April 30, 2008
As if life in Iraq isn't difficult enough - imagine being a young man with a wife and three children and suddenly going blind. When this happened to Hassan, he despaired. How could he provide for his family? Then he heard about a doctor in Baghdad who might be able to help him.
The night before they were to see the doctor, Hassan's wife prayed for him in the names of Hussein, Ali and Mohammad. The last name he heard before he fell asleep was the name of Jesus. At 3:00 AM he suddenly had a vision of incredible bright light - so bright that he couldn't see anything else.
At first he was afraid, but then he felt a warm, comforting feeling, and then he realized that he could see again! He woke up his wife and tried to convince her, but she wouldn't believe him until he poured water for her and started telling her the colors of things in the room. When dawn came, they returned to their home in southern Iraq without having seen the doctor.
When they arrived home, all the relatives wanted to know what the doctor had said. Instead of telling them what had happened, Hassan took the tea pot his mother brought into the room and started pouring tea. Everyone was screaming with joy; relatives and friends from all over came to congratulate him. Many asked WHO had healed him and suggested Hussein, Mohammad or Ali. Hassan's answer was always that he did not know, but the question was always in his mind.
One day he decided to see a Christian friend of his late father who told him that the Bible would tell him who had healed him. Hassan didn't have a Bible, so he went to a church in his city, and when the nun gave him the Book, he hid it under his jacket. That night, when everyone was asleep, Hassan and his wife read passages and discovered that Jesus is the healer.
When his mother came to visit, he showed her the Bible and said, "This is the One who healed me!" His mother was angry. "No! That book belongs to the Christians. Don't read it!" She left, only to return a short while later with Hassan's brothers who beat him and his wife.
Hassan moved his family to another part of the city, but a gang came and kidnapped him and beat him. After three days, they pulled out an electric drill and held it next to his throat, but when the electricity was cut, his captors let him go. Several months later, he was kidnapped again and was again beaten for several days.
After the second kidnapping, Hassan was able to get his family to neighboring Syria, but even there he is not safe. Since arriving there, he's received two very clear death threats which have forced him to change either his job or his housing.
And yet, Hassan and his wife continue to grow in their walk with the Lord!
THE PRAYER REQUESTS:
- Pray for Hassan and his family as they are being discipled in their new faith, and ask that his relatives in Iraq will come to know Jesus as Hassan does.
- Pray for Hassan's kidnappers, that they, too, will come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.
- Pray for an end to violence being used as an answer to problems in Iraq, and that miracles would continue to point the way to Jesus.
Seeing is Not Yet Believing
Volume 2 - Issue 1 Jan 5, 2009
Seeds Need Water
Volume 1 - Issue 24 - Dec 9, 2008
Paying The Cost
Volume 1 - Issue 23 - Dec 6, 2008
Waiting to Flower
Volume 1 - Issue 22 - Nov 30, 2008
No Issue
Volume 1 - Issue 21 - Nov 15, 2008
No Issue
Volume 1 - Issue 20 - Oct 30, 2008
Fasting for the Future
Volume 1 - Issue 19 - Oct 15, 2008
Faith Rewarded
Volume 1 - Issue 18 - Sept 30, 2008
Don't Grow Weary?
Volume 1 - Issue 17 - Sept 15, 2008
The Father's Dilemma
Volume 1 - Issue 16 - Aug 30, 2008
One Extra in Chapel
Volume 1 - Issue 15 - Aug 15, 2008
Rescued
Volume 1 - Issue 14 - Jul 30, 2008
Sacrifice
Volume 1 - Issue 13 - Jul 14, 2008
Finally Persuaded
Volume 1 - Issue 12 - Jun 29, 2008
Kingdom Workers Opposition
Volume 1 - Issue 11 - Jun 15, 2008
The Sowers
Volume 1 - Issue 10 - May 30, 2008
A Love Story
Volume 1 - Issue 9 - May 14, 2008
Who Healed You
Volume 1 - Issue 8 - Apr 29, 2008
Breaking Dividing Walls
Volume 1 - Issue 7 - Apr 14, 2008
Almost Persuaded
Volume 1 - Issue 6 - Mar 30, 2008
The Hunter
Volume 1 - Issue 5 - Mar 14, 2008
From Morning to Dancing
Volume 1 - Issue 4 - Feb 28, 2008
The Bonds of Brothers
Volume 1 - Issue 3 - Feb 14, 2008
Found
Volume 1 - Issue 2 - Jan 30, 2008
An Invitation to Join with Us
Volume 1 - Issue 1 - Jan 14, 2008
