Today, I rode with two colleagues from JTH to Väterås, about an hour’s drive west of Uppsala.
The trip was for an ordination of one of our JTH students, Asita. The ordination service is presided over by the bishop in the cathedral.
We then went to Asita’s home church, the smaller congregation I visited twice in September last year for some lessons in the Old Testament for lay preachers. It is a wonderfully vibrant, multi-cultural, and intergenerational church. In the fellowship hall, we ate wonderful Persian food.
Asia was born in Iran. She shared with me last spring how she came to trust Jesus through a miraculous healing. Now, she brings joy with every interaction. So, I wanted to be there and encourage her on her ministry’s journey.
One of the highlights for me was to see Asita’s husband, who is also a convert. He shared his deep love for his wife, who he described so beautifully as a wonderful wife, mother, a strong woman, and the best part of his life. He expressed his love and encouraged her in her ministry in such a beautiful way that there were many brought to tears.
Asita will be working 50% at this church, which has a significant Persian-speaking group, and 50% at Santa Klara church in downtown Stockholm. I’m eager to keep in touch as see how God continues to work through her.
She will be one of others who have amazing ministries to the refugees and immigrants. This week, a Christian newspaper article printed a story saying that at least 700 people from Muslim backgrounds were baptized last year.
Keep Asita in your prayers, along with all those who are caring for the refugees.
With blessings,
Beth