by Kaitlynn Kopeski

A Filipino, a Canadian, an Iraqi, a German, an Iranian, and a Dutch gather together every Friday morning in the Middle East to pray. On Friday, I, an American, was privileged to join them. For three hours we shared our stories, we worshiped God and we prayed.

One woman asked prayer for her sister, who is slowly turning blind. After a bad surgery by a drunken doctor when she was young, her eyes have never recovered. Another woman shared a story about her son, and his dream to be a dentist. When he was 16 the doctor said he would never become a dentist, because he would be blind by age 18. So the boy decided to read the miracles of Jesus. Every day he would read the stories of Jesus healing the sick. One night he asked for Jesus to heal him. The next morning he woke up, and with belief in his heart, he didn't put on his glasses. Jesus healed him and today he is a dentist.

With faith that could move mountains, these believers prayed. They prayed for healing of those who were sick, they prayed for family members to know the light and they prayed for their different ministries. But before any request was put forth, they worshiped God. Together we sang songs of praise to God who is faithful.

I asked prayer for my family, and so the Iranian, who had just met me, prayed for my family, who are halfway across the world. This is the global body of Christ. It doesn't matter how old we are, or if our countries are fighting. We share a bond that is stronger than nationality, language, or color. For these are my brothers and my sisters in Christ.