Haggai Leader Nadine* was riding in a shared taxi when she met a woman who was tired, burdened, and searching for hope. Nadine began talking with her and soon recognized an opportunity to share the Gospel. She invited the woman to church, and after several months, the woman became a faithful disciple.

For Nadine, this kind of encounter begins with prayer. As she walks through the streets or travels from place to place, she asks the Lord to visit the people she meets and to use her in every situation. She wants others to see Jesus through her words, actions, and treatment of those around her.

Nadine serves through discipleship, women’s ministry, and Sunday School. She also works as a trader and private English tutor. In her community, extreme sectarianism can make Gospel conversations difficult. Even so, Nadine continues to listen to people, respond to their questions and point them toward Christ. She has many stories of listening to women who have faced unimaginable hardships, and pointing them towards Christ. And as a result, those women are able to find Christian community with other women at their church as their faith is growing stronger.

Nadine is oftentimes met with the question, “What is the secret of your calmness and peace?” 

She tells them that she wants to bring smiles to the faces of people who are hurting and lost. She listens to their stories, prays with them, and helps meet their needs as much as she can.

That commitment became especially important when Nadine and her discipleship team responded to the needs of displaced families. Using their own efforts and limited resources, the team prepared food, spoke with women and other adults, prayed with families and organized activities for children who had experienced violence and deep emotional pain. 

A total of 125 people participated in the outreach. Nadine said the team wanted the displaced families to know they were not alone. She told them, “You are our brothers and sisters. Our goal is to bring a smile to your faces.”

Nadine says the Haggai Leader Experience left a distinctive mark on every area of her life. Her story reflects the kind of holistic witness that begins with one open-handed conversation and continues through listening, serving, discipling, and helping others encounter the love of Christ.

written by Leah Spivak