Ten years ago, ICR director Joe and an Egyptian ministry partner had reason to celebrate: seven Muslims had decided to leave Islam and follow Jesus in the previous 12 months.
“It used to be that when one Muslim came to faith, it was a miracle,” Joe said.
Though it is not illegal to convert to Christianity in Egypt, those who do are persecuted. They often face death threats, and they are usually rejected by their families. Wives divorce convert husbands, in-laws take custody of children, and young women are sent to the street.
Following Christ is costly.
A decade later, the ministry of this same partner has grown. Throughout the country, Muslims are coming to faith. This year, around 250 people turned to Christ.
Muslims are not turning to Christ because the cost has decreased. The persecution they face remains the same. They are becoming Christians through the preparation of the Holy Spirit and the faithful work of the local church.
Many devoted men and women of God have given the past 20 years of their lives to share the gospel, and their work is now bearing fruit.
“We rejoice that we can be a part of this work at this time in history,” Joe said.
PERSECUTION IN ISLAM’S BIRTHPLACE
Another region experiencing new openness to the gospel despite persecution is the Arabian Peninsula. Arabs in the millennial generation are more exposed to the rest of the world than ever before. They have access to the internet and have traveled outside their restrictive countries. For many, any real faith in Islam has dried up. They may still bear the Muslim label, but in practice, they are agnostics or atheists.
Across the Islamic world, when Muslims begin to doubt Islam, they often follow a common progression. At first, they doubt everything and then become agnostics or atheists. In the continued process of searching for meaning, some then find the truth of the gospel and the person of Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit is at work in people’s hearts, and God is also working through numerous Christian ministries to flood the whole Middle East with the gospel. ICR partner Al Hayat Ministries receives many messages like this one, from a man named Mahmoud in Algeria.
Mahmoud wrote, “I’m now a believer. I was a Muslim, and I need to be baptized. … I learned a lot from your show and the teaching you do. It changed my life to be better than before; I learned about Jesus and how He loves us. I saw the huge difference between Islam and Christianity. Please pray for me and for my family and for help for me to use the right words to help my family come to Christ.”
AMBASSADORS OF THE GREAT TEACHER
While it might not make human sense, the Lord has used natural disasters and devastation to bring people to him and to encourage persecuted Christians in places like Syria, Turkey, Morocco, and Israel.
“When the church responds with grace and love in difficult times, oftentimes it changes the perception of people who are against Christians,” Joe said.
After the earthquakes that struck Syria and Turkey in February 2023, local Christians immediately organized feeding centers, water, tents, and blankets with support from ICR. When those who were affected saw the love shown to them, many people became more receptive to the gospel. A Turkish pastor reported being able to pray with hundreds of people, most of whom probably would have previously rejected Christian prayer. In northwestern Syria, another pastor led so many people to Christ in the aftermath of the earthquakes that he had a list of 100 people waiting to be baptized.
“Our words did not speak, but our actions were powerful,” a pastor helping with the relief efforts commented.
In Morocco, a deadly earthquake in September gave believers an opportunity to be the fragrance of Christ to those who were hurting. In a beautiful example of unity, several Christian ministries joined together to provide aid in the rural mountainous areas.
“In the villages, people feel neglected or forgotten,” an ICR field worker said. “They were so touched that people would come help them and serve them.”
Now, local Christians in Morocco are focusing on helping people rebuild and prepare shelter for winter, while still bringing water, food, and blankets to affected areas. When ICR enables Christians who are already on the ground to help other Moroccans, it gives them credibility and establishes trust. Then, local Christians can share the gospel through words and action.
“This is such a strong message, and it touches the heart of the people so they will see the difference,” the ICR field worker said.
In Israel, partners are caring for those who were displaced from their homes after the Hamas attack. A Jewish man from one of the villages that was decimated had nothing left except for the clothes he was wearing. “There were no clothes in his size in the clothing that I delivered,” our partner told us. “In the next delivery, I made sure to bring him clothes in the right size.”
The man was so touched that he grabbed the partner’s hand and would not let go. “He asked me why I was helping him, and I was able to tell him that my motivation was that Jesus, the Great Rabbi, loves everyone.”
SUPPORTING AND EQUIPPING THE PERSECUTED
There have been many challenges for persecuted Christians in 2023. Natural disasters make demanding situations even harder for them. But they continually tell us that when disasters come, the prayer and financial support of Christians from other countries make them feel like they are not alone. With the global body of Christ behind them, they feel encouraged to continue to be Christ’s presence in dark places.
