Reaching Where the Church Cannot Go: Zain’s Evangelism in the Middle East
In the Middle East, it can be difficult for Christians to show or share the Gospel. However, it only takes one leader’s obedience to ignite restoration for thousands. At the Haggai Leader Experience (HLE), participants are equipped to reach into the heart of their own cultures and discern where the power of the Gospel deeply changes lives. Haggai Leader Zain is doing so in places that traditional structures cannot reach, bringing hope to people who have never before heard the Gospel.
In his country, nearly 90% of the population identifies as Muslim. Although legal protections for Christians exist on paper, persecution still exists, especially in rural areas. Many Christians are viewed as second-class citizens, restricted to low-paying jobs and denied basic opportunities. For those who convert from Islam, the cost of following Christ can be even higher, sometimes resulting in social isolation or violence.
Amid these challenges, Zain has found ways to advance the Gospel safely and effectively. “We are reaching out where the Church cannot reach,” he shares, describing how his ministry serves refugees and marginalized groups through compassion-based outreach. “We provide developmental services that support people’s daily lives, and through those relationships, we share the message of Christ.”
This relational approach of offering medical care through clinics, hosting sports and social activities, and providing education allows his team to connect deeply with people’s needs while pointing them toward Christ. But Zain’s impact is not limited to direct ministry. His most significant focus since attending the HLE in 2021 has been multiplication.
“The Lord put it on my heart to equip others,” he said. “If we train believers to share the Gospel wisely, it can reach far beyond what one person could ever do.”
And it has. Within three years of completing HLE, Zain and his wife have equipped more than 200 Christians in evangelism and discipleship. These believers now serve in multiple cities across their country, planting the seeds of restoration in their own communities.
One of the most moving examples came through four women who completed Zain’s equipping and felt called to minister to adolescent girls in their community. They began an outreach program for 80 girls, teaching biblical principles and the values of the Kingdom through creative lessons and personal mentorship. By the end of the program, five girls had accepted Christ. Their transformation sparked conversations with families and friends, creating a ripple effect of faith in an area once thought unreachable.
In August 2023, Zain’s ministry organized a two-day sports camp for 500 refugees. Supported by 50 trained evangelists, the event combined recreation, meals, and medical care with the message of hope in Jesus. 30 participants began discipleship journeys, and through follow-up efforts, the ministry now serves more than 4,000 refugee families, totaling over 25,000 individuals.
Through the leadership skills and spiritual renewal he received during the HLE, Zain continues to equip others to demonstrate and present the Gospel courageously under pressure. In places where church buildings cannot stand and pastors cannot preach openly, restoration continues through the faith and perseverance of leaders like Zain.
One life ignited in the Haggai Leader Experience now fuels a movement of transformation across the Middle East. The ripple effect continues to grow—proof that when one leader is equipped, the Gospel finds a way to go where the physical Church cannot go.
Written by Zoë Webb
Reaching Where the Church Cannot Go: Zain’s Evangelism in the Middle East
In the Middle East, it can be difficult for Christians to show or share the Gospel. However, it only takes one leader’s obedience to ignite restoration for thousands. At the Haggai Leader Experience (HLE), participants are equipped to reach into the heart of their own cultures and discern where the power of the Gospel deeply changes lives. Haggai Leader Zain is doing so in places that traditional structures cannot reach, bringing hope to people who have never before heard the Gospel.
In his country, nearly 90% of the population identifies as Muslim. Although legal protections for Christians exist on paper, persecution still exists, especially in rural areas. Many Christians are viewed as second-class citizens, restricted to low-paying jobs and denied basic opportunities. For those who convert from Islam, the cost of following Christ can be even higher, sometimes resulting in social isolation or violence.
Amid these challenges, Zain has found ways to advance the Gospel safely and effectively. “We are reaching out where the Church cannot reach,” he shares, describing how his ministry serves refugees and marginalized groups through compassion-based outreach. “We provide developmental services that support people’s daily lives, and through those relationships, we share the message of Christ.”
This relational approach of offering medical care through clinics, hosting sports and social activities, and providing education allows his team to connect deeply with people’s needs while pointing them toward Christ. But Zain’s impact is not limited to direct ministry. His most significant focus since attending the HLE in 2021 has been multiplication.
“The Lord put it on my heart to equip others,” he said. “If we train believers to share the Gospel wisely, it can reach far beyond what one person could ever do.”
