Sharing the Treasure: Mini-Miracles

Miracles happen. However, in my experience, they often happen incrementally, over time. I’ve seen this over and over again. For example, after years of prayer and faithful service on the part of a team of cross-cultural workers, a wave of local people will begin to open their hearts to Jesus. It looks like it happens all of a sudden. It seems to be one huge miracle. But God actually has been doing quiet, unseen mini-miracles all along to prepare each person for the revelation of His love.

I’ve also seen big miracles emerge from small ones as God opens and closes and then again opens doors for ministry. One of our Christar families has a dramatic illustration of that kind of long-in-the-making miracle.

Dan and Hannah* began ministry in a Middle Eastern country in the late 1980s. For two decades and through several teams of coworkers, they quietly laid a foundation for business and ministry. In an area where taking the long view is the only sustainable option, they established themselves in the community, made friends and bore witness of the message of Christ, the incarnate Son of God.

However, in the early 2000s, the political tide turned. Dan and Hannah were accused of conducting activities that threatened national security. With little warning they were expelled from this country and separated from the people they had loved and served for almost 20 years.

But God prompted many to pray, and then He opened a small window—He began a quiet miracle. Dan and Hannah were unexpectedly granted visas that allowed them to be in the country: They had to leave every few months, but could return the same day. This enabled their ministry to continue for another seven years. Until the visa laws changed again.

Now they could be in the country for three months, but had to leave for three months before returning. This requirement brought great disruption to their lives and ministry. But God showed Dan and Hannah a new plan. When in the country they were able to connect regularly with fellow workers, local friends and new believers, and in the months away they traveled around the region, teaching other workers about God’s call to be peacemakers and how to study the Scriptures for encouragement and strength. Meanwhile, in the country they faced increased security scrutiny and visa challenges.

But God continued to unfold His miraculous power when the nation’s supreme court cleared Dan and Hannah, declaring they were NOT a threat to national security and requiring that their work visa be fully reinstated. Now they are free to serve the local community for a full year.

It’s a miracle—spanning 30 years and counting.

Join me in rejoicing with Dan and Hannah as they continue ministry among the least-reached in a politically volatile environment. And pray with me that God would continue to open doors, one mini-miracle at a time.

Dr. Steve Coffey, Director of Christar U.S., began work with Christar in 1989. He and his wife, Beth, initially served among North African immigrants in France. In 2001, they returned to the U.S. for Steve to lead the Christar Church Planting Division. In 2005 he became Director of Christar. Before serving with Christar, the Coffeys worked for a year in a humanitarian project in the Red Sea hills of Sudan among the Beja people. Dr. Coffey’s education includes an undergraduate degree in history education from Liberty University, a Master of Divinity from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Strategic Leadership from Regent University. The Coffeys have three children and four grandchildren.