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Issa Elbechara
September 2026
Building the Bridges to Unreached People
Offical opening for the Padova church
With hearts full of gratitude, we celebrate the official opening of a new Arabic church in Padova, Italy!
What a beautiful reminder that God is still at work, drawing people to Himself and building His Church among the nations.
Two days before the opening we went into the streets to share the love of Jesus. The outreach was truly amazing! We met many people whose hearts were thirsty for truth, longing to know more about the Lord.
Among them were Muslim men from North Africa. While speaking with them, I discovered that one man had an impressive knowledge of the Bible, gained entirely through the media. He secretly showed me a cross he kept hidden, afraid that revealing his faith could cost him his life or his job as a university professor. My heart was deeply touched. We encouraged him and prayed together, trusting that the Lord sees his struggles and knows his heart.
On opening day, 35 Arabic people gathered to celebrate this new beginning. In a beautiful expression of Christian unity, the Italian church cancelled its morning meeting so its members could join the Arabic congregation. Together, we celebrated with incredible love, harmony, and joy—a glimpse of God’s family worshipping across cultures and languages.
Please keep this young church in your prayers. May Christ strengthen its foundations, draw many people to Himself, and make this congregation a shining light of hope in Padova.
Birmingham outreach
Birmingham: When My Apologetics 'Weapons' Were Useless! 😂
After years of sharing the Gospel, I thought I knew what to expect during evangelism. But God had a surprise waiting for me in Birmingham!
A 22-year-old young man from Pakistan approached our outreach table. The moment I discovered where he was from, my brain went into battle mode! I loaded all my apologetics weapons, prepared my answers, and waited for the big theological fight to begin!
But guess what? Nothing happened! 😂 He listened carefully and asked genuine questions about Jesus. Finally, I asked him, “Don’t you have any questions?” He replied, “No, I just want to know more about Christ!” For a few seconds, even my apologetics department stopped working! I had prepared for a battle, but God gave me a beautiful conversation. Sometimes, we prepare our arguments while God is preparing hearts. Please pray that this young man will come to know Jesus personally!
Reaching Arabic Gulf people in Europe
During our outreach in Munich, Germany, we intentionally went out to reach Arabic-speaking people from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and other Gulf countries with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
God gave us wonderful opportunities to connect with people who were thirsty for truth and willing to engage in meaningful conversations about the Lord.
It was encouraging to see how a simple conversation could open the door to sharing the hope, love, and salvation found in Jesus.
Several people returned to their home countries carrying a copy of the New Testament. Although our conversations
lasted only a short time, we trust that God will continue working in their hearts through His living Word.
Please pray for these precious people from the Gulf. May the seeds planted in Munich grow into a living faith in Christ and may God' s Word reach homes and hearts across the Gulf region for His glory!
Please pray for
1. Dublin Arabic Church Anniversary – 1 November: Thank God for three years of faithfulness and pray for continued spiritual growth and fruitfulness.
2. Dublin Saturday Outreach: Pray for open hearts, fruitful conversations, and opportunities to share the Gospel with Muslims and others.
3. Denmark Ministry Trip – 23–28 October: Pray for church equipping, training on reaching Muslims, and three days of fruitful street outreach.
4. Valencia Training and Outreach – 28–31 October: Pray for effective training, equipped churches, and fruitful opportunities to share the Gospel with Muslims.
5. Rome Outreach and Baptism – 6–7 November: Pray for fruitful evangelism and bless those taking the step of baptism.
6. First Arabic Church Meeting in Rome – 8 November: Pray for a strong beginning, new believers, and the growth of a thriving Arabic church.