In 2025, an estimated 70% of the world’s population used the internet—that’s a staggering 6 billion people!
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s (BGEA’s) ministry, Search for Jesus, connects with individuals online who are looking for answers to life’s deepest questions. Through nine languages, over 1,900 trained volunteers from around the globe are faithfully pointing people to Christ as their saving hope.
Read more about three people from three very different countries who embraced the Savior.
Ali
While Ali,* 21, was scrolling on Instagram one day, he came across Salam maa Allah, the Arabic version of PeaceWithGod.net, an interactive BGEA site that explains the Gospel. A former Muslim who lived in a war-torn country, Ali had many questions, but he started with one: “Why do you think I should become a Christian?”
Afaf,* a trained online volunteer, shared a personal testimony with him—how the emptiness she felt inside was filled when she began to read the Bible and learned how to have a relationship with God.
Ali explained that his dad is a religious militia leader, so for him, following Jesus could mean immense persecution and personal danger. Afaf urged him to keep seeking answers and wisdom from Scripture.
Eighteen months later, he began a second online chat—this time connecting with Mourad,* another ministry volunteer. Ali posed a question: “I am an atheist; do you have proof that God exists?”
“The Bible teaches that the heavens speak about the glory of God and tell of the work of His hand,” Mourad responded, pointing to the truth of God’s Word and creation. Ali dismissed his comments, replying in short, seemingly frustrated messages. Mourad patiently answered, and Ali concluded that he admired Christianity—but it wasn’t for him.
Four months later, Ali began yet another conversation with an online volunteer, but he had a radically different tone. “I’m not an atheist anymore,” he said. “And I am attending the church regularly nowadays.”
When Rania* asked whether he had begun a relationship with Jesus Christ, Ali confirmed, “Yes, I did, and I regularly read the Bible and pray.”
Curious about such a drastic transformation, Rania asked Ali what had occurred between his initial skepticism and his newfound faith. He shared that he felt a deep sadness after his conversation with Mourad, and one night, he had a dream.
He was standing at a crossroads. “The first road was beautiful, full of decoration, and had everything I had dreamed of,” he typed. “The other road was dark. I had a voice in my mind urging me to take the first road, and I wanted to do so, but I didn’t take action and stayed still until I woke up.”
This dream prompted Ali to reach out to Christian friends and attend church, eventually taking the step to accept Jesus as His Savior.
“After praying [in repentance] I resumed reading the Bible, and when the deep sadness was replaced with joy, I knew that Jesus my Lord had touched me,” he said.
Ali rejoiced in his relationship with Jesus and updated volunteers on his journey of growing in his faith and even getting baptized.
“I was lost until my Lord Jesus guided me to know Him,” he said.
Anna
Anna* started a chat on the Russian-language website for Search for Jesus. She typed out a quick message: “Hello. I want to talk about God.”
Ellen,* a volunteer, began a conversation with her, answering questions and responding with truth from God’s Word. Anna hungrily took in the verses, admitting how empty her life had recently become. Slowly, Ellen walked her to the cross, using John 3:16 to explain God’s great love for her. Anna then prayed a short prayer of repentance, accepting Jesus as her Savior.
Ellen rejoiced as she received a new sister in Christ; only through the Gospel could these two women have been united. Besides the distance of hundreds of miles, Anna is Russian, and Ellen is Ukrainian. The war between their countries could’ve separated the two, but now Anna’s new faith has brought them together.
At nearly 3 a.m. in Russia, Anna ended the online chat, concluding that for the first time in a while, she felt a burden had lifted. However, her problems did not magically disappear. She returned to the chat a few weeks later, expressing loneliness and feelings of constant anxiety. Sarah,* another volunteer, faithfully messaged day after day, encouraging her with verses like Isaiah 49:10, “They shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them”(ESV).
Anna thanked her for sharing the promises of God, accepting them as balm for her weary soul. Ellen also connected her with a church nearby, pointing Anna to an in-person community that could disciple her in her new faith.
A few days later, Anna closed the conversation with Ellen, but she also opened a new door of freedom and peace in Christ.
Meilin
“Lately, I’ve been so anxious, my mind is racing and I’m overwhelmed,” Meilin* shared in an online conversation with Mindy,* a ministry volunteer for Search for Jesus’ Chinese site. Beneath the surface, she was worried that she wouldn’t be able to survive financially.
But money was just one of many burdens on Meilin’s heart. She struggled with chronic physical and mental health issues, a job loss, and a broken family.
In desperation, she pinned all of her hopes on a lottery ticket, praying that God would grant her the prize to save her from financial ruin. When she didn’t win, she lamented, “My life feels meaningless. … I feel like my life wasn’t meant to be this way.”
Mindy pointed Meilin to God’s awesome power—not just for her finances, but for her whole life.
“He wants to transform you into a new creation,” Mindy said.
With her encouragement and help, Meilin joined one of BGEA’s online discipleship courses and a local church—and God began changing her from the inside out. She finally understood His unfailing love for her, even when she felt unworthy of it.
“God’s love was there for me before I was even born, even while I was still a sinner. He sought me out and has been teaching me ever since,” Meilin said.
All of her patterns of shame and self-loathing were redefined by God’s view of her as His child. Once she received this by faith, Meilin’s heart was transformed.
“Where my strength ends, God’s begins. I’ve reached my end, and I’m letting God take over,” she said.
Will you pray for these new believers as God continues to build them up in their faith? Also, lift up our Search for Jesus volunteers as they navigate conversations in various languages that lead people to Christ.
