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“The hometown boy” transformed Rania’s life
Rania Sayegh grew up in Nazareth, Israel, and smiling she notes that her life was changed when she fell in love with the “hometown boy”. In 2004 she founded the prayer and training center HOPE in Nazareth. She is passionate about a Jesus revival in the city where Jesus once grew up.
Rania Sayegh is a Christian Arab who has lived in the city of Nazareth, which is familiar to every Christian, all her life. We meet her in Arken Church, where she preached at the Their summer conference. Rania’s brother and family have lived in Sweden for around 20 years and Rania likes to come here, when she gets the chance. She is a woman in mid-life, with black curly hair that spreads in all directions and a lovely charisma.
Rania was born in a home where the parents were Orthodox Christians, but their faith was more of religious tradition than a personal relationship with God. Rania tells us that she early in life had a longing for Jesus Christ, who once grew up in Nazareth, just like her. The school where Rania went was a Christian school, founded by Baptists. There she heard more about Jesus.
– I was so fascinated by the fact that Jesus had walked the streets of Nazareth, received instruction in the Jewish faith and worked as a carpenter together with his earthly father Joseph. In a church service at the school I attended, I gave my heart to Jesus. Then I was sixteen years old and since then Jesus has been my Lord, Rania says.
As a teenager and very devoted to Jesus, Rania longed to learn more about the Christian faith. She prayed, read the Bible and Christian books, and felt a passion to tell other young people about Jesus. “The guy from home” had really won her heart and she acquired more education, alternating teaching with practice.
The atmosphere in Israel is, as you know, like a melting pot, where there is great tension in the air between the various descendants of Abraham, who try to live together. Rania notes that this tension has always been a part of her life. Her grandfather and father had witnessed the war in Israel in 1948, and she got his story of the situation from an early age. That story was revised when Rania came close to Jesus and encountered his love.
– When I sought Jesus, my heart changed and I felt His voice speaking to me, saying: ‘You don’t love me, because you don’t love my family’. I confessed that I did not understand and love the Jews as I should and repented. Then I was filled with God’s love and the suspicion I had felt before was broken. God’s love makes us to trust each other and that is the only solution to the conflict, Rania comments with great conviction.
Rania felt a calling to build a place in Nazareth, where Jews and Arabs who believe in Jesus could meet for teaching and common prayer. But how would that come to pass in Nazareth? The Gospels tell us that even the Son of God, Jesus Christ, could not do so many miracles in his hometown, due to the lack of faith of the inhabitants.
– I prayed a lot for a greater reception for His miracles in His hometown now. When I asked the Lord how it could be done, I was told that I would look for those who have a living relationship with God. And in 2004 I founded the prayer and teaching center HOPE (House of Prayer & Exploit) in Nazareth. Our vision is to mobilize for prayer and praise among Arab Christian in unity with Messianic Jews.
So many people gather here every week to pray for the city and the country that Rania and her team are now looking for bigger premises. Even many other activities are ongoing, including special initiatives for women and young adults. Rania has also taken the initiative to gather Christian Arabs and Messianic Jews for a common day of prayer every year.
– In our conferences for oppressed Arab women, we have seen the Holy Spirit work for healing and liberation. The women have been raised up to be “mothers in Israel”, like Deborah in the Bible (who was a judge in Israel long ago). We want to see Abraham’s descendants emanating from both Sarah and Hagar – Jews and Arabs – reconciled. That is also important for the young generation, that is the reason why we arrange many activities for young adults, as well.
Sweden has become like a second home for Rania, and she is happy to return here when it is possible. On several occasions she has received prophetic words and visions concerning our country. Eight years ago, she saw in a vision an arrow of the type used in battle or hunting. On the three parts of the arrow were the names of the Scandinavian countries written, the arrowhead was Norway, the shaft Sweden and the feathers or control springs at the back were Finland.
– I felt that these three countries have a special anointing from God. The three parts of the arrow are all equally important and need to be coordinated to function in the best way. The tip must not be crooked or blunt, the shaft must be strong and well balanced for the arrow to be stable, and the fins or feathers makes it effective to reach its goal.
As Rania understands the vision, she finds it important that the three Nordic countries stand together, not even more true, after what happened in Ukraine. She explains that Sweden’s
calling is to stand strong, not in its own strength but in the strength of the Lord. A prerequisite for this is that Christians in Sweden are united.
– Sweden has for long been characterized by an attitude of being a strong and independent nation. This attitude of independence is also found among the churches in Sweden, and I feel an urgent call from God to bring unity into the body of Christ. The division that exists needs to be healed, otherwise the consequences could be difficult for the country. It’s a very serious situation now, she adds.
Rania states with emphasis that unity is the foundation of revival & nation transformation. Therefore, God’s people need to unite in humility and confess their dependence on God. When Rania came to Sweden this time, she saw a new vision, which she feels can be applied to the situation in our country.
– I saw a beautiful bride dressed in white, who came out of the water, where the waves were mixed with fire. On her head she had a crown of gold and in her right hand a scepter of silver. She had purified herself in the Word, the purifying fire of God’s love. A voice said: ‘my warrior – my bride’. I felt that the Lord is preparing his people in Sweden for a spiritual battle, and that he is allowing shakings to awaken and prepare his bride.
The waves mixed with fire Rania sees as how Christ purifies his bride in the purifying fire of His Word and His love. It is a call to repentance, because the body of Christ in Sweden needs to humble itself and come together in unity.
– Jesus calls his bride and when she obeys the call his holy presence returns. Now is a divine opportunity, a window that has been opened over Sweden. The body of Christ now needs to take advantage of that opportunity and allow itself to be filled with his pure love. Then God will bless the country, concludes Rania Sayegh, ambassador of the Kingdom of God in Nazareth.
Börje Norlén, words and photo
