Sharing Christ's love through occupational therapy in the Middle East

By an SIM Worker

Kate* is an occupational therapist serving with SIM’s Faithful Witness initiative in the Middle East. She uses her training to share Christ’s love with an unreached community.  

As a teenager, Kate knew God was calling her to go to a majority Muslim country to share His love with people who had not yet heard. This calling, combined with her heart for children with special needs, led her to use her profession to serve in the Middle East. 

Once she graduated from university in the United Kingdom and gained experience working with children, Kate knew it was time to move to the Middle East. So, she completed additional training in cross-cultural ministry and spent a year learning Arabic.  

After her year of language learning, Kate finally arrived in the Middle Eastern country God had called her to as a teenager. She spent the next 15 years training health workers and establishing a clinic there, serving children with special needs and their families in a tangible expression of Christ’s love. 

Called South 

Toward the end of her time there, however, Kate began sensing God’s call to move further south into another Arabic-speaking region, a hot and dusty city with a very small Christian presence. 

That city is where Kate now lives. Through her partnership with the small local church, she has established an clinic for children with special needs. She also serves neuro-divergent children who are enrolled in the two small, church-run kindergartens in the city. 

These opportunities allow her to not only meet physical needs through therapy, but also to demonstrate the value and dignity that each child has regardless of their disability. 

Unique opportunities 

Kate’s work gives her unique access to a specific demographic in her city – special needs children and their families, specifically their mothers. Traditional Muslim communities often view people with disabilities as shameful and ostracise them and their families. The dynamic in this city is no different. 

Whenever Kate sees a child in her clinic, she makes it a habit to offer to pray during the appointment.  Over and over, Kate has seen her prayers break down the barrier between herself and the mothers of her clients. 

They are curious about this foreigner who moved to their city to care for their children. They want to know why she sits with them, listens to their stories, and prays for them. For these women, who are tired, and not used to being listened to or included, the prayers open a door to a deeper relationship with Kate. 

As these relationships deepen, many have shared their feelings of loneliness, and the shame and guilt they have over the needs of their child.  Kate has learned that many of these mothers believe that God is punishing them for something they have done. 

These conversations give her a natural opportunity to keep praying with these women and to tell them about the God she serves – the God who covers shame, removes guilt, heals what is broken, and welcomes everyone. 

The need is great 

When Kate arrived, there were two very small churches in the city and only 15 international Christian workers in the area. That number has since dropped to 10 but Kate sees great opportunities in this area. Her prayer is for more workers to join the team and help make Jesus known in this city. 

The most obvious need is for more occupational, physical, and speech therapists who have experience working with children with special needs to join Kate.  But there are also many other opportunities for vocational skills of all kinds.   

*Names have been changed