Speak His Name…Jesus – with Natacha Chantel

By Bill MacLeod

Not often have we had a speaker from Central Asia speak to us about what their name means, or that it would so closely align with their calling today. Natacha Chantel from Turkmenistan has been working with People International, where we met over ten years ago.  She recently shared with us what her name means since our theme “Speak His Name…Jesus” is central to our understanding of the power that is behind any name. Here is her powerful name testimony…

Bill: Do you know what your name means? How has your name, and hearing your name spoken, helped to shape who you are? 

Natacha: Natacha means “Day of birth – Birthday” referring to Christ’s birth. Natacha was also the name of the martyr, who in 303, was persecuted and killed in Turkey for her faith in Jesus. I have had to face persecution for my faith and the name Natacha is a constant reminder of who is living in me: Jesus. When I hear my name Natacha, I think of Jesus’ birth on this earth, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped”. My name encourages me constantly to give up my natural self-centeredness and follow Jesus’ example of humility. 

How did the power of Jesus Name draw you toward Him and into the work and ministry you now carry out? 

Natacha: Missionaries in Turkmenistan were an example to me of a Christ filled life and through them I experienced the loving/caring power of Jesus. Coming from a Muslim religious background I have experienced firsthand the life changing power of the Name of Jesus in my own life. Now I am compelled to go out and tell everyone about Jesus and His grace in my life. Thanks to the power of Jesus’ Name, I can face adversity/persecution from my country and even my own family members. With my husband, we both heard Jesus calling us by our names to go out, first to Northern Germany and next to Central Asia. And His Name gives us the assurance that he who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” We trust the Lord for the ministry He calls us to, not knowing how it will work out, trusting in His full provision. 

Given the unprecedented world-wide circumstances facing us this year – what do you think speaking the Name of Jesus can do to the world you minister in or have influence in? 

Natacha: In these challenging times we are in, I and our world, need more than ever salvation and mercy. Speaking “out loud” Jesus Name – God saves- is the only true beacon of hope in the midst of despair and defeat and hopelessness. And we know, for sure that when the outer circumstances look the most unfavorable, then the Lord can really show His Power – through us. I know that speaking God’s language -Jesus, to those in Central Asia who do not know about the power of Jesus’s Name will give them new hope, a future and ultimately Eternal Life. 

In your plenary session, what do you hope those listening potentially from other parts of the globe will come away with? 

Natacha: My hope is that everyone listening will not hear my voice but the voice of Jesus, calling them to follow Him more closely and share His Name, His story in their lives with everyone. May we all hear His voice telling us: “Go out” even to the most difficult places, like Turkmenistan, “making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Eph 5:16 My desire is for everyone to be empowered by the Name of Jesus, because “there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” I pray for everyone listening that the power of Jesus’s Name turns all of us from being church spectators into being active and outgoing members of His Body, the church.