When Raef and Sawsan became Christians, they had to maintain the appearance of continuing to follow Islam for fear of discovery. But that came to an end when Raef’s father discovered his Bible. Thanks to your prayers and support, Raef and Sawsan know that they are not alone.

When Raef’s* father found his Bible, that’s when he realised his life was in danger.  

“One day, while my wife and I were away from home, my father entered our room and found the Bible,” Raef remembers. “He then confronted us with his discovery and learned about our new faith in Jesus.”  

“My father accused us of deceit, calling us infidels, and furiously said that we should be killed,” Raef continues. “He also threatened to harm us if we remained in the village any longer. Filled with fear, we hastily departed our home, leaving everything behind.” 

It can be difficult to understand the reality of life for secret Christians. But in places like Egypt, where Raef and his wife, Sawsan*, live, anyone who converts from Islam faces constant danger. And because of that, many converts lead double lives.  

Raef’s faith discovered  

“I lived with my wife Sawsan in a family house along with my parents,” Raef shares. “I used to work as a taxi driver to support my family; the taxi belonged to my father. My father was an imam. He was a fanatic Muslim who hated Christians.” 

When Sawsan’s brother converted to Christianity and shared his testimony, Raef and his wife encountered Jesus and also accepted Him as their Saviour. Things continued as they were for about three years. 

“Since our conversion, we joined a home church, and we embarked on a journey of growth and transformation, beginning to understand the significance of having an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ,” Raef says. “But things started to deteriorate when my father noticed that I had stopped going to the mosque on a regular basis like I used to.” 

That’s when Raef’s father discovered the couple’s faith and demanded they leave their home and village. 

“We discovered a secure community” 

Raef lost his job – the family’s only source of income – and his house, and he fell into depression. Amidst their daily challenges, he and Sawsan felt lost, unable to find hope and peace, even questioning if their decision to follow Jesus was correct. 

That’s when they met Open Doors local partners and, thanks to your prayers and gifts, they found a glimmer of hope.  

“We encountered numerous challenges spiritually, psychologically and financially,” Raef says. “However, we were saved thanks to the ministry that extended support to us in every aspect. They helped us find a place to stay and even provided the means for me to acquire a vehicle, enabling me to transport goods and regain income to provide for my family.  

“Not only that, but the ministry also offered psychological support through counselling sessions and nurtured our spiritual growth through a discipleship group. We discovered a secure and nurturing community to accompany us on our journey.” 

Please continue to pray for Raef and Sawsan. Although they have found renewed strength, as converts from Islam they must continue to live double lives, keeping their faith a secret. 

*Name changed for security reasons

Source and photo: Open Doors