Many people are unaware of how the Kingdom of God has been increasing in number and influence in our world. Bad news is typically more prominent in the media. We might not recognize how the Kingdom of God is changing things because it is hard to understand how its influence works — God’s Spirit infiltrating the earth through His people. As we go into the world carrying truth, hope, and the presence of God, society is affected and can be renewed and restored. We may not know the timing of the process, and we may not even see the evidence at first. We may even see a total rejection of our message, but that will not stop truth from being spread. The influence of God’s Kingdom can’t be stopped. Most kingdoms influence from the top down, forcing matters through government decree. God’s Kingdom is meant to come from underneath, from the humble, often-unnoticed servants of others who instill values rather than enforce them. We as God’s people have more influence than we think. It may be hidden from our own eyes, but it’s there. If you carry the truth within you and live it out in this world, you are a vehicle for God’s restoration. Live the culture of God’s Kingdom and it will influence all others around it. Don’t underestimate the power of “the ripple effect.”
Now, on to the House of Blessing and “Divine Appointments”…
Today’s update involves the story of three high-ranking Iranian Shia clerics who found Jesus while traveling from Isfahan, Iran on their way to Mecca. Recall that these three religious leaders, Sheikh Morsi, Mullah Zanati, and Mullah Qabsiri, were led to the feet of Jesus by Abdelrahem and several of the other HOB brothers who happened to be riding on the same bus. This resulted in them returning back home without completing their planned trip. These three men, along with over 40+ members of their families were condemned to death because they refused to return to their Islamic faith. Sheikh Morsi and the two mullahs, Zanati and Qabsiri, were thrown off the top of a minaret in front of a large crowd of people and dozens of family members were executed.
More details in reference to the original story published on November 9 have now become available. There was an Islamic judge, by the name of Zazou, involved in the events. When the case of the clerics rejecting their Islamic faith for Christianity was brought before him, he was the one responsible for giving the death sentence, and the three men were soon afterward thrown to their deaths from the minaret. Now, there is more to this story — by the words of sister Rolla, a strange story indeed!
Out of a population of 2.25 million in the city of Isfahan, this same judge, Judge Zazou, came across Abdelrahem, Hayel, and Arshid on a city street near the bus station. As they were talking, the judge began telling then his side of the story concerning Morsi, Zanati, and Qabsiri, whom he had condemned to die. He had taken one of the Bibles these men had been carrying. In his own words, he had been so enraged by their conversion to Christianity that he took the Bible that very morning and tore it into pieces, then took the pieces home with him and eventually went to bed. When he awoke in the morning, there was the Bible next to him — no longer torn up as he had left it, but back in its original pristine condition. Now he was even more furious, but also startled! How was this even possible?
As he continued to tell the story to Abdelrahem and the brothers, he admitted that he was dealing with extreme anxiety ever since his ruling against the men and he had not been able to sleep well. As the men continued to talk, Judge Zazou invited them to join him at his house so they could continue their discussion in more depth. On the way to the judge’s house, Abdelrahem contacted Aylout and Omar who were near the area and asked them to join them. When they got there, they found out that an additional 29 Shiite clerics had been summoned to join them.
The first thing Abdelrahem did was pray for the judge. The prayer lasted about 10 minutes before the judge could calm down and then he told more of his story in front of the others. He said that at first he never slept, he refused to eat, and had no energy for anything. After looking into the ‘restored’ Bible and spending hours reading it, he realized he had made a huge mistake and judged the men wrongly. “They had every right to believe in Jesus Christ! This Book was absolutely true! Your prayer now has given me peace in my heart because I now also believe in Jesus Christ. You have been sent by the Lord. I have now read the entire 500 pages of the New Testament. It says that Jesus sacrificed Himself for us. His words are true and I will not compromise any of them. I will willingly sacrifice myself for him, and I have many people with me who will follow my lead in this.”
A bit of information was added by Omar and Abdelrahem. This judge happens to have a very high senior status among the Shiite Islamic leadership. Yet, he has now bowed his knee before Jesus as the true Messiah and Savior. All of the clerics present during the discussion at the judge’s house have also become believers and followers of Jesus. The situation, however, will be very difficult because when this is found out, it will be an automatic death sentence for all of them. This will reach right to the top of the regime in control. There is no mercy among the Shiites. Even high-ranking leaders such as the judge and his compatriots know that one cannot trust the Shiites, no matter what you do for them.
Abdelrahem says that these men are now truly believers and followers of Jesus. Whereas these mullahs have been teaching Islamic theology for decades, they are now students sitting on the floor as eager to learn as children. Everything from their past has been discarded and they are anxiously learning from the Bible. They now understand the difference between the Bible and other books and religions. They are very educated men but, after learning the real story about Jesus, consider it all a loss. They are now so engrossed in learning the Scriptures that they read, read, and read some more. And, they are memorizing everything they read! Abdelrahem asks us to pray for these men.
