Showing posts with label converts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label converts. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Former Muslim Now Baptizing Muslim Converts - CBN News George Thomas


Former Muslim Now Baptizing Muslim Converts
03-08-2016
CBN News George Thomas

Shahid is proof that God is moving powerfully across parts of Muslim-majority Middle East and North Africa.
Shahid (not his real name for security purposes), is from Libya and grew up a devout Muslim.
"As every Libyan, when I was a little boy, I used to go to the Koranic school," Shahid told Leading The Way with Dr. Joseph Youssef, a Christian television and radio ministry that broadcasts in more than 190 countries around the world.
Shahid spent 14 years of his life attending Muslim schools, where a strict interpretation of Islamic jurisprudence was taught. He became an expert in the Koran, even memorizing the entire Muslim holy book.
But the closer he examined the Muslim laws, the more he become disillusioned with what he read.

"Islam was completely exposed with its hidden reality," Shahid said of studying Islam. "Little by little, I had serious concerns about Islam."
To get some answers to his questions, he sought the advice of friends and family. But they told him not to question his faith. They even became hostile.
"They told me there is a verse in the Koran that urges Muslims not to seek answers to questions about some things, as it may hurt them if they know the answers."
The doubt. The questions. The inaccuracies of his faith tormented Shahid.
"I lived in a struggle for more than four years," Shahid told LTW in a video produced by the organization.
Desperate and despondent, Shahid said he decided to abandon the faith of his childhood and become an atheist.
"I got to a point when Islam had no part of my life, and religion ceased to exist and Muhammad meant nothing to me."
It was around this time that Shahid came across Kingdom SAT, Leading The Way's 24-hour satellite channel, which broadcasts across the Muslim world.

With the help of Leading The Way partners in the Middle East, Shahid secretly connected with Christians in Lebanon and Jordon and eventually was introduced to Jesus Christ.
"I learned about who Jesus is and how to be a Christian. We studied how to live with Christ, fellowship with Him, and be part of the church."
After several months of intensive Bible studies, Shahid said he "accepted Jesus' salvation and got baptized."
Inspired with revelation of God's profound love for him, Shahid said he felt compelled to share his new found faith with his countrymen in Libya and others across the region. 

"I couldn't keep my mouth shut," Shahid said. "I had to share Jesus with others."
According to LTW, Shahid has been sharing the love of Christ with Muslim followers and many have turned to faith in Christianity.
Two years after leaving Islam, Leading The Way says Shahid has planted 11 churches across North Africa and Europe and is baptizing Muslim converts.

Shahid recently shared a picture with Leading The Way showing him baptizing new converts to Christianity on the same shores of North Africa where the Islamic terror group ISIS beheaded 21 Coptic Christians in February 2015.
Leading The Way's founder and president Dr. Michael Youssef says testimonies like Shahid's and countless others should bring hope and inspiration to the Body of Christ.

"He is a free man," Youssef said of Shahid's testimony. "Most importantly, he is free in Christ!"
Despite the sufferings of Christians, Leading The Way says Shahid's life is one more powerful example of how God is transforming lives across the Middle East and North Africa.

Friday, June 12, 2015

ISIS Converts Historic Church into Jihadist Mosque

ISIS Converts Historic Church into Jihadist Mosque

The Islamic State is converting one of the largest churches in Mosul into a mosque almost a year after the city fell to ISIS.
Christian Today reports that notices of the conversion have been posted on streets throughout Mosul, a city that was once the heart of Iraq's Christian population.
Most Christians fled the city since the jihadists forced them to either convert, flee, or be killed.
According to the Vatican's news service, the church being overtaken is the Syrian Orthodox Church of St Ephraim. ISIS fighters have already removed Christian symbols from the building, including the cross on the church's dome.
Iraqi media says the church has already been draped with the nortorious black and white flags of the Islamic State.
Nuri Kino, president and founder of A Demand For Action, told Newsweek the church conversion is proof of the Islamic State's intentions with Iraqi Christians.
"A year ago they said 'convert, pay or die.' Then it turned out to be a lie, that even if you pay you will not be able to stay," Kino said
"If they changed a church to a mosque it is further proof of their cleansing, something that many call a genocide," he added. "They destroy our artifacts, our churches. and try to erase us in any way they can."

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Can This Be True? 2 Million Indonesian Muslims Find Jesus Per Year

Can This Be True? 2 Million Indonesian Muslims Find Jesus Per Year


This video is causing quite a stir among the Muslim population in Indonesia.
This video is causing quite a stir among the Muslim population in Indonesia. (YouTube)
Amid all the news about Islam's gains around the world, here is some startling news you've probably never heard: In Indonesia—the most populous Muslim nation—2 million Muslims are converting to Christianity per year. That's right. That's one new convert every 15 seconds. At this rate, Indonesia will be mostly Christian by 2035.
Some Muslims are so alarmed they've created a video on YouTube to alert other Muslims to this menace and are trying to raise $2 million to start a TV station aimed at Muslim youth to keep them in Islam.
Called "Save Maryam," it depicts a young teen named Maryam who represents all disillusioned Muslim youth that have responded to invitations to gospel events or someone handing them a tract that says "Jesus Loves You." Watch the 4-minute, 45-second video yourself if you don't believe me. It's from Muslims in their own words, alarmed at the rate of conversions to Christianity.
It ends by urging Muslims to stop this trend (thereby "Saving Maryam") by alerting other Muslims to the threat by forwarding the video on social media.
There also are YouTube videos debunking this, using government statistics showing growth of Christianity in Indonesia at a slower pace. Also, the videos cast aspersions on the fundraising tactics of the sponsoring organization and to their motives. However, the Islamic government has incentive to under report the size of the Christian population.
Recently, I talked to an Indonesian pastor visiting the United States that confirmed to me that the Indonesian church is growing despite persecution like churches being burned down and some Christians being killed.
"The Muslim has no answer for their life and they are very depressed because life's so difficult," he told me. "Their religion has no answer. Many of these people are so lonely that they will watch a Christian program and a Christian will follow up (with) them and bring them into the Christian community and disciple them."
In this Easter season, as we remember Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection, it's good to be reminded that the message of the gospel is real and it's changing lives—even in the most populous Muslim nation.  
So, let's get this word out. The Muslims want this to be shared to alert people that many Indonesian Muslims are becoming Christians. Share this on social media—not to lament this news, but for Christians to rejoice.
God is still on the throne and is drawing all men to Himself (see John 12:32). It's like I heard Bob Mumford say one time: "I've read the end of the book, and Jesus wins!"
Steve Strang is the founding editor and publisher of Charisma. Follow him on Twitter@sstrang or Facebook (stephenestrang).
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