Shalman (27) was the first person in his Muslim family to follow Jesus. He kept his faith a secret, knowing the consequences of others finding out he is a Christian - but he couldn't hold it in. He shared the gospel with his friends.
In early August, people in Shalman's community found out about his conversion. They seized him and interrogated him. Without hesitating, he told his persecutors: "Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour and I choose to follow Him."
Furious, the locals dragged Shalman to the closest mosque to give him a chance to recant. But when he refused, they beat him and humiliated him in public. Mosque leaders told his family his secret, and threatened them all with excommuunication. His family begged him to come back to Islam.
"I have done the right thing. I am following the right person," he told his parents and his persecutors. "Jesus is the Saviour. You all should follow Him." This statement only made the locals angrier, and they drove Shalman out of the community. They even reported him to his place of work and made the manager fire him.
"I don't know why there are so many problems with this truth," Shalman says, in tears. "I lost my home, my family and my job for my faith. Why don't people like it when I'm in the truth? Everybody hates me, beats me, mocks me. I don't know how to survive alone."
Shalman is now in hiding in fear of further persecution. He wants to know more about Jesus Christ, to know why He is so hated when He has only given him love and peace. Open Doors local partners continue to pray for and minister to Shalman, supporting him with emergency aid and basic needs.
Please pray with this young brother in Christ as he seeks to grow.
Pray for Shalman's safety and protection, and for God to lift his spirits. He is frustrated and sad, but he will not renounce his faith.
Ask God to open a way for him to get a new job, so he can work and manage his needs.
Thank God for Shalman's salvation, and for his passion for sharing the good news of salvation with others, even though it brings trouble to his life. Ask God to give him wisdom as he does so.
Thanks so much for praying, God bless. Taken from Open Doors USA text alert.
In early August, people in Shalman's community found out about his conversion. They seized him and interrogated him. Without hesitating, he told his persecutors: "Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour and I choose to follow Him."
Furious, the locals dragged Shalman to the closest mosque to give him a chance to recant. But when he refused, they beat him and humiliated him in public. Mosque leaders told his family his secret, and threatened them all with excommuunication. His family begged him to come back to Islam.
"I have done the right thing. I am following the right person," he told his parents and his persecutors. "Jesus is the Saviour. You all should follow Him." This statement only made the locals angrier, and they drove Shalman out of the community. They even reported him to his place of work and made the manager fire him.
"I don't know why there are so many problems with this truth," Shalman says, in tears. "I lost my home, my family and my job for my faith. Why don't people like it when I'm in the truth? Everybody hates me, beats me, mocks me. I don't know how to survive alone."
Shalman is now in hiding in fear of further persecution. He wants to know more about Jesus Christ, to know why He is so hated when He has only given him love and peace. Open Doors local partners continue to pray for and minister to Shalman, supporting him with emergency aid and basic needs.
Please pray with this young brother in Christ as he seeks to grow.
Pray for Shalman's safety and protection, and for God to lift his spirits. He is frustrated and sad, but he will not renounce his faith.
Ask God to open a way for him to get a new job, so he can work and manage his needs.
Thank God for Shalman's salvation, and for his passion for sharing the good news of salvation with others, even though it brings trouble to his life. Ask God to give him wisdom as he does so.
Thanks so much for praying, God bless. Taken from Open Doors USA text alert.