Judge Zazou, along with a number of the newly saved mullahs and members of the House of Blessing leadership traveled east to Kerman and Zahedan, Iran, where his home was originally. It was in a mosque between these two cities that another astounding miracle occurred. The report below is from brother Omar:
Peace be upon you, my brother Jack. This is Omar. Today was a truly magnificent day for the Gospel and the Word of the Lord. It was a day that entered the history of faith, shaking religions to the core. The Gospel was initially rejected but the power of the Lord in His greatness and glory prevailed, elevating His word as it should be. Judge Zazou, Father Aylout Eban, and many venerated sheikhs sat on the floor of the platform in the mosque and read from the Gospel from one single Bible in their possession. As they read, the elders with them echoed their words. The mosque’s walls and ceiling became illuminated by the light of the Gospel. A flock of white doves flew into the mosque and their cries were beautiful in chorus with the echoes of the Word of the Lord. More than a thousand people submitted to Jesus and His Word. The prayers offered were in Farsi and the people cried out, “Hallelujah! Praise and thanks be to You, Jesus!” People wept and sought forgiveness. Please, my brother Jack, pray for them to have access to the Old Testament now. The newly saved sheikhs have already memorized the New Testament, and teaching began in earnest today. Each of the leaders took a group and began teaching them in separate locations.
Brother Omar
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The main sheikh, a man named Najati, had apparently initially refused to listen to the Gospel with at least a thousand people in attendance rising up against those sharing the Gospel. But as it was read, God intervened in a very unexpected way. Praise God, these men and all those in attendance are now believers and followers of Jesus and will celebrate Thanksgiving (even though it is an American holiday) because they have so much to be thankful to their Lord and Savior for! Omar says that the Spirit of the Lord sat upon them and prayers were offered for those who requested them. The Lord Jesus was accepted with a very high spirit and high morale. Beautiful prayers and hymns were recited by those gathered. According to information I just received, the total number of sheikhs that accepted Jesus as their Savior as a result of Judge Zazou’s coming to Christ is 33. In addition to these 33 clerics there are also 17 mullahs that have accepted Christ as Lord. Each of these men have a following of between 650 and 1500 people.
Omar says that the mullah’s wives sometimes cry and other times laugh because they have been saved. To them it is like living in a dream, like they are living in God’s paradise on earth because they have come to know Christ. Their hearts feel very pure and they are at total peace because the Gospel fills their hearts with mercy and light. They don’t ask about food or anything else because all they want to do is study the Bible and ask questions — many questions! They have a great love for Jesus and are eager to learn more and more. Imagine that! Praise God!
There are a couple more reports that have come in but I will save them for the next update. I am going to share a word from Abdelrahem instead.
Peace be upon you and upon all who follow Christ. Peace from the heart, mind, and soul of all who pray for our well-being and success. I, along with my brothers and sisters, wholeheartedly congratulate you on this year’s Thanksgiving Day. I ask you to thank the Lord for the achievement we have made in spreading the Gospel and the words of Jesus. Raise your hands to heaven and look towards it; perhaps the Lord will come this day. I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving from the Lord, and may He reunite you with your children, grandchildren, and relatives in goodness, through the blessing of Jesus.
57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” I Corinthians 15:57-58
1 “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.” Psalm 107:1-2
I ask you to pray for our success and continuity in what we are doing, and that we may be reunited with Jesus in His Paradise, where there is eternal life. We are here serving the Lord as is our duty, and we pray with all our hearts that you may continue to live as you should, for all of it goes into the treasury of the Lord Jesus.
May the Lord bless you.
Your brother, Abdelrahem, and the elder brothers, servants of the Lord
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I do have a praise report to share. I am told that the sisters that were so badly burned by the acid attack are healing nicely. Several of the sisters have been diligently taking care of them and, besides constant prayers for them, have been applying some of Sister Shakira’s natural remedies. They are now just waiting for their hair to grow back. The brothers, Shahbandar, Murtada, and Dhurgham are in good condition and healing from their grievous injuries. Thank you all for your prayers!
In conclusion, several thousand copies of a 65-70 page teaching booklet, about the Blood of Jesus, have been printed and are en-route to distribution throughout Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Azerbaijan. Muslim sheikhs, mullahs, imams and Jewish Rabbis, who have recently accepted Jesus as their Messiah and Savior, are anxiously awaiting delivery. Thank you all for your prayers and your help in financing the work of the House of Blessing’s print shop. In the past months tens of thousands of Bibles and teaching booklets have been printed and distributed all across the Mideast. The need is enormous!! If anyone would like to help with the costs or has any questions, feel free to contact either of the email addresses below. May God bless you abundantly and, Thank You!
(Note: The photo above is not of the current booklets that have been sent out but rather of a previous order.)
Forever in His Service,
Jake (aka Jack) 541 408-2779