Learning to love our muslim neighbours
I grew up in a Christian community but I was a nominal Christian. My family were respected both within the Muslim community and the government.
In 2000 my mother introduced me to an AoG church. When I entered the church and heard the Good News of the Gospel I was overwhelmed. It changed my life. Finally, I had encountered Jesus in a real way and I dedicated myself to my Lord. Later in 2007, after marrying, God called me and my wife to start to serve Muslims, including Azeri and Kurdish people in the northwest of the country. We established five underground churches in different cities.
We travelled from place to place to evangelise, distributing bibles and starting many underground bible reading groups. Once we were among a gathering of nearly 100 Christians near the capital when suddenly armed agents climbed the compound walls. They said to us, ‘All Evangelical churches must stop their activities. Even if you plan to baptise indigenous Christians you must inform the Ministry of Intelligence.’ Our interrogators continued, ‘Our goal is that those of other nations become Muslims, not that Muslims of our nation become Christians. This is against the interests of our Islamic government.’
It was a turning point in our ministry. We changed strategy, and we took the church from the official church building into the houses and even the streets. This was an intense and real battle, and without the help of the Holy Spirit, we could not stand against the persecution.
Eventually, we concluded that we must love our Muslim neighbours, as God had called us to this specific region for a reason. We learned that this was the beginning of being persecuted for our faith and ministry. Government Officials repeatedly threatened and harassed us. The Intelligence Service repeatedly detained and interrogated me. Each time before my interrogations, my wife and I stared at each other, possibly for the last time. Messages were sent to our families to say we were in danger and could be arrested and transferred to an unknown location.
In 2000 my mother introduced me to an AoG church. When I entered the church and heard the Good News of the Gospel I was overwhelmed. It changed my life. Finally, I had encountered Jesus in a real way and I dedicated myself to my Lord. Later in 2007, after marrying, God called me and my wife to start to serve Muslims, including Azeri and Kurdish people in the northwest of the country. We established five underground churches in different cities.
We travelled from place to place to evangelise, distributing bibles and starting many underground bible reading groups. Once we were among a gathering of nearly 100 Christians near the capital when suddenly armed agents climbed the compound walls. They said to us, ‘All Evangelical churches must stop their activities. Even if you plan to baptise indigenous Christians you must inform the Ministry of Intelligence.’ Our interrogators continued, ‘Our goal is that those of other nations become Muslims, not that Muslims of our nation become Christians. This is against the interests of our Islamic government.’
It was a turning point in our ministry. We changed strategy, and we took the church from the official church building into the houses and even the streets. This was an intense and real battle, and without the help of the Holy Spirit, we could not stand against the persecution.
Eventually, we concluded that we must love our Muslim neighbours, as God had called us to this specific region for a reason. We learned that this was the beginning of being persecuted for our faith and ministry. Government Officials repeatedly threatened and harassed us. The Intelligence Service repeatedly detained and interrogated me. Each time before my interrogations, my wife and I stared at each other, possibly for the last time. Messages were sent to our families to say we were in danger and could be arrested and transferred to an unknown location.
This happened year after year, then 15 years later, agents again detained and interrogated me for preaching the Gospel and acting against national security. They announced that we had only two months to leave the country. If not we would be imprisoned for five years for attempting to establish a church and acting against national security and would potentially face martyrdom.
We said goodbye to our family and some church members, and we fled to Turkey, where we spent nearly 18 months. We were resettled in the United Kingdom in 2018, where we continue to serve the Lord’s church—that of both Persian and English speakers. And that’s where my wife and I were introduced to Flame International.
Jan Ransom, Founder of Flame International, met with us. Though we were depressed and anxious with deep wounds from years of persecution, she invited us onto their discipleship course, The Forge, and helped us to expose our pain and bring us healing through prayer.
We had come to hate Islam but God had a better plan for us. Through his grace our hearts were filled with the love of the Holy Spirit to serve all Persian speakers. As a result, our vision expanded, and we started to use Flame’s resources for many believers inside and outside of the region.
Recently through our partners and Flame, we had a wonderful first conference in Turkey. We were able to minister to 25 refugees and exiles from the region and see God work in their lives.
Today, they face severe challenges, including from within the Christian community – a community wounded and traumatised because of persecution, rejection from family and friends, continuous harassment and discrimination, the loss of jobs and educational opportunities, and forced migration.
Despite these dark days for that nation, we firmly believe that God is writing a fantastic story for them. Persecution threatened to wipe out the church. Instead, it has become the fastest growing in the world, influencing the region for Christ. Amen.
YOU CAN PLAY A HUGE PART IN THE STORIES OF PEOPLE SUCH AS FARID BY JOINING OUR FLAME 1000 CLUB, A VERY SPECIAL GROUP OF REGULAR DONORS WHO GIVE £10 PER MONTH OR MORE. www.flameinternational.org/donate
We said goodbye to our family and some church members, and we fled to Turkey, where we spent nearly 18 months. We were resettled in the United Kingdom in 2018, where we continue to serve the Lord’s church—that of both Persian and English speakers. And that’s where my wife and I were introduced to Flame International.
Jan Ransom, Founder of Flame International, met with us. Though we were depressed and anxious with deep wounds from years of persecution, she invited us onto their discipleship course, The Forge, and helped us to expose our pain and bring us healing through prayer.
We had come to hate Islam but God had a better plan for us. Through his grace our hearts were filled with the love of the Holy Spirit to serve all Persian speakers. As a result, our vision expanded, and we started to use Flame’s resources for many believers inside and outside of the region.
Recently through our partners and Flame, we had a wonderful first conference in Turkey. We were able to minister to 25 refugees and exiles from the region and see God work in their lives.
Today, they face severe challenges, including from within the Christian community – a community wounded and traumatised because of persecution, rejection from family and friends, continuous harassment and discrimination, the loss of jobs and educational opportunities, and forced migration.
Despite these dark days for that nation, we firmly believe that God is writing a fantastic story for them. Persecution threatened to wipe out the church. Instead, it has become the fastest growing in the world, influencing the region for Christ. Amen.
YOU CAN PLAY A HUGE PART IN THE STORIES OF PEOPLE SUCH AS FARID BY JOINING OUR FLAME 1000 CLUB, A VERY SPECIAL GROUP OF REGULAR DONORS WHO GIVE £10 PER MONTH OR MORE. www.flameinternational.org/donate
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