It was Sunday morning in a country in Central Asia. At the last minute, the general superintendent for the Assemblies of God in that country asked Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) missionary, Samuel, to preach at one of his churches. Samuel began his message with a testimony he had heard the day before of a woman from the Silk Road.

Ayshe*: From the Silk Road

When a woman from the Silk Road accepted Jesus, her husband left her. Soon after he left, she discovered that she was pregnant. As a single mother with two daughters, she was afraid to raise a third child alone. She scheduled an abortion.

The night before her appointment, she awoke “to a light as bright as the sun,” and saw Jesus with two angels at His side. He told her that she would have a son who would be His disciple. Despite this powerful experience, she was still overwhelmed with fear and chose to proceed with the abortion.

Believing she was six weeks pregnant; she scheduled a type of abortion only possible in the first trimester. When the doctor performed an ultrasound, he found she was four months pregnant. He told her he could not perform the abortion.

She immediately knew God had intervened, and she “was filled with faith that the Lord would provide for her and her growing family.” Her son is now 15 years old, and she can already see God working in His life.

The Legacy of Faithful Mothers

“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:27-28, NIV).

Many are familiar with the story of Samuel. Hannah, Samuel’s mother, fervently asked God to fulfill her deepest desire — to be a mother. God answered her prayer and gave her a son. Samuel became a priest, prophet, and judge in Israel. He is listed in the Book of Hebrews among those with great faith, such as Abraham, Joseph, and Moses.

But what was the foundation of Samuel’s God-centered life? His mother’s faithful dedication as she gave him to the Lord.

As AGWM missionary, Samuel, continued to share testimonies in the service, it became clear that an even bigger work of God was unfolding — one that reflects the legacy of faithful mothers.

Martha: Generations of Missions

Samuel next shared the story of his grandmother, Martha. When Martha was a young mother with three daughters, she learned she was pregnant again. She did not feel capable of handling another baby with the financial and relational stress it would bring. Just like Ayshe, she decided to have an abortion.

The night before her appointment, she heard an audible message from the Lord: “Do not do this, Martha. You will have a son, and he will be a preacher.” Martha immediately recognized this was the Lord, and she obeyed. Later, she gave birth to twins — a boy and a girl. Martha’s son — Samuel’s father — has ministered globally and reached thousands of unreached people with the gospel.

As Samuel told the story of Abraham and Sarah and their promised son from Genesis 12, Martha’s story, and the testimony of Ayshe, his translator appeared visibly shaken and emotionally moved.

Anya*: Another Samuel

Samuel’s translator was a young Russian/Kazakh woman. The night before the pastor had asked her to translate. After initially refusing, Anya agreed, because there was no one else available.

After the message, she repeatedly told Samuel, “I need to talk to you.” When they finally talked, she cried tears of joy and told him that his message was meant for her. She revealed that she had been living with a man whom she believed she would marry. When she became pregnant, he left her.

Samuel says, “Reeling from the unexpected pregnancy, the broken relationship, and the deep shame of the sin she had committed, she feared that her church and family would not accept her. She planned to have an abortion."

Through Samuel’s sermon, Anya found clear confidence that God had a plan for her and her child, who she believed would be a son. Samuel says, “God turned her fear and shame into great joy and expectation.” Anya planned to name her son Samuel because of this experience.

The Lord intervened in each of these stories to carry out His divine plan. Despite facing uncertain, frightening circumstances, Ayshe, Anya, and Martha employed great faith, giving their children’s futures to the Lord just as Hannah had with Samuel. The Kingdom legacy these children will leave is unimaginable.

*Names changed for safety

By Joy Myers