Some say that up to 8 out of 10 people in the MENA region report having had a dream of Jesus.
Even if this figure is generous, across the Middle East and North Africa, people from all backgrounds—many of whom have never read the Bible or met a follower of Christ—are encountering a mysterious man in white through vivid, life-altering dreams.
Some wake up remembering a name: Isa, the name used for Jesus in the Qur’an. Others recall specific phrases, visions, or feelings they cannot explain—peace, love, calling. The man in white often says little, but his presence lingers. And for many, it becomes the beginning of a journey toward truth.
In fact, it’s estimated that 1 in 4 Muslims who come to faith in Jesus started their journey with a dream.
When God Speaks Through Dreams
We’ve heard many such accounts:
- A man sees a bright figure on a white horse, calling him by name.
- Another receives a telephone number in a dream—one from a neighbouring country. When he calls, the voice on the other end leads him to the truth.
- A stranger appears to someone in bed at night, offering peace, words of life, healing and freedom from oppression.
- Some even hear the figure in white speak his name: Isa, the name used for Jesus in the Qur’an.
These dreams are often profound—vivid, unforgettable, and stirring—but they are also mysterious. Most who experience them have never read the Bible or heard the gospel. They wake with questions, not answers. They wonder: Who is this man? What does this mean?
Why MENA? Why Now?
Why are there more reports of this kind of supernatural revelation in the MENA region than anywhere else in the world?
We don’t know for sure, but perhaps it has something to do with the vast spiritual need. Less than 1% of global mission resources are directed toward the region, despite the millions who are both unreached and hard to reach by traditional evangelism.
Perhaps, in the absence of access to people, God is making himself known directly.
Perhaps, in cultures where spiritual encounters are respected, people are more open to hearing from God in a dream than from a person.
Perhaps it’s part of God’s plan—to prepare hearts in advance for a message they’ve yet to hear.
But we must ask the deeper question: How will you play your part in what God is doing in the MENA region?
Prayer: First, We Pray
If these dreams are truly signs from God, then they’re an invitation for the Church to respond. We begin with prayer.
- Pray that these dreams would continue to break through darkness.
- Pray that hearts would be ready to receive.
- Pray that more labourers would be sent into this harvest.
Partnership: The Dream Is Only the Beginning
If God is initiating, then He is also inviting us to partner. To befriend. To walk with. To explain. A dream rarely provides the full gospel story. Often, it’s just a signpost—pointing the way but not walking the road. This is where the Church comes in. We are the ones who can say, “Yes, I know this man in white. Let me tell you his story.”
Participation: We must go
We need to send and train more workers who understand how to connect dreams to gospel truth, who are sensitive to cultural context, and who can walk patiently with seekers on their journey.
- Ask better questions. Try: Have you had any significant dreams recently that you think might be from God?
- Know the Bible well. Many dreams include phrases or imagery directly from Scripture. Jesus appears in white robes in multiple passages—Acts 1:9–11, Revelation 1, Matthew 17. Open the Word together and explore.
- Bridge to the gospel. Ask: Does this sound like what you saw? What do you think God might be saying to you? Then offer to share a story: Do you want to know more about this man in white?
Will you play your part?
- Pray for open hearts and spiritual encounters.
- Partner with those already working in the region.
- Participate in training, equipping, and sending new workers.
“I saw a man in white, and he called my name…”
You could be the one who helps them to discover the truth.
