January 20, 2020
Clerics Seek to Kill WEI Convert
Katheryn Haddad, the dedicated WEI Internet teacher, writes, “This new brother in Christ is in such danger right now. We cannot disclose his home country or the country where he is currently stranded.” Katheryn continues:
He enrolled in WEI nearly a year ago. He declared himself a Muslim, adding that it was the only way to Allah. A month later he decided that all religions were good. A month after that, he told his teacher, “So Jesus is the Son of God.”
As his knowledge of the Bible grew, so did his faith. He called Jesus “the King of Truth,” and “the way to God.”
After four months of study about Jesus and the church, he wrote, “If I decide to be a Christian, I would prefer to be a real Christian whose mind, soul, spirit, action, and appearance shows Christianity, but I don’t like to be a secret Christian. What I like is not possible in [this country]. Do you know the one who changes his religion from Islam to any other religion what will be his/her destiny? It is death. I am feeding nine members of the family now. I dare not to accept such risk for them to beg for a swallow of food if I die.”
His teacher did not hear from him for the next four months. Finally, he wrote, “I have studied the book you sent me long ago which was about comparing the holy Quran with the Holy Bible. In general, Quran encourages humans towards violence, but the Holy Bible encourages humans towards peace, love, and human welfare which are my favorite words to have, follow, and apply in my life. What will be your next advice for me to do?”
His teacher encouraged him to call one of the secret Christians, but she did not hear back from him. Then he wrote that he and some business associates were in another country for ten days. He said he would like to meet a Christian, but he warned, “We are a group of four people that work in the same Organization in [my home country]. My colleagues should not know what I am doing here, otherwise, they are a big danger for me. They report it to [terrorists] who know me and my relatives. I hope I can do it secretly.”
In mid-March, the WEI teacher received this message: “Let me share with you the pleasure that I have achieved today. It was a great day that I started to search for improving my English skills. Undoubtedly, I believe behind this week was Jesus Christ helping me. Thanks, Jesus! You caused me to find the true way in my life, and thanks to friends that have helped me be born again getting baptized.”
Two days later when he and his business associates were to meet at the airport, they were not there. He was told his flight was canceled, and the password to his place of employment no longer worked. He had been discovered. Then he received a message from a friend back in his homeland saying, “I am so sorry to inform you of very bad news. Muslim clergy council published a manifesto: You are sentenced to death. In the magazine, the clergy council asked Muslims to apply for Sharia’s order on you which is death. Be aware of the situation and take care of yourselves wherever you are. If they reach you, you know clearly what will happen with you then—unavoidable death.”
His teacher writes, “This means his family back in his homeland is in danger also. When he tried to reach them, the landlady said they had disappeared during the night.”
WEI is calling on Christians all over the world to pray for this man who is now in hiding. Pray that he will be able to find the magazine in which the death sentence was published so he can apply for refugee status. Also, pray that he will be able to find his family and bring them to safety. Prayer is powerful.
NOTE: Do not put this article on Facebook or any other social medium. Anything made public about him could help his pursuers find him.
