Salim’s Pentecost testimony
Salim's story is something to celebrate this Pentecost season.
“When I read the Pentecost story in Acts, it’s so amazing to think about all the people represented in God’s Story,” said Salim. “We’re talking about thousands of languages.”
Born in Lebanon, Salim grew up learning the country’s three official languages – Arabic, and English primarily, as well as some French. But Portuguese was the language he fell in love with.
Portuguese takes Salim back to the five years he spent living in Brazil, a time that he often looks back on with fond memories.
“I understand about 80 percent of the language,” Salim shared, “and I never want to forget it.”
In order to keep up his language skills, Salim searched online for Christian content in Portuguese. That’s how he found ReFrame Ministries’ Portuguese language programs with teachings from Rev. Hernandes Dias Lopes.
For Salim, the ReFrame video programs he watches and audio programs he listens to have become more than a language-learning tool.
“I really appreciate the humility and the Bible-based teachings in Pastor Hernandes’ approach,” Salim said. “I listen almost every day. They are very helpful for me in my personal language and in my personal ministry.”
Today Salim lives with his wife in Montreal, Quebec. He’s passionate about sharing God’s Word and inviting Arabic speakers to worship at his church.
Along with face-to-face conversations, Salim brings devotional booklets to people’s doorsteps in his neighbourhood. He says he knows that “many will just be thrown away, but that God will bring them to the people who need them most.”
In a city where the majority of people speak French or English, Salim is sharing God’s Word in Arabic using lessons learned from Portuguese ministry programs. That’s something to celebrate this Pentecost season.
This page is made possible through a partnership with CRC Ministries within Canada.
