Today’s update includes a message sent by Pastor Abdelrahem after he woke from his several day’s long coma. I have also included a short account of a dramatic experience where some of the brothers were threatened by well known mullahs and their militant enforcers. Don’t miss it. It’s quite the story!
As many of you know, Abdelrahem had a severe heart attack. According to the doctors attending him, he had also suffered a stroke. Information I received expressed great concern that the lack of proper oxygen would result in brain damage. The only piece of equipment used was a heart monitor. Without proper equipment it was difficult to know the real condition of the pastor’s heart, kidneys, or other organs, but everyone praying for him was believing for a miracle — even if it meant a “Lazarus” type of miracle. One thing that had been determined by the HOB leadership was that, no matter what the result, the House of Blessing would continue its mission just as it has to this point.
Dr. Nibras described how difficult it was for the HOB community that Abdelrahem was suffering as he was. After all, he was not just a pastor to them but also a father, grandfather, uncle, and elder brother to them all. Now, they faced the possibility once again that he might not survive, and this was not the first time. It was a little over a year ago that Abdelrahem was clinically dead for 23 minutes. This was verified by a doctor at a hospital in Amman, Jordan. Then there was a second time he was almost lost. Then he suffered greatly from a mustard gas attack. Now, this heart attack. Yet, it seems God had something else in mind.
Christians have suffered for the entire 2,000 years of the Church Age. Suffering has always been, and will always be until we are called home. In one of Dr. Nibras’ emails, he mentioned the instance with Simon Peter where Jesus told him Satan wanted to sift him like wheat but Jesus prayed for him that his faith would not fail. Jesus didn’t prevent Satan from attacking Peter. This explains why we sometimes pray for miracles in difficult situations but we don’t get the answers we are looking for. God never promised to keep us from difficulties, trials, tribulations, or even persecution. He did, however, promise to help us overcome them. We know from Genesis 50:20 that God takes the things intended for evil by Satan, and turns them into His good purposes. This is God’s promise to anyone who has committed themselves to the Lordship of Jesus.
As the apostles were never truly bound — even when confined in nasty dungeons with open running raw sewage, as Paul was, so the missionaries are not really bound today. The early Christians were beaten, tortured and, with the exception of the Apostle John, all the apostles were brutally martyred. This has gone on throughout the entire Church Age, and has now escalated to a degree greater than all that has happened in the past centuries of Church history. Yet, the work of evangelism continues, and will not stop until that great Trumpet blast calls us all home.
Now, on to Pastor Abdelrahem’s message to us all after waking up from his coma.
Peace be upon you, my brothers and sisters, my beloved ones, and all who love Jesus. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the prayers that came from your hearts, and your prayers have reached the Lord in heaven. A question comes to mind, and I want to offer an answer. It is a question that presses upon us as believers: Will God’s love for me truly last? Will the Lord’s love for me continue? Will my faith weaken? No, absolutely not! Continue and trust in our Lord, for He is merciful to us. These thoughts came to me after a coma that lasted several days. While in the coma, believe me, I could hear everything around me, even while I was with the Lord in heaven. There are, incidentally, things I saw and experienced which I am not allowed to speak of. It is a strange and wondrous place, frightening at first, but for believers, no, absolutely not! It is due to the peace we have with the Lord. It is because we know that we belong to Him. I don’t want to prolong this, but I desire for you to know that I am speaking to you in good health. It is all because of the Lord’s mercy that overwhelmed me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Here is something I would like to share with you now as to the question mentioned above:
Psalm 103:17 tells us that the Lord’s love (His mercy) is from everlasting to everlasting for those who fear Him, and His righteousness is for the children’s children … His love is also faithful — a love that never fails! In earlier verses we find these words:
11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him. 14For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:11-14
God’s love for us surpasses our capacity for love, mercy, and loyalty to one another. Because of this great love, our sins are blotted out, and as it says in 1 Corinthians 1:30, once we submit to Jesus our Savior, we are clothed with His righteousness, not our own. Does this prevent us from falling into sin? Not yet! We have all sinned more than we would like to admit, and we have sometimes suffered the consequences of our sins. But this verse tells us that He knows our human nature; we are made of dust — of flesh and blood. He knows our weaknesses and shortcomings. But as we grow in our walk with Christ, we become more like Him. And through His blood, He has given us the robe of His righteousness to wear. The Father sees us in this robe, clothed in righteousness through the blood of Jesus.
