One day an Imam was preaching his normal Friday sermon in his mosque which is in a completely Muslim area. As he was preaching from a certain passage in the Quran he came to a verse that calls for the discrimination against non-Muslims and disassociation from them. As he was preaching this, he was stopped dead in his tracks with the realisation that this verse just could not be right and yet here he was, not only believing this himself, but teaching it to others.

Secret meetings

The Holy Spirit convicted him, which in turn prepared his heart to meet a disciple in a secret meeting just a few weeks later in his own house. Not any disciple however, but a believer who came to faith in the same village and who attended the same mosque several years earlier. A believer who experienced tremendous persecution including being violently kicked out of his house and village, after the preaching and encouragement of this same Imam.

God at work

Now God had miraculously orchestrated this meeting between the two men. He softened the heart of the Imam to open his house and listen (despite danger on his part) and gave boldness to this disciple to go and love on the man who previously had persecuted him and preached against him (despite danger on his part as well). The disciple was even bold enough to give the Imam a Bible after sharing his testimony of how Jesus had changed his life and had been with him and his family even through all the great trials of the past years.

A series of secret meetings ensued with the Imam opening up more and more each time. After about six meetings the Imam realised that he needed to believe in Jesus and follow Him. Subsequently, at the very next meeting he made the decision to repent of his sin and give his whole life to serve Jesus!

Another important meeting

Several weeks later after preaching in the mosque, he took an hour taxi ride to meet this other man. They drove 3 hours south to meet in private, due to persecution and people watching him and other imams in the area. After sharing his desire to follow Jesus fully and how Jesus had already caused his heart to totally change, he also said that he was ready to be baptised. So right then and there he was baptised by the one he had formerly persecuted.

He is very excited and committed to His faith in Jesus and is already sharing with others! He remains the Imam and continues to preach in the mosque, but now he preaches Bible truths. We are praying for the 100-200 regulars of this mosque to come to know Jesus as well and for this Imam to turn into a great leader and walk in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul. We praise God for this miracle and for all the others coming to faith in this area as well.

Source: Cry Out