From South Sudan:
“On Wednesday, while walking in the main market, two men called to me from their car. When I walked over to them, they asked me in a rough tone: ‘Everyday we see you walking around, and we’ve also heard that you are a follower of Issa Al-Massih. Is this true?’
When I said, ‘Yes,’ they opened the door and pushed me into their car. I was carrying my Bible, a note book, a pen, and a few copies of the chronological booklets. As they drove off, they made phone calls to different Arabs, saying that they had found the one who has been converting people. I was kidnapped.
When our journey stopped, I stepped out of the car, and the first sight made my blood grow cold. Everyone was carrying a gun and there were many vehicles there. I was forcefully made to sit down and food was brought for me to eat. I was so afraid. I couldn’t eat anything. Yet, I had to try and at least drink something. Otherwise, they would have thought that I was their enemy. By either eating or drinking that which they had offered, I was showing them that I was their friend, and not their enemy.
As I said earlier, every man among them was carrying a gun. Then one of them shouted out, ‘Is it true that you know Abdi? Is it true that he is your disciple?’
When I said, ‘Yes,’ they told me that they were going to kill me and Mohamed.
Then Mohamed, wearing full Arab attire, came forward. Some time ago, I had prayed for Mohamed who was sick with epilepsy, and the Lord Jesus had healed him. After that, Mohamed would come to me, and I had been secretly discipling him.
After a time, Mohamed told his mother that he was no longer a Muslim, but was now a Christian. Mohamed’s mother then told her husband, and the news spread among the Muslim community.
At that point, I requested to make a call to my wife, but they took away my phone on the spot, saying it was not allowed.
Then, something unbelievable happened. They all knelt down together in front of me. It was amazing. I had no idea what was happening.
This is what they told me:
‘We have not met many people who are ready to give their lives to Issa (the Lord Jesus). You have just shown us all that you are a true believer and a true follower of Issa. Please know that we love you. You cannot, however, give away our identity. We want you to begin teaching us about God. We have no one to teach us about God.’
As I wept, they removed their hats, brought water and poured it into a drum, and asked me to baptize them. Right there, I baptized seventeen Arab believers, and we have been teaching them ever since. We are teaching them using the chronological booklets.
As they will be killed if others would find out, I cannot give out their names nor take any pictures. Pray that God will grant us more boldness to share the Word of God and that the men in this class would grow strong in the faith of Christ.”
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16).