“Respect everyone and let them believe what they believe. Faith is a personal choice.” These phrases may seem ordinary or commonplace in some contexts, but they are more than revolutionary in certain circles. They are the fulfillment of prayers offered for decades by believers who were determined to break through what seemed like impenetrable concrete. Our Lord, in his grace, answered for his own glory.

Our ministry in Niger with nomads was begun by SIM a century ago, and I am personally a product of this work. I must admit the soil for the gospel seems hard in the Sahel and might feel like “pouring water on sand” or “preaching in the desert.”

Decades ago, when I encountered the Lord, I was the second person in my region to convert and openly confess Jesus. Today, through our ministry and by the Lord’s hand, we count about 20 believers in my immediate family and several others in our region. It was difficult, as people felt entitled to judge, insult, and mistreat me. It was as if people assumed that someone who was no longer Muslim would understand being insulted and humiliated because they would be acknowledging their wrongdoing. That was the persecution I experienced. Even those closest to me would make signs at me, as if I were defiled. In our nomadic community, this manifested as a practice of not using the same dishes as non-Muslims. Everything we touch is immiḍas (unclean). But today we can say that, by the glory of God, many of these practices are decreasing.

If I were to list the different approaches that lead to fruit, I could on for pages and pages. For this article, I will briefly focus on the following two: The approach that aims for the specific or immediate (although this approach also has the whole as its ultimate goal), and the approach that aims for the whole. As for the former, I would like to count Frontier Venture’s (FV) innovative projects for nomadic initiatives. These projects are time-limited and specific, aiming through an innovative idea to connect the nomads with the shepherd. This approach is effective and very satisfying because it meets a precise need that might be the key to opening doors for the people group we are praying for. In the case of the Vocational Training Centre for Nomadic Youth, this initiative meets the needs of young people to learn a trade and become independent in society without giving up their nomadic lifestyle. The boys were trained in welding and received a kit at the end of their training to start their own activity. The girls receive a non-electric sewing machine after course completion, and they can work from their own house or tent. The time together at the center of learning and the sense of community allowed for the gospel to be sown in their hearts.

The second approach, which I consider myself part of, focuses on the general mentality of the context: How are Christians perceived in the community? How can we dismantle certain preconceived and persistent negative ideas about Christians? These are the types of conversations I like to kindle in the community as I envision lasting change and openness for the gospel. These conversations cannot be pursued without getting involved directly, being insulted, or provoked to the brink of anger. The reputation of Christ becomes our shield rather than reacting to protect ourselves.

A few years ago, I started WhatsApp discussion groups to talk about these issues. People who were supposed to respect me decided to disrespect me, and others I didn’t even know threatened to kill me. Through these groups, I certainly got involved, but the Lord used them to break through the barriers in our region. On several occasions, and each time it was after long debates within our group where imams and others threatened me, provoking strong reactions on my part to defend the gospel, I began receiving a constant stream of private messages. Dozens of people in the group (groups are usually 300 members or more) sent me private messages saying they completely understood my point of view and that it was simply difficult for them to express it publicly. Each time, the Lord inspired me to give the same response in the form of questions: Why hate someone because they don’t believe what you believe? Is that truly what God, our creator, wants? Over time, these discussions led us to introduce a new expression into our local vocabulary: “Respect everyone and let them believe what they believe. Faith is a personal choice.” This expression, unimaginable in our context just five years ago, has become commonplace and accepted even in discussions among Muslims today.

Changes over time have been possible by meeting the immediate needs through our work with NPN, CS, and FV. The realization of these projects played a crucial role in solidifying our relationships, preparing the ground, and ultimately sharing the gospel. Through our gardening projects, refugee assistance, youth training, care for the sick, and through our presence and participation in the community’s daily challenges, we have built a relationship strong enough to withstand the debates. We can now challenge cultural perceptions and foster acceptance for the Shepherd’s teaching. As a nomad who grew up Muslim, I believe following Christ does not mean leaving the “camp of Muslims who hate and despise Christians” to join “the camp of Christians who hate and despise Muslims.” Following Jesus in this context is mostly loving Muslims enough to help them discover and live this unconditional love of the neighbor. Our job is simply to contribute to preparing their hearts so the Lord will build his presence where he will, as written in Proverbs 24:27, “Prepare your land, get your fields ready, and then build your house.”

All the glory belongs to the Lord, for he and he alone is in control of everything and is the ultimate Shepherd.