Show Notes
Pastor Sami Dagher is a faithful servant of Christ who has worked for decades sharing the Gospel in difficult places. Kristy Graham, host of On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse, talked with Sami during a recent visit to international headquarters. Sami has dedicated his life to making disciples, and now he is passing on the torch to the next generation.
Pastor Sami challenges his fellow believers to abide in the Word of God daily. He has seen many pastors take messages written by others, pull out the main points, and go preach. Sami explains that there is no spiritual power in this. Instead, those teaching should read the Bible for themselves, and see what God reveals. In the past, Sami would spend all week preparing a message, sometimes working through the night. Eventually, he was pushed by the Lord to open a Bible school.
“The nights are for the Lord, and the days are for the people.”—Sami Dagher
In the midst of great suffering, Sami has wholeheartedly trusted in the Lord. Kristy asked the pastor what has encouraged him through the heartache, and he said he always goes back to the Word. Sami takes refuge in the fact that the Lord knows the future before it happens. The future is happening now, so how are we living out our days?
“Are we really living like the Lord wants us to live?’”—Sami Dagher“
Sami encourages churches to never dilute the Bible, even if this offends people. He implores listeners to walk in obedience, so we can bless and encourage others in the faith.
The Lord brought about Sami’s life verse in an unexpected way. Seeking direction, Sami departed for a week of fasting and prayer in the mountains. All he had was a bottle of water, a loaf of bread, and a tin of sardines. He spent the whole week reading, expecting God to speak to him clearly. On the final day, he wondered what he was going to tell his wife, Joy, when he returned home—he was yet to hear anything from the Lord. Then, he saw the words of Psalm 32 with news eyes. This set Sami on a new course, and guided all his years of faith with the Lord.
“The promise which I have lived for 60 years now, it's in Psalm 32, but He said, ‘I will teach you in the way you shall go. I will counsel you. My eye is upon you.’”—Sami Dagher
Please pray for Sami as he continues his lifelong ministry. Pray that the Gospel would continue to spread in challenging regions. If you’d like to keep up to date with more stories on the ground, please visit SamaritansPurse.org.
Pastor Sami Dagher has served the Lord for decades in hard places that are not open to the Gospel. On a recent visit to international headquarters, Kristy Graham asked Sami about his work in ministry, topics like prayer and discipleship, and how the Lord brought about his life verse. Sami is full of wisdom and, though his life has not been easy, he has taken his experiences and used them for good—ultimately, for the glory of God.
Resources
· Have you heard the Good News of Salvation?
· Listen to our latest episode to hear how God worked miraculously, not only through a young boy named Francis, but in the lives of his parents and his entire community in Uganda.