The King's Heart

Two decades ago, my daughter accompanied me on a missions trip to Morocco. At the direction of King of Morrocco, through an intermediate, we were invited, to visit Morrocco to discuss the issues and beliefs that divide Christians and Muslims. We were part of a small delegation of evangelicals on a mission to build a bridge  – not one constructed of steel and concrete, but of understanding, tolerance and compassion.  What made this mission unique was who initiated the visit. 

      After the horrific attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as the crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001, most of the Muslim world rejoiced. Americans will never forget the images of Palestinians, Iraqis, and Iranians dancing in the streets. There was no dancing in Morocco.   Following the leadership of King Mohammed VI, hundreds of thousands of Moroccans took to the streets in protest of the attacks on the United States. Within days, the King himself attended a prayer service at a Catholic church. Then, in an unlikely move, the King (a direct descendent of Mohammed) directed his Ambassador to the United States to reach out to American evangelicals. 

     Our own culture ridicules us, dismisses us, and opposes us, but a foreign King who follows another religion sees us as a powerful force for good.  Who do you think prompted the King to reach out to Christians? In the midst of terroristic threats and the fervor of radical Islam trying to make inroads into his own country, King Mohammed VI was moved by the hand of God.

      During my three trips to Morrocco, I was able to meet with Ambassadors, Imams, Walis, Parliamentary leaders, Palace representatives, and college students to openly discuss the claims of Christianity and how Muslims and Christians could work together for mutual understanding. Brooke and I met with a Bedouin tribe in the Sahara desert, visited a Saharwi refugee camp, and had a wonderful evening in the home of a national prominent Moroccan businessman.  

     Because of these trips, Merrekesh hosted a three-day Christian music festival three years in a row, and we were invited to build (and minister in) a Christian chapel on the beautiful campus of the Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane. Sadly, we were unable to pursue that project.

     The conversations were fascinating, the opportunity to share our faith was humbling, and the warm receptiveness of the Moroccan people was eye-opening. Morocco enjoys a limited freedom of religion that allows its citizens to worship within the faith they were born (Jew, Christian, Muslim), but evangelizing across those religious lines is prohibited.  We were invited and welcomed as messengers of the Christian faith with the understanding that we would also listen to their messengers and we did.  

      As I reflect on these trips, as I often do, I am amazed that God not only moved the heart of the King of Morocco, but he moved in the hearts of those associated with the project to extend the invitation to an unknown pastor of a humble Baptist church in the moderate-sized town of Sarasota, Florida. Make no mistake, there is no one outside of the influence of the hand of God and He can turn anyone’s heart to accomplish His purposes.

Pro. 21:1 - “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”