MAY 2010 vision to mission ministry may 2010 God can use you as an instrument in his hands, to reach out to the lost, in the most unlikely places. “The vision challenge for this month of May is to be available and reach out to the expatriate communities around us; to share the gospel with them and to train them to go back home with the good news” The expatriate presence in the Arabian Gulf countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, represents a significant part of the region’s population. Workers from South Asian countries namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka form the majority of the workforce. Saudi Arabia while having the highest nationalization record for the region also has the largest expat workforce estimated at around 5 million which includes their families residing in the country. In the UAE and Qatar, around 70% of the workforce is from the expatriate community, while in Kuwait and Bahrain, recent census indicate that the population is comprised almost equally of nationals and foreigners. The labor force in most organizations is comprised of workers from the South Asian countries who are very often recruited through agents and required to work under extreme conditions. It is common to find laborers who have paid significant sums of money to agents for an employment visa in the Middle East and on arrival are left to fend for themselves. Most of the accommodation camps are crowded and it is not surprising to find up to even 15 or 20 people in bunker beds in a room. With low salaries, debt and needs back home, these workers live on the bare minimum. Such workers are a fertile ground for the gospel. The results from reaching out to these communities are very encouraging. Many of them, in their need for hope turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. While sharing the gospel publicly is not allowed in the region, several Christian brothers take the initiative to visit such camps and meet with the people sharing the good news at great personal risk. Many of these workers return home and testify of the salvation they have received. New Testament churches, initiated by brothers who have received the Lord in the Middle East and returned home, have been reported in Nepal and in India. These assemblies would usually start with their families and neighbors and in time reach out to the surrounding area. The growth of such assemblies is generally metamorphic. There are various challenges to this ministry and these include language and communication, physical demands such as in transportation to and from assembly gathering to remote locations, financial support and others. However the fruits of the ministry outweigh the challenges. The Vision Challenge for this month of May, is to reach out to such expat communities around us, where ever we are; share the gospel with them and train them to go back to their home countries with the good news. Vission Challenge : Reaching HOME with the Good News