Small Voices, Big Questions
in Austria

Day 9: The One Who Calls Them by Name in Austria

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12

“I only have one Savior,” my little neighbor *Shayda declared one afternoon, her eyes bright with conviction.  “My Savior is Allah,” she added proudly.

I smiled and replied, “I also have only one Savior—and His name is Jesus.”

She tilted her head curiously. “Who is Jesus?” she asked. And just like that, a beautiful, unexpected conversation began.

Across Austria, many children like Shayda have come from Muslim-majority countries, carrying with them stories of hardship and displacement. Their journeys have often been marked by trauma—fleeing conflict, losing homes, and arriving in a new country where the language, customs, and classrooms feel foreign.

Yet amid all the challenges, these children light up when someone takes time to listen, play, and care. As friendships grow, so does their curiosity. They love to ask questions about faith—about God, prayer, and what Christians believe.

“Praying is so tiring,” one girl confessed. “You have to wash, change, and say all the right words—but I don’t even know what to say! How do you pray?” she asked a follower of Jesus.

Moments like these reveal a deep hunger stirring in young hearts—a longing to know the God who listens and loves unconditionally. It’s amazing to see how attentively they lean in when they hear stories of Jesus—stories of kindness, compassion, and a love that never fails.

And just as Shayda once asked, “Who is Jesus?”—many more children across Austria are asking the same question today, eager to discover the One who calls them by name.

*pseudonym

HOW WE CAN PRAY

• Pray for open hearts: Ask God to soften hearts and minds, especially among children and youth, so they may be curious and receptive to the love of Christ.
• Healing from trauma: Many Muslim migrants have experienced hardship and loss. Pray for emotional, mental, and spiritual healing as they adjust to life in Austria.
• Meaningful relationships with believers: Pray that local Christians and ministries would build genuine friendships, earning trust and creating opportunities to share the Gospel.
• Wisdom and courage for ministry workers: Pray for those discipling or mentoring Muslim children, pray for discernment, patience, and protection as they engage with families and communities.
• Family and community transformation: Lift up families, schools, and neighborhoods. Ask God to bring peace, understanding, and openness to the message of Christ.