A persecuted Christian, who made the difficult decision to leave his family and faced multiple arrests, shared his experience of finding solace during his time in prison.
A Persecuted Christian
A man who carried deep hatred towards Christians shared his testimony of discovering solace and comfort in the loving embrace of God. Growing up, he was taught in school to harbor animosity towards Jews and Christians, despite having little knowledge of their beliefs. Being raised in a Muslim family, he faced significant persecution.
“Religion in the Islamic society is not a private thing… In our society, life is part of religion,” he recalled.
After encountering Jesus, he mustered the courage to inform his father about his decision to become a Christian. Witnessing an unprecedented moment, he saw his father shed tears. However, his father expressed that their family could not accept his new faith. As a consequence, he made the painful decision to leave his family home.
“That was the most devastating moment in my entire life. I walked out from my family and knowing never to be back again,” he remarked. He remembered those painful things as if it was yesterday.
A few days later, he stumbled upon a distressing sight: his own photograph accompanied by a death announcement in the newspaper. Tragically, his family had wrongly declared him deceased, and it seemed as though he was no longer alive to them. To add to the heartbreaking ordeal, they even purchased a coffin and held a funeral in his name. In their village, a tomb in the cemetery bore his name inscribed upon it.
“That was one of the moments which was very very difficult,” he shared.
Comfort While In Prison
Furthermore, he endured multiple arrests, with the last one lasting for a daunting seven weeks. The authorities confined him to a prison where he was tormented by the sounds of people screaming, as they were subjected to beatings and painfully restrained against the walls. Eventually, they transferred him to a dark basement, devoid of light. In this grim environment, his sole possessions were his Bible and a handkerchief, given to him by a compassionate group from Germany. This piece of cloth became everything to him, serving as both a pillow and a makeshift bed on the unforgivingly hard floor.
Given the limited space in the room, he was unable to stand or sit comfortably. Adding to the harrowing conditions, whenever the guard arrived to deliver food, the illumination would reveal lifeless bodies strewn across the floor. It was undoubtedly a challenging journey for him. However, he discovered a profound truth that brought him immense comfort. As he read the Lord’s Prayer, which began with the words, “Our Father in heaven,” he encountered a God whom he could genuinely address as his Father. In Him, he discovered his true identity and found hope for his future.
Lastly, he testified, “Whenever I prayed. I pray. I looked to God as He is my Father that I could always come to Him. And I know, a day will never come where this Father will tell to me, ‘You are no longer My son.’”
Watch the full testimony here.
Reference | GOD TV
Header Image: GODTV (Screenshot). (2022). GODTV, One Ruler – The Power of the Persecuted Church. Retrieved January 5, 2024 from: https://www.god.tv/video/c_oneruler21-mov/zype