This week as we focus our content on the heartbreaking matters of persecution, we also seek to recognize a very humbling reality: Most of us on the Engage team have never had to experience anything remotely like the persecution we are writing about. It is not our intent to place ourselves on some lofty pedestal of understanding and experience, but rather shine a light in the midst of darkness. One way we are able to do that is by using our own unique talents to discuss the issues surrounding this difficult topic. But we are also honored to lend our platform to two fellow believers who have themselves experienced persecution. Where appropriate, we have omitted or changed certain details to protect the identity of these two individuals. However, their words remain their own.
Peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I wrote this story from my life:
My name is Amir. When I was eight years old, I came home from school, and I found my dad was at home. It was the first time he returned home early. He hugged me, but his face was tired. I ran to my mom, and I found my dad’s clothes full of blood. What happened? From that point, I learned that to be a Jesus follower and minister, we must pay a price with our life and blood.
My dad is a church planter. At that time, he had started a new church in one village near a large city. Ten enemies of the cross of Christ attacked him and tried to beat him to death. They broke his nose and ripped out some of his hair. His head was splattered with blood. His face was full of bruises. They tried to kill him because of his involvement with the message of Christ. But the Lord saved him from that death, and he continued his ministry and the church kept growing.
When I had a call from God to start a ministry between Alawites, Druze, and Kurdish people, I knew from the first moment this commitment in ministry might cost me my life. I have had dozens of threats since that time, but God has chosen to save my life again and again. I remember last year when I was visiting with my family in another town. Before we could return home, my wife had to go to the hospital.
My pastor, Steve, called me and I said to him, “I don’t know why this has happened to us! What does God mean in this time?” He said our prayer team would be praying with us.
After two days he sent an email that said, “Twenty-one of our team members have been praying and heard special things from God for you. If you return home now, at this time, it will be very dangerous.” They wrote verses to me that the Lord had given them for me. For that time, we stayed where we were.
When I was able to return home, I found the answer to why the Lord kept us there.
Thirty Alawite men in my hometown formed a gang for murder and robbery. While my wife was in the hospital in the other town, they killed 10 people and looted many houses. They wrote threatening words on the wall of my small house. Using very bad words, they vowed to kill me because I work against the Alawite religion and bring people to Jesus Christ from the Alawites. In the end, they wrote, "It's our turn to kill you," and they signed it on behalf of the "Knights of Ali."
They think this will make me afraid and stop the ministry.
Our Christian leaders said to me, "Please don’t spend your time here, in this time."
I said, "I am sure Jesus has saved my life, and He will continue. Jesus told me by the prayer team that He controls all things and He will keep my life and my family.”
When our leaders and I see how God saves our lives, it gives us power and strength. This encourages us and pushes us forward. We can see Jesus with us at every step and this gives us peace.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
The police managed to arrest four of the gang that had been troubling my hometown (but 26 of them are still free). They confessed to killing 10 people and confessed that they were planning to kill me.
I know that one day I may be killed, but this increases the strength, stability, and the continuation of the ministry. Even threats help the success of the ministry, because no matter how hard the devil tries to scare us, we trust more and more in the goodness of God and His care for us; we trust that He controls all things and all is under His authority. Jesus said, "I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against It” (Matthew 6:18).
Today, I pray we establish churches that are safe from persecution. But if they must endure it, I pray they stand strong.
God bless you,
Amir
