By the regional director for the Middle East and North Africa
In the heart of a bustling Middle East town, a single man named Eddie (not his real name) roasts a spire of lamb on an upright skewer. He slices off the outer layer of meat, adds cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, and paprika, and then wraps it in fresh-baked flatbread.
The aromas are irresistible. Customers who stop at his now-popular shop often hang out to eat, have some strong coffee or maté tea, and chat with Eddie across the street, where he set up a table and chairs.
In addition to making food, Eddie makes time for people. As they say in the Middle East, “Westerners have the watches, but we have the time.” Eddie is intentional about integrating his work, his business, and personal life with relationships. In his predominantly Muslim country, life for Eddie is all about people and encouraging them to learn about Jesus.
Eddie’s shawarma shop is near a university. Hundreds of college students live in buildings near the shop, which is located near his own house. The students are always hungry. Between classes, or early in the morning, they stop at the shop to see Eddie and order food. He also hired a few students giving them a source of income and giving Eddie an opportunity to build long-term relationships with them.
A natural and gifted evangelist, Eddie has learned the art of allowing the Holy Spirit to lead his conversations. He’s never pushy. He listens carefully and asks questions. As God leads, he looks for natural opportunities to share his faith. Everyone loves shawarma, so the shop provides an organic, simple, culturally indigenous venue for these interactions. Beyond the students, Eddie interacts with the poor, widows, doctors, wealthy men, and even government officials. He is winsome!
During one encounter at the shop, a Muslim friend, Mo (not his real name), confessed to Eddie that he was bitterly angry. When Eddie asked him to share more, Mo told him that another man had stabbed him in the stomach with a knife—and that now he was planning a revenge attack.
“And then what will happen?” Eddied asked. That simple question opened the door for Eddie to share what Jesus had to say about anger and revenge, specifically that we are commanded to love our enemies and pray for them, and to allow God to handle questions of injustice.
Mo never expected to hear those words! He agreed with Eddie to set aside his revenge plan. The discussion established the beginning of a good friendship and gave Eddie the freedom to share more about his faith in Christ.
Eddie is not alone in this effort. Over the course of several years, a small team of couples has formed what Navigators call a “local laboring community.” Together they are a church (ekklesia), a small community of people who care for one another, grow in Christ, and—importantly—work together to reach non-believers. They stay ingrained in the local culture.
The power of this mutually supportive group of believers has been impressive to watch. During the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns, the shawarma shop had to periodically close. They went through those hard times together and bounced back with new ideas, including the opening of a small outdoor stand that served a simple but popular breakfast food called manakish. They continue to encourage one another, study the Scriptures, and pray.
Eddie has the vision to advance the Gospel to about 25 nearby villages and to neighboring cities, using Acts 1:8 as a model. His vision started with Eddie’s father, now deceased. A manual laborer, Eddie’s father, years ago, stood on the small balcony of an unfinished apartment building and prayed that God would raise up people who could bring the Gospel to the villages and the students in the area.
God is answering this man’s prayer. Eddie is carrying forth his father’s vision and that vision is slowly becoming a reality.
Some of us in the MENA region, all Navigators, have been supporting Eddie and the local laboring community. This small team continues to expand the Gospel in their local context, and they are beginning to launch a new ministry in a neighboring large city.
All of this is happening by God’s power—one shawarma at a time.
