Listening to Christian worship singing in Arabic is “profoundly moving”. The assistant pastor of an intercultural church says that when former Muslims turn to Christ, their worship is “Incredibly heartfelt and authentic, coming from a place of genuine transformation and recognition of the beauty of the Gospel.”
Jon DiNovo, who originally comes from the US, now helps lead Bron van Leven in Rotterdam, which holds a regular Arabic service. He says:
”Rotterdam is one of the most diverse cities in the Netherlands. Every month, more and more men and women from the Arabic world come here, seeking new opportunities and a better life. We see this as a great opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them. Not everyone can drop everything and become a full time missionary in Yemen but we all can greet those we share the city with!
“Our ministry Bron van Leven (Dutch for “Source of Life”) meets every Sunday and Tuesday. On Sundays we have a standard service with singing, prayer, and a teaching. On Tuesdays we have dinner together, sing some more, and then have an interactive Bible study based on Sunday’s teaching. Every Tuesday the room is completely filled with around 50 people. Sunday mornings are a little less (not everyone is enthusiastic about getting up early!) with 20-30 people on average.
We continue to see positive change at Bron van Leven. Just last year we baptised three people, two men from Syria and a woman from Libya. Lives are changing, community is being formed, and hope takes hold in these polarized times. It’s a blessing to be a part of it. Keep us in your prayers!”
If you’re interested in learning more, you can view the church’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@BronvanLeven-Rotterdam/streams
For more information about Jon’s ministry, you can see his newsletter here:
https://nftt.substack.com/