Most readers have likely read the account of brother Abdelrahem’s heart attack and death experience. There were a series of reports that had come in just before Abdelrahem’s emergency, but they were temporarily set aside. I hope to share the basics of these reports in this update.
One of the effects of the large number of Muslim people who have declared faith in Jesus Christ in the past weeks, is the uproar within the new Syrian government. It has become known that quite a number of sheikhs have become followers of Jesus, and the people, who have great respect for their sheikhs follow their lead.
Many of the men, sheikhs such as Ballout, Al-Hedmi, Mousa and others are well known in many regions, and their names are becoming familiar to many of the readers of these updates. The following story was relayed by Omar.
Sheikh Ballout, a brand new follower of Jesus, and sisters Hafiza, Soumia, as well as Jamila and an additional six women were kidnapped by fanatic religious soldiers and taken to an underground location in a nearby area southwest of Idlib. It was described as a place not even animals should be kept in. All the women were beaten and abused in the most vile ways by six Muslim women who had taken part in the kidnapping. Their hair was hacked off and their heads shaved. While the women were being beaten and humiliated, Sheikh Ballout was being horribly tortured. The fanatics hoped to get them to deny their newfound faith in Jesus Christ, but it did not work!
After the beatings and torture did not change their minds, a high-ranking official named Kilani and a Sharia judge named Shaheen, accompanied by another sheikh, arrived to confirm that they were to be executed. When Kilani saw Sheikh Ballout, he couldn’t believe his eyes. “Is that really you? What happened to you? What is this madness of you changing your religion after you have taught people for more than 40 years? What is the secret of your faith in Jesus?” Ballout answered, ”Jesus is the only Savior. He sacrificed His blood for all of humanity. Don’t we have the right to be loyal to Him? Check yourself. Time is running out! Listen to me, Jesus will open your heart. The sisters and I are not afraid of execution. We will be going straight into His presence. We will not deny Him!”
The judge then asked Sheikh Ballout and the sisters what they wanted before their execution. Ballout answered and said, “I would just like to pray for you.” As he began to pray for the men, although they were amazed by him, they began to experience great fear. As he continued praying, their fear subsided and the order was given to untie the captives and set them free. The Sharia judge, sheikh and the official, Kilani, asked for forgiveness of Ballout and the sisters. They also asked pardon from the Lord. They asked the Lord to give them the same kind of faith as what they just witnessed. They began to shout: Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Bless our hands, Sheikh! We are now with you, our master! Ballout quickly responded by telling them, “I am no master! I am a slave to the Lord Jesus and the sisters are loyal to Him. He is the Master! May the blessings of Jesus be upon you. If you can receive it, Jesus asks of you to be pure of heart, honest, and faithful.”
The end of this most difficult experience was that the Sharia officials and all six Muslim women bowed their knees before Jesus Christ, asking Him to become Lord of their lives. They unashamedly declared their faith, and Sheikh Ballout and the nine sisters were set free.
Before I continue with the story about Ballout, I would like to share the story of a special celebration that was held in Abdelrahem’s honor after his miraculous return from death.
Abdelrahem’s heart attack, death, and restoration was on March 26. Two days later, on March 28, he was once again on his way north. Abdulrahem shared this report. Many of the House of Blessing brethren (and sisters), Taher, Hisham, Ferial, Fatina, Abu Laila, Abu Shaker, Khalil, and Dergham, along with former sheikhs Ershad and Hayel who have been faithfully serving the Lord, spent the morning in prayer and then had a great celebration in honor of Abdelrahem and what the Lord had done for him. Pastries and vegetable and lentil soup were prepared and eaten in celebration. There was a concern that they would not have enough food and drinks for the crowd, but as has happened many times, God multiplied both the food and drink. Water sweetened with simple juice such as lemon juice, apple juice, and mint was made available and never ran out.
Abdelrahem then began to teach and people from everywhere in the area began to gather to hear what he had to say. It is reported that of all those in attendance, 1170 people, became believers and followers of Jesus.
In another location, a large number of Druze and some from an Alawite sect were in attendance when Abdelrahim spoke. Of the ones in attendance, 659 bowed their knees and accepted Jesus as their Savior and Messiah. Praise God! Abdelrahem reported that he taught from Romans 7:25, Matthew 28:19-20, and Hebrews 13:15, expounding on each as the Spirit gave him the words.
“I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:25
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:19-20
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Hebrews 13:15
After his teaching, they sang together, and the words were these:
You suffered once for all. You made a way. Jesus, in victory You rose! You made us all Your own. Now we are saved. Thank You God for saving me! Thank You God! Thank You, God for the cross! I called Your name and you heard my cry out of the grave and into life. Thank God for saving me!!!
I’ll have to admit, I would love to have heard the singing! Wouldn’t you?
After the singing and worship, they all hung onto each other, crying and kissing each other. As they did, the Holy Spirit came over them and filled them with His presence and power!
