The dream I gave up on

Elim missionary Ian Moore on a dream, a long wait, and a room that finally filled up.

God hasn't often spoken to me in dreams; I don't know if that is His choice or mine! I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I would say God has spoken to me through a dream, but about two years ago I felt certain that He had.

Since 2023, we have held a weekly children's Bible class in our apartment in Skopje. We wanted to create a place where children from our local community could come, learn about the Bible, connect with Jesus and share food together.

It began with three children: our two and one from a family we knew in the community. And for nearly a year, it remained just those three. We prayed, they invited friends, and we invited others, but the group did not grow. God did a great work in the hearts of the children and adults who were there, but still, just three.

Then, gradually, the shoots began to sprout. A new family moved into the area, joined our church, and their daughter came. Then children from another church heard about it and began to attend. God brought these children for us to invest in their precious lives and equip them to stick with Jesus as they grew up. It was wonderful, but still we longed for children who didn't already know Jesus or have a family connection with the church.

And then, in 2025, I had a dream.

In my dream, I walked through the front door of our apartment, ready to lead the class, to find the room packed with children from our local area. I woke up as certain as I could be that God had given me that dream. I was so excited! It motivated me to keep going, keep hoping and keep praying.

And pray I did. I gave time to praying that dream would come to fruition... for about six weeks.

Then the hope began to fade. After all, it had been a few weeks, and God still hadn't done it. The prayer for the class continued, but praying for that dream went on the back burner. It probably wasn't God after all.

Bring on 2026, and I received a phone call from the mum of one of the kids. They were bringing two of his school friends!

These boys came along and really engaged and connected with God over the next few months. One of them even prayed that another friend would come, and two weeks later, he walked through the door! Another time, our son was playing outside with another boy before the class and just invited him in.

The room was filling up, with children from our community. Hungry for the word of God, hungry to know more of God and to hear that He has plans for their lives.

God had done what He said He would.

I was humbled. I had given up on that dream, but God hadn't given up. He hadn't gone back on what He said He would do!

This story also has a very special postscript.

As the numbers began to grow in early to mid-2026, we found out that our apartment was up for sale. We would have to move out. God led us to find an apartment outside that community. But, as He often does, He had fulfilled His word just in time.

Our final session in that home was a time when we could give thanks for all that God had done. One week later, another family in the area opened up their home to host the sessions, and the room was full, with children from the local community!

This article was first featured in the Your Elim newsletter. You can read the Your Elim newsletter here, and sign up to the newsletter here.