Understanding the phrase “from everlasting to everlasting” in verse 17 of this psalm is crucial, for it tells us that God has loved us “from everlasting.” It means that He doesn’t just love us now, but has loved us from eternity past. He loved His true children before they were created. He knew us before He established the earth, and He will love us forever. We cannot comprehend eternity, but one day we will! Will God’s love for His children fade or disappear? No. God’s love for those who have chosen and accepted Him as their one Lord and Savior extends to eternity, even before we were born — and forevermore!
So, how should we live? We should cherish God’s great love and live as ambassadors for the Most High, following the guidance of His Holy Spirit until our short journey in this fleeting world is over, until He calls us to our eternal abode. After all, each one of us has been part of His plan from the very beginning! Continue on your path, keep going. The Lord’s appointed time is nearer than you can imagine. Believe me, the Lord loves us very, very much. I can’t describe the place I’ve been taken to once again; please forgive me. But you will know in time because of the Lord’s love for you. We will cooperate with one another and work together to do what seems impossible. We will bring as many souls as possible to faith in Jesus. This will save them from hell and grant them entry into the Lord’s paradise and eternal life in His kingdom. That is true salvation. May the Lord bless you, my brothers and sisters. I love you with all my heart. Never forget that. No matter what happens, I am merely His servant and a servant of the Lord’s work. No matter how far we advance in this life or how successful we become in His work, the Lord will honor us with His glory and might if we follow the directions of His Spirit.
Your brother and servant of the Lord and His work,
Abdelrahem
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As mentioned at the beginning of today’s Mideast Update, below is a brief story sent to me by Dr. Nibras of a very unusual event that happened at the time of an attack on some of the brothers.
My brother Jack, peace be upon you and upon all the beloved of Jesus. What happened today (July 27, 2026) is unprecedented. Ma’touq, Aylout, Omar, Shahbandar, Mortada, and several thousands believers were together when they were attacked. Their prayers and teachings were stopped. The famous Mullah Al-Dasouqi was involved in this attack. There was a heated discussion with the brothers in the courtyard of the mosque, which had been converted into a church. Along with Mullah Al-Dasouqi, Mullah Al-Jarwanji, demanded that they renounce their faith or face execution. Much was said and the brothers looked like they would lose their lives.
A large force was present, and Omar, Aylout, and their companions gathered in the courtyard. The brothers asked Al-Dasouqi if they would be allowed to have a farewell prayer, invoking their Lord Jesus. Al-Dasouqi sneered and told them to be sure to ask God where Jesus was. The brothers then prayed, calling on Jesus. They also used a trumpet during their prayer. Suddenly, a bright light descended from the sky and split the mosque’s pillars in two. Everyone was astonished and of course, terrified. Al-Dasouqi was stunned and realized that the Lord’s hand is above all things. He and more than 500 of the militant forces present ended up becoming believers. Is not Jesus a great Lord? May the Lord bless you.
Your brother and servant of the Lord,
Dr. Nibras
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There was much going on at the time of Abdelrahem’s heart attack. Many people, including high ranking sheikhs and mullahs came from long distances. Some might remember that there were a number of sheikhs and mullahs who had found Jesus through HOB missionaries during the funeral processions in Iran. These men then decided to take the message with them down to Mecca where many were participating in the “Umrah.” Many were reached with the Gospel and healed of various physical ailments, blindness, as well as many other issues. As I understand it, a large number of them who had been reached with the Gospel were from Najran (southwestern Saudi Arabia) but decided to travel north to see and hear Pastor Abdelrahem. They came to request that teachers be sent back with them to their home locations to teach the Scriptures. (Incidentally, this is a location where it is impossible to send Bibles. If any teachers were to go to Najran, they would have to know their Bibles very well by memory). Over 5,000 had gathered outside of the location where Pastor Abdelrahem was staying before his heart attack and many more arrived afterward. Now that he was in a coma, they joined thousands of others praying for his healing. How blessed they are to have seen this mighty miracle!
I am sure there will be much more to tell as this story continues to unfold. Thank you Lord for your mercy, grace, and longsuffering! Thank you for the Blood that sets us free from sin and reverses our eternal destiny!
Thank you all for your prayers and your support. The printing press is running again. As funds come in, they are able to buy more paper and ink and continue printing Bibles and Teaching / Discipleship Booklets. If you have any questions, feel free to contact either of the email addresses below. God bless you all.
Forever in His Service,
Jake (aka Jack)