by a Team Expansion worker in N Africa
When I first met Zaya* he was incredibly fearful and even hesitant to talk to a foreigner who is a Christian.
He had been in the military and police back under the old dictator. He had been part of internal security and knew what the police and military were capable of doing.
He knew that meeting with me to ask questions about Christianity and to read the Bible could get him in a lot of trouble.
He had heard reports of Islamic groups executing Christians and was constantly looking over his shoulder in fear. As I began to share with him the Gospel, some of his fear began to recede, and the more he heard,
the more he wanted to know more about Jesus.
I gave him a small New Testament, and he went home to read it. He would stay up late at night and lock himself in the bathroom to read the Bible out of fear that a family member or friend would see him and turn him into the police or leak his name to an Islamic group.
When he read the Gospel of Matthew, he said he felt a peace unlike anything else and he knew he needed to follow Christ. I warned him of the difficulties and persecution that may come, especially with his background.
He was well aware of it and insisted that he wanted to start a new life in Christ. This past month he was baptized and has been learning how to share his faith!
*Name changed
