“I want to be baptized,” said Abdul, a Middle Eastern refugee. “Is it possible for me?”
International Mission Board missionary Otis Neumann, who has spent the last 14 years working among refugees, listened as the young man’s story came tumbling out.
RELATED: Check out more stories on international missions.
Abdul was only a child when raiders invaded the quiet, isolated countryside where his family lived. His father was murdered and his older brother fled for his life. Abdul was left, terrified and alone. With nowhere to escape, his father’s murderers became his new family.
Stunning forgiveness
Years passed, and one day, Abdul’s older brother returned. The time had come to avenge their father’s death. But instead, Abdul’s brother offered an extravagant forgiveness to the ones who had brutally killed their father and torn their family apart. It was a stunning turn of events in a culture where cycles of violence and retaliation are the way of life.
In the intervening years, somewhere along the way, Abdul’s brother had heard the gospel and began to follow Jesus.
Abdul was incredulous. He recalled the years of terror and fear and urged his brother to take blood as vengeance for their father. But instead, Abdul’s brother spoke about the peace he found in Jesus. He shared the gospel with Abdul, unsure how he would respond.
Soon, Abdul decided — with their father gone and his brother now head of the family — he, too, would become a follower of Jesus. The peace of God enveloped him, restoring years of anger and loss.
Later, when Muslim leaders began enforcing extremist versions of their religious law, it became clear they would have to leave their homeland to escape severe persecution — and likely death — for their faith in Christ.
‘Washed away’
And so, Abdul fled. He walked for many months, crossing entire countries on foot, by bus, or train, using whatever means he could, until finally, he reached a place where he could seek asylum.
It was there another Middle Eastern refugee befriended Abdul and brought him to a local church, where he met Neumann’s family.
“He described that from the moment his brother shared the gospel with him those many years ago, the anger and bitterness and pain that he had felt his whole life just washed away,” Neumann said. “And he felt peace, because of God’s grace to him.”
Not long after their conversation, Abdul was baptized. Neumann watched him become an integral part of their church, showing up early every Sunday to help with set up and break down. Abdul’s deep hunger for community led him to serve any way he could, even when it meant going to great lengths to be there.
“He was walking 45 minutes every time the church was open,” Neumann said. “Sometimes he would show up wet and cold, or he would walk in the dark.”
So, when a U.S. church partner gave a special gift to support their work, Neumann knew exactly what he wanted to do with the extra funds.
“We were able to buy him a bike, and now he’s cruising around town, he can get to church, and he has joined several different serving teams,” Neumann shared.
Neumann’s family has seen God move in miraculous ways among refugees during the last decade, bringing many people to faith from countries that are historically closed to the gospel. He marveled at God’s faithfulness to make His name known among all people, especially those most difficult to reach, like Abdul and his brother.
“Along the way, witnesses invisible to us, somehow found Abdul’s older brother somewhere when he was just a teenage boy, and they shared the gospel with him,” Neumann said. “We don’t know who discipled him, but he was able to return home and offer forgiveness to his father’s murderers and share the gospel with his younger brother.”
Bold faith
And now that brother, Abdul, is growing in community as part of a local church.
At his baptism, Abdul expressed resolute commitment to Christ, whatever the cost. Prepared for the reality of what awaits him at home if he is not granted asylum, he told his church family, “Whether they kill me or not, I’m a Christian.”
Some names have been changed for security
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Kristen Sosebee and originally published by the International Mission Board.
Share with others: