Trainer: “Open Doors made it possible in Iraq to train youth through Discipleship Training. The training was very positive. Students were hungry to know God more deeply and personally, and God answered their prayers. The lectures were well received, with lots of questions and interaction, followed by practical application. We worked hard to create a family atmosphere with time for games and picnics, leaders and presenters sharing from their own lives and leaders and students sharing rooms. The atmosphere was close, open and supportive through the whole time, quite amazing really. Here are some of their testimonies:”
Rahim (20) is young and vibrant with a strong spirit. He says: “The first thing I learnt during the Training is that God wants to speak to me and how to listen for His voice. I learnt deeply how much God loves me and that I am recognized and precious in His sight.”.
Hoda (23) is a real God seeker with a calling and passion to reach non-Christians. Hoda: “The biggest thing I learnt in the training was about hearing God’s voice, and practically doing that. Also the teaching about sin and repentance, and the training in Bible study were very helpful.”
Zakaria (21) is a believer from Yazedee background, who had been facing major struggles recently. He shares: “The teaching on repentance and how to be free from sin has helped me find new freedom. I really loved the teaching on hearing God’s voice, and the practical tools for studying the Bible.”
Saba (19) is young and keen to follow God. Saba: “The teachers’ lives helped me understand that God is really involved in our lives and that He is great. I also realised that God has wonderful thoughts toward me, and His plans for me are unique.”
Milad (20) comes from a traditional church and many of the understandings were quite new for him, but he was hungry to learn and grew very much. He shares: “The three things I learnt in the training was knowing God in a precious way, how to pray deeply, and intercession for others.”
Louis (19) is a fairly new believer from an Armenian background. He says: “The main thing I learnt is that God really wants to speak to me, and how to hear His voice. I also learnt that I am not a sinner in God’s eyes, but how He really thinks and feels about me. The teaching on Bible Study really helped me a lot.”
Yusuf (19) is a young believer who loves to share the Gospel. He and some other students led a non-Christian family to the Lord during the training. He wants to go to southern Iraq to preach the Gospel. I learnt how to spend time with God in my quiet time and how to give God time to speak to me. I also learnt how to leave everything and follow Jesus. God birthed in my heart a new passion for every Iraqi and I have compassion that every Iraqi would get saved.”
Kamal (21) is a strong sensible young man. Kamal: “I learnt how to hear God’s voice and wait for Him. I also learnt, really down in my heart, that God loves and accepts me, and that He has a special call on my life.”
Youness (37) is from Mosul. He is Assyrian background, but has only been actively walking with Jesus for a few years. Youness: “I was particularly impacted by the teaching on intercessory prayer and how we put it in to practice. The trainer’s daily input on following Jesus, and the teaching on sin and how to be free helped me a lot”.
Khorshid (34) has suffered some severe traumas in her life. She shares: “God set me free and set my eyes on other people so I can testify about Jesus and see His Kingdom extended in the world. I also learnt about repentance and the need to be constantly keeping my life free from sin.”
Karen (32) is a school teacher with a heart to reach others in her community. She shares: “I learned a lot and heard a lot of stories about living by faith. I also learnt about the way God speaks to me and hearing His voice. The Bible Study training was also very helpful for me.”
Naomi (35) loves to worship and also loves to reach out to non-Christian people. Naomi: “The stories from the teachers’ lives helped me realize that always being concerned about money and how to live can really hold me back in my life with God. They showed me that the real way forward in my walk with God is simply hearing His voice and obeying. I also understood how much my actions and my life as an example will help people to know Jesus.”