The same type of service was held by brother Omar in the Deir-ez-Zor region. He was there with Mufida, Jehad, Wazwaz, Abass, and Galeb. Omar taught using the same scriptures and 259 proclaimed faith in Jesus Christ.
In the Aleppo area, Zaltimo, Falah, Basam, Habib, Laith, Labiba, and Kefaya held teaching gatherings. Reports show that 215 accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
In the Idlib region, Jaafar, Sheikh Musse, Shaker, Bandar, Mahmoud, Baha, Khalil and sisters Hafeza, Soumia, and Jamela were there to help out. You will remember that these three women were numbered among the nine that had been beaten and humiliated in the testimony above.
With this report, I received word that Sheikh Ballout, Kilani, and Sheikh Shahen are among 33 other security officials who have come to faith and are being sought by government forces. They are for the time being hiding in a cave. If they are found, the Syrian Sunni government Sharia law officials will execute them.
On March 30th, I received a notice from Omar that he had sent Jaafar, Shaker, and Bandar to check on the brothers that were holed up in a cave on the side of one of the mountains between Hama, Homs, and Sweida so that they could be brought to Abdelrahem. According to the report, Shaker and Bandar remained at the bottom of the mountain to monitor the situation and Jaafar climbed up alone. After about an hour, a large force of men arrived in the area and went straight up the side of the mountain to the cave where they were all hiding. Not very long afterward, they heard a large explosion and the military force descended. The men evacuated from the location and went to let Abdelrahem and the others know what they had seen and heard. At that time, they still had no idea of what had happened.
Yesterday, March 31, I received the latest report on the situation. Jaafar found out that when they went to check on the men who were hiding in the cave, they were unknowingly being watched by some of the regime’s people. This brought the militants and they knew exactly where to go. They had come searching especially for Sheikh Ballout, Sheikh Shaheen, and Kilani, but found the 33 men instead. The militants demanded that they renounce their new-found faith in Jesus Christ, and be spared, but they refused. After screaming at them and telling them that they could die there and rot, they herded all of them into the cave and sprayed them with a poisonous gas. They then blew up the entrance of the cave and left them all for dead. Sheikh Ballout, Sheikh Shaheen, Kilani, and Jaafar were the only ones who had survived. All the men had been knocked out by the force of the explosion, but the 33 guards who had just accepted Christ and joined the three men, made a solid wall of protection in front of the four men and took the brunt of the explosion. They wanted the sheikhs to survive because of their knowledge and ability to teach others and so sacrificed themselves on their behalf. John 15:13 says, “No greater love is there than when a man lays down his life for his friends.” All 33 went into eternity. Praise God they entered Paradise as believers and followers of Jesus!
Jaafar said that they woke up later and began to pray. As they did, a light appeared with the dawn through an opening that appeared in the entrance to the cave that had been blown up. The four men were able to get themselves through the opening and began to hike down the side of the mountain.
The men walked until they came across a village where a small tribe of people was living. The name of the village Muktar (sheriff) was Sheikh Burhan. There were only 17 families, totaling about 130 people in the village. These people were dirt poor. They had nothing, not even water.
The sheikh approached the men and said, “You are blessed. What is your story? Tell me.” So, Jaafar said they told the sheikh everything. He also called Omar and the brothers to let him know what had happened. The sheikh then asked if they would pray for him. He said there was no goodness or blessing in their village. Ballout and Shaheen did as he asked and prayed for the man. After they prayed, either Ballout or Shaheen said to Sheikh Burhan, “Do you know why you are not blessed?” Burhan said, “Please tell me!” “You cheat people by selling milk and olive oil. God does not like cheating and will not bless it. You also do not help the poor under your responsibility.”
This stopped Burham in his tracks, and although first denying this, he soon saw that these men had received this information from Someone much greater than they. He finally admitted that the men had been shown his secrets. He soon gave in and said that they are only able to sell two or three times a year, but promised he would not cheat the village again.
Jaafar then opened the Scriptures to the village and taught from 1 Timothy 2:3-4, Jeremiah 32:27, and Psalm 91:7.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4
Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me? Jeremiah 32:27
A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Psalm 91:7
After teaching and much prayer, they thanked God for all He had done. Not only were these four men spared so they could continue on the course God had laid out for them, but the entire village of 130 became believers and followers of Messiah Jesus. Praise God!
And the stories will continue as our God continues drawing the harvest in. Soon and very soon, we are going HOME! I am not a fund raiser, but have an urgency to see the ministry of the House of Blessing through. If anyone else feels the same urgency, please feel free to contact me. Thousands of Bibles are needed, and thousands of students could make good use of teaching booklets. The rewards are not necessarily for this life, but they certainly are eternal — for a great many hungry and thirsty people for the Word of God. Thank You!
Forever in His Service,
Jake (aka Jack)
How Wonder-ful , the Angels are very busy rejoicing in Heavin with all the new repentant souls , both departed and still here . Thank you for this Jake . Good news.
Kevin
How Wonder-ful , the Angels are very busy rejoicing in Heaven with all the new repentant souls , both departed and still here . Thank you for this Jake . Good news.
Kevin