For Christ I Am Willing

to Die

International Christian Concern | July 2013

PERSECU ION

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Hunted Christian Converts Look to Jesus

After Near-Fatal Shooting

I S S U E 3 / 5

B Y A I D A N C L AY

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M I D D L E E A S T

For Christ I Am Willing

to Die

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read an urgent prayer request to ICC in May. “He is alive as I write this, but in very serious condition. The doctors do not expect him to live.”

RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES

Abdul (name changed for security) had been running from persecution ever since he and his three friends converted to Christianity from Islam in 2009. Last year, Abdul had been severely beaten by four thugs after they rammed into his vehicle. “Do you think you can leave Islam and get away with it?” the men said when striking Abdul, who was pinned in the backseat. It had taken months for Abdul to recover from the wounds, only to be shot by a Muslim imam who was determined to finish the job by ending Abdul’s life.

Abdul’s friend, Omar—who is from a prominent tribal group in the Middle East and has been hunt-ed by his father since his conver-sion—was taken into police custo-dy immediately after the shooting. Similar to previous incidents,

“Abdul was shot this evening,”

YOU THINK YOU CAN LEAVE ISLAM AND GET AWAY WITH IT?

-AN ATTACKER SAID TO ABDUL, A CHRISTIAN IN HIDING FOR HIS FAITH IN CHRIST

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M I D D L E E A S T

blame was shifted on Omar in order to protect powerful tribal leaders. While at the police station, a policeman said to the shooter, who was being detained along with Omar, “Now is the time to kill all of these boys off, because if you don’t do it now, the number of Christians will be so many that you won’t be able to stop them anymore.” Incredibly, the policeman, who should have protected the young men, was instead pushing for their murder.

The policeman’s prediction, however, was not far from the truth.

LIVING BY FAITH

Ever since the four young men converted, the ‘underground’ church in this persecuted country (undisclosed for security reasons) has seen tremendous growth. The movement reached 85 believers—all converts from Islam—by late-2011 until fear caused it to disperse after a young woman named Alya was murdered by her brother when he learned of her conversion.

A crackdown on the movement followed when local imams began chas-tising tribal leaders during Friday prayers for not ‘dealing’ with the be-lievers in their midst. But the movement continued to gain momentum and, according to Omar, it was not uncommon to overhear conversations in the marketplace about how many new followers of Jesus were in the tribe. “Neither the chastisement from the mosque nor the persecution to the boys seems to be curbing the growing belief, or at least interest in Christianity, among the tribe!” exclaimed an ICC partner in the area.

On May 14, Abdul was operated on for the fourth time, but the doctors were still unable to remove the bullet from his chest. Abdul’s heart stopped

The underground fellowship that Abdul is a member of has reached

85 members, all converts from Islam

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during the surgery and a defibrillator (shock paddles) was used to start it again. He continues to drift in and out of consciousness and at the time this publication goes to press, ICC remains uncertain whether or not he will live.

BEARING FRUIT THAT WILL LAST

Even in the midst of severe persecu-tion, however, Abdul’s hope remains in Christ, knowing that nothing is done outside His will. A week after the shooting, Abdul’s mother—who had begun reading the Bible several months ago as a result of Abdul’s testimony—said she had a dream of Jesus standing next to her with His arm around her. “Are you sure it wasn’t Mohammad in the dream?” her sister asked her. Abdul’s mother said she was certain it was Jesus. Though not yet a Christian, Christ is indeed working on her.

“I will never deny Christ,” Abdul’s friend, Omar, told ICC. “I will con-tinue the work God has called me to by sharing my faith with my Muslim friends. For this I am willing to die.”

ICC helps Abdul and his friends (who live in hiding after their con-versions) with financial aid that provides rent, food, and other needed supplies. We continue to closely monitor Abdul’s recovery and we’re ready to respond when additional assistance is needed. Please remain in prayer for Abdul and his friends who daily take up their cross to follow Jesus. Pray that the Church in the country would be emboldened from the attacks rather than become fearful.

I WILL NEVER DENY CHRIST. I WILL CONTINUE THE WORK HAS CALLED ME TO BY SHARING MY FAITH WITH MY MUSLIM FRIENDS.

FOR THIS I AM WILLING TO DIE.

-OMAR

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