And it has. Within three years of completing HLE, Zain and his wife have equipped more than 200 Christians in evangelism and discipleship. These believers now serve in multiple cities across their country, planting the seeds of restoration in their own communities.
One of the most moving examples came through four women who completed Zain’s equipping and felt called to minister to adolescent girls in their community. They began an outreach program for 80 girls, teaching biblical principles and the values of the Kingdom through creative lessons and personal mentorship. By the end of the program, five girls had accepted Christ. Their transformation sparked conversations with families and friends, creating a ripple effect of faith in an area once thought unreachable.
In August 2023, Zain’s ministry organized a two-day sports camp for 500 refugees. Supported by 50 trained evangelists, the event combined recreation, meals, and medical care with the message of hope in Jesus. 30 participants began discipleship journeys, and through follow-up efforts, the ministry now serves more than 4,000 refugee families, totaling over 25,000 individuals.
Through the leadership skills and spiritual renewal he received during the HLE, Zain continues to equip others to demonstrate and present the Gospel courageously under pressure. In places where church buildings cannot stand and pastors cannot preach openly, restoration continues through the faith and perseverance of leaders like Zain.
One life ignited in the Haggai Leader Experience now fuels a movement of transformation across the Middle East. The ripple effect continues to grow—proof that when one leader is equipped, the Gospel finds a way to go where the physical Church cannot go.
Written by Zoë Webb
Reaching Where the Church Cannot Go: Zain’s Evangelism in the Middle East
In the Middle East, it can be difficult for Christians to show or share the Gospel. However, it only takes one leader’s obedience to ignite restoration for thousands. At the Haggai Leader Experience (HLE), participants are equipped to reach into the heart of their own cultures and discern where the power of the Gospel deeply changes lives. Haggai Leader Zain is doing so in places that traditional structures cannot reach, bringing hope to people who have never before heard the Gospel.
In his country, nearly 90% of the population identifies as Muslim. Although legal protections for Christians exist on paper, persecution still exists, especially in rural areas. Many Christians are viewed as second-class citizens, restricted to low-paying jobs and denied basic opportunities. For those who convert from Islam, the cost of following Christ can be even higher, sometimes resulting in social isolation or violence.
Amid these challenges, Zain has found ways to advance the Gospel safely and effectively. “We are reaching out where the Church cannot reach,” he shares, describing how his ministry serves refugees and marginalized groups through compassion-based outreach. “We provide developmental services that support people’s daily lives, and through those relationships, we share the message of Christ.”
This relational approach of offering medical care through clinics, hosting sports and social activities, and providing education allows his team to connect deeply with people’s needs while pointing them toward Christ. But Zain’s impact is not limited to direct ministry. His most significant focus since attending the HLE in 2021 has been multiplication.
“The Lord put it on my heart to equip others,” he said. “If we train believers to share the Gospel wisely, it can reach far beyond what one person could ever do.”
And it has. Within three years of completing HLE, Zain and his wife have equipped more than 200 Christians in evangelism and discipleship. These believers now serve in multiple cities across their country, planting the seeds of restoration in their own communities.
One of the most moving examples came through four women who completed Zain’s equipping and felt called to minister to adolescent girls in their community. They began an outreach program for 80 girls, teaching biblical principles and the values of the Kingdom through creative lessons and personal mentorship. By the end of the program, five girls had accepted Christ. Their transformation sparked conversations with families and friends, creating a ripple effect of faith in an area once thought unreachable.
In August 2023, Zain’s ministry organized a two-day sports camp for 500 refugees. Supported by 50 trained evangelists, the event combined recreation, meals, and medical care with the message of hope in Jesus. 30 participants began discipleship journeys, and through follow-up efforts, the ministry now serves more than 4,000 refugee families, totaling over 25,000 individuals.
Through the leadership skills and spiritual renewal he received during the HLE, Zain continues to equip others to demonstrate and present the Gospel courageously under pressure. In places where church buildings cannot stand and pastors cannot preach openly, restoration continues through the faith and perseverance of leaders like Zain.
One life ignited in the Haggai Leader Experience now fuels a movement of transformation across the Middle East. The ripple effect continues to grow—proof that when one leader is equipped, the Gospel finds a way to go where the physical Church cannot go.
Written by Zoë Webb
