Abdul tried to steady his trembling hands as he slumped to the dirty curb and dialed the only local number on his phone. His eyes darted back and forth, scanning the urban Middle Eastern street in the deepening twilight. Two men walked together on the far side of the road, and he let out a sigh of relief when neither looked in his direction.
Barely 17 years old, Abdul had disguised himself in order to flee his war-torn country. Across the border, he tried to get help from strangers, only to be taken advantage of.
Unable to find assistance in person, he turned to social media where he found a relief page that directed him to call John, a Frontiers field worker.
Perhaps John too would try to take advantage of Abdul’s desperation, but he had no one else to turn to. Abdul lifted the phone to his ear and held his breath as it rang.
“I have no food, no money, and nowhere to stay.”
A man with an American accent answered in Abdul’s language. “Hello?”
Abdul couldn’t fight the tears that flowed down his cheeks. “Please help me.” His voice shook. “I have no food, no money, and nowhere to stay.”
“I’ll give you a safe place to stay tonight,” John assured him.
A few hours and dozens of text messages later, Abdul arrived at John’s apartment and fell into bed, exhausted.
Abdul had always been curious about the Bible, but he’d never seen one before.
In the morning, Abdul awoke with a sense of calm he had not experienced since the war had reached his hometown. He sat up and looked around, his eyes landing on a book on the bedside table. It was a Bible in his native language.
Abdul had always been curious about the Bible, but growing up in a Muslim household, he’d never seen one before. Gingerly, he picked up the book and opened it to the first page of text. His eyes widened as he read passage after passage.
Shortly after, John knocked on his door and invited him to breakfast. “I’m going to work, but you’re welcome to stay here all day. I’ll be back this evening.”
By the time John came through the door at the end of the workday, Abdul had made a life-changing decision.
After John left, Abdul looked around the apartment. He was full, well-rested, and had an entire day before him. So, he picked the Bible back up and read all morning, through the afternoon, and into the evening. By the time John came through the door at the end of the workday, Abdul had made a life-changing decision.
“I want to know more about Jesus,” Abdul announced. “And I have some questions about the things I read today.”
A smile spread over John’s face as he settled on the couch next to Abdul. “What do you want to know?”
Abdul asked question after question until late into the night. Then he asked even more over the next two weeks.
“I’ve decided to follow Jesus and I want everyone to know.”
One evening Abdul looked very serious. “Explain baptism to me. What is it for?”
“Baptism is a sign to the world that someone has decided to follow Jesus,” John told him.
“Then I need to be baptized!” Abdul jumped up from the couch, nearly tipping over a lamp next to him. “I’ve decided to follow Jesus and I want everyone to know.”
“I think you’re ready,” John agreed. “We can go to the beach on Saturday.”
That weekend, Abdul stepped into the gentle waves next to John. He returned the smiles of new friends he had made over the past few weeks and some of John’s teammates who had come to witness his baptism.
He had gone from frightened, destitute, and alone to a child of hope in Jesus.
“Have you accepted Jesus as your Sacrifice and committed to following Him?” John asked.
Abdul nodded. “Yes.” He pinched his nose and prepared for immersion.
“I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” John dunked Abdul into the shallow sea and brought him up again.
Abdul let out his breath, grinning through the water running down his face. Jesus had given him a new start. In a short time, he had gone from frightened, destitute, and alone to a child of hope in Jesus.
Now, he couldn’t wait to tell anyone who would listen about the way Jesus had changed his life.
Pray:
- Pray that Muslim men and women who have experienced war and hardship would find peace in Jesus.
- Ask God to encourage Abdul to grow in his faith and give him boldness to share about the hope he has found.
- Pray for Frontiers field workers as they work with refugees, displaced people, and others facing difficult circumstances.
Devastated by a family crisis, Abdul couldn’t find a reason to go on. Then he discovered that God had a purpose for his life.
This account comes from a long-term worker. Names and places have been changed for security.