AP

(Names and minor details have been changed)

Adil stiffened as the call to prayer reverberated from the many minarets rising over the city. Somewhere among those praying were the men who wanted him dead. His phone vibrated: another text: “We are watching you and will kill you.”

For the last week, Adil had been getting frequent insults and threats from unknown numbers. “Your mother is the offspring of a dog. So are your sisters and your wife.” The worst message was a video showing terrorist executions by slitting victims’ throats, with the caption: “You’re next.”

Adil changed his routes and varied his routines, always scanning his surroundings for stalkers. He did continue to work at the Christian bookshop, serving people from the Christian community and the occasional Muslim. Most people were friendly, but today, an angry delegation of church leaders confronted him. “Don’t help Muslims or speak to them of Jesus. The Taliban are after you. They’ll kill you—and us, too. Just focus on the Christian community.”

He used to agree with them, until he understood Jesus’ command to make disciples of all people, not just the receptive. Many locals didn’t know God and feared the grave, hell and evil spirits, like their prophet Muhammad, who succumbed to spells and didn’t know what would happen to him after death (Surah 46:9). Oh, that they could hear of the Saviour who wielded complete authority over the Evil One, even if this would enrage some people.

He would never forget Mahmood, that trembling Taliban man, who hesitantly opened the door to the shop and said, “Jesus sent me.” Adil welcomed him and gave him chai. Mahmood’s fear subsided as he unfolded his story. “I’ve come from Afghanistan. Jesus appeared to me in a dream and told me to go to the Christian bookshop in this city and get His book. I told my family I was sick and needed to go to the best hospital. After a 6-hour bus trip, I asked at the hospital for the Christian ghetto. From there, others pointed out this shop.”

Adil got goosebumps. Once again, God was using this Christian witness in the sea of Islam, by sending Mahmood here. Adil and Mahmood prayed, read the Bible together, and watched the Jesus film several times. Mahmood slept at Adil’s house and left the next day with resources to help him on his journey with Jesus. Personally, Adil accepted threats and danger as part of the job to present the gospel. but the next threats increased his consternation.

“We will kidnap your wife and use her for ourselves.” Followed by, “We know your movements. We will not leave you.”

Adil took his case to the police station. Officers read the threats, noted the various numbers, and confirmed they could trace them, but shook their heads. “These men are dangerous. If we act, we endanger ourselves. Leave the country if you can.”

This was not the first suggestion to find refuge in another country. It would be so much easier for his family. He’d had offers, but he said to the police, “I’m not leaving. God wants me here.”

They said, “Then, just keep quiet.” Adil sighed. Why would Muslim police want to help a kafir (infidel)? Instead, he confided in a few close friends who prayed and watched out for him.

These threats likely resulted because of converts Adil had baptised in the last weeks—Shia refugees disillusioned with Islamic violence in Afghanistan. Now several families wanted to follow Jesus. He was the only pastor they knew who dared to help them.

In the evening, his family of five gathered for their evening worship. Adil shared the news of customers in the bookshop, but didn’t mention the text messages or angry Christians. With faces and arms raised, the family sang the Lord’s praises and prayed for new believers. Adil read the Bible and had the last prayer, “Oh Lord, you said you’d be with us until the end of the age. You are with us here and now. May we pursue your will, not our own. Please protect us with the shed blood of Jesus.”

They lay down on the mattresses spread across the floor. While the others dropped off to sleep, Adil glanced at his phone: “We saw your kids on Faisal Road in the white van at 8:35 a.m. We will kidnap and kill them.” He groaned, turned his phone onto silent, and looked at those three young faces in deep sleep. They had their own struggles: Little Sarah endured public scorn from a teacher who called her to the front of the class and got the class to mock her for being a kafir. Sarah, though shaken, bravely returned to school, standing tall. Peter, with his speech impediment, couldn’t stand up to bullies who mocked his faith, and Boaz crumpled under the scorn of some classmates, often asking to take days off school.

Adil listened to the quiet breathing of his wife. She would have so much more freedom in another country, but she accepted his calling in life as her calling. He prayed: “As our powerful, faithful God with all authority in heaven and earth, I lay these threats before you. Thank you that you are good. Open people’s minds and hearts to understand the gospel so they can receive the forgiveness they work so hard for. Please protect my family like a hen hides her chicks under her wings.”

He drifted into a restless sleep. Memories surfaced: he could still taste that grit in the chapattis he had to eat those days in jail when the police arrested the team for selling Bibles in a remote, northern area. After five days of sporadic interrogations, beatings, and death threats, an angel appeared to him at night. “You must endure ten days of hardship before the gates will open.” In the morning, Adil shared the vision with the team. Five days later, the police released them with stern warnings: “Do not speak of Jesus.”

As soon as they got out, they contacted their families who had not heard from them. He could never forget those deep lines of worry etched on his wife’s face and her relief. Adil longed to protect her, but how?

Morning light seeped through the curtains. Adil read the latest message: “We will act soon.” He slipped the phone into his pocket as his wife straightened the bed. “The sheet is quite messy. You tossed and turned last night. I think you’re troubled. I’ve noticed it for several nights.”

He hesitated. “There’s a lot going on.”

Changing the subject he added, “I’m so glad for our kids. Remember the years when we thought we couldn’t have any? Then God gave us three. They are such a blessing.”

Not thrown off, she placed a hand on his arm. “What’s bothering you?”

He took her in his arms. “I didn’t want to tell you. The Taliban are tracking me. I don’t know when, where, or how they plan to strike. They watch our movements.” He knew she’d be thinking of different times when some friends and family had been killed or injured for being Christians.

With tears in her eyes, she put her arms around his neck. Jesus says: ‘Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life’ (Revelation 2:10).

Time stood still as he looked deeply into her eyes. She took to heart that verse to not give in to fear (1 Peter 3:6) and would continue to let him follow the Lord. He drank in her encouragement. She leaned on him, and he leaned on God, his rock of refuge. They both might tremble, but The Rock never did. As her tears flowed, Adil said: “You amaze me. Thank you. Our Prince of Peace promised, ‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world’” (John 16:33).

Together they prayed: “Father in Heaven, bless those who persecute us. Help us remain faithful. Thank you for Jesus who loved us and died for us when we were his enemies. Thank you for the blessing that comes with persecution. Help us carry your message to the lost. Please deliver us from the evil one. Amen.”

PostScript

That week, a heavy rain pounded their area, flooding streets and homes. People struggled to save their possessions. As the rain washed the streets, it washed away the terror and anger of the attackers. Priorities changed, threats ceased, and life settled back to normal. And Adil’s family grew in faith, perseverance, and Christian maturity (James 1:2-4).

– Dorcas Denness