Mountain Hikers Take Gospel to Near East Villages
Sometimes taking the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth means climbing mountains. That’s just what Operation Mobilization is doing with its latest outreach.
The first-ever OM Near East trekking team just wrapped up a two-week hike during Transform 2011.
The Rugged Mountain Trek was a journey through the heart of the Near East region’s mountainous wilderness. Not only did the journey bring breathtaking vistas, but it also provided an authentic account of local village life. Most importantly, it enabled the team to carry out a vital goal: bringing the gospel to many unreached villages in the area.
The team initially encountered problems. Many of the trails designated as moderate turned out to be more difficult, requiring the team to negotiate complicated terrain. Despite this, physical obstacles often became an occasion for teamwork.
“It was definitely a challenge climbing a side of a mountain,” one participant said. “But it certainly brought the team together.”
The journey was also full of memorable anecdotes. One member recalled how a local couple, upon seeing the team, stopped along the road to refresh them with food.
“They had bought themselves dinner and were on their way home,” he said. “But when they saw us, they stopped, got out of the car and gave us what they had. I was very touched.”
It was a clear consensus that the highlight of the journey was being able to meet locals and share in their lives.
“People were generally very friendly,” one participant shared. “They were always welcoming us into their homes—I think it was such an occasion for them to see visitors from other countries.”
Another participant said, “I was able to experience the local culture and people better, which was fantastic.”
While a mountain hike may sound like the stuff of adventure junkies, the trek drew people from diverse backgrounds. The hiking team featured young and old, men and women.
When asked to describe her experiences, one of the ladies responded: “It was brilliant—absolutely brilliant. The trail wasn’t easy, but it was definitely less physically demanding than I expected.”
Ultimately, the apex of the journey wasn’t a particular mountain view, or that physical challenges were overcome, but rather that God’s love was brought to many homes in the local villages.
“Many people received Bibles for the first time, so I was very glad to be there,” one participant said. “Walking around the mountains and doing outreach within the villages is exactly how Jesus did his ministry—it was really cool to do something similar.”
