-Making Movement in their city.

What about you? What gifts do you have to offer? God could use you to bring transformation into the lives of those around you. You might even launch a movement!

Interested to find out more? Check out our training on ywamfm.teachable.com and get started today!

*Specific names are changed to protect the identity of these people and allow them to continue to work.