Arab-American Christian Pastor Shares Testimonies from Outreaches This Summer
"As they led him to the Lord, he kept repeating over and over again, 'I feel something touching me' as the Holy Spirit came upon him. "
(Anaheim, CA)—More than 300,000 Arab-Americans attend a street festival in Dearborn, Michigan every year, and one pastor was there with a team of volunteers to pass out Christian literature and DVDs in Arabic.
"We felt like we were in the Middle East, not in America," says Pastor George Saieg, founder of Arabic Christian Perspective (www.ministrytomuslims.com). Originally from northern Sudan, Saieg won a lottery for a green card, which allowed him to come to the U.S. in 1996.
Like most immigrants, initially he preoccupied himself with making a living, but after the attacks of September 11, God placed a burden on his heart to reach his fellow Arab-Americans with the gospel. Since then, he's organized small teams of volunteers for outreach at mosques and other places where Muslims gather throughout the U.S.
This summer, he and 70 volunteers from six states passed out 38,000 Jesus Films in Arabic at the 12th Annual Arab International Festival, the largest street festival of its kind in the U.S.
"I want to see every Muslim in America have the opportunity to hear the gospel," he says. This year the festival transformed a half mile of Schaefer Road in the center of East Dearborn in mid-June. "God brought these Muslims here to the U.S. so we can reach them with the gospel of Jesus Christ."
During the three-day festival, 42 people made decisions for Christ. "They were so open to receive our materials," he notes. One man named Mohammad told them he received a Jesus Film from them at last year's event. "I believed everything in the film. Now what do I do next?" he asked. One of their volunteers named Amal led him to the Lord.
Another man came up to them with tears in his eyes and said, "I watched the DVD yesterday and I want to receive Jesus." As they led him to the Lord, he kept repeating over and over again, "I feel something touching me" as the Holy Spirit came upon him.
"We have amazing stories," Pastor Saieg says. "I would like to see churches come alongside us and partner with us," he says. There were several other Arab festivals in the U.S. he wanted to attend, but could not due to a lack of financial support and volunteers.
"Islam has an agenda in the U.S., and they have lots of money," he notes. "They have everything in place, but we need to reach them with the gospel of Jesus Christ."
