By a Team Expansion worker
Persecution
Yusef* is one of the young leaders among the “Zephyr” people in the nation we call Valor. Yusef, who had his arm amputated as a child, was one of the first people our teammates met while prayer-walking about six years ago. When he accepted Christ as a teenager, his family and friends ridiculed him, withheld food from him, and kicked him out of his house.
But Yusef remained faithful and continued to share his faith with those in his village. The Lord has protected and provided for him over the years and he is now a university student living in the capital city. Yusef has baptized numerous people from his village as well as fellow students. He is leading and facilitating churches in his home village, surrounding villages, and among university students.
Yusef has been sharing his faith with Dona, an older brother who has been open to the Gospel. But when Dona noticed that Yusef had taken people from their village to participate in a Christian training, he was furious. He locked Yusef in a room and severely beat him and tried to suffocate him. When Yusef escaped from the room, his mother told him that he was no longer her son and his brother destroyed his phone and computer.
Yusef was heartbroken when he asked our church to pray for him. He has endured unthinkable difficulties since accepting Christ. We continued to pray with and for him.
Redemption
About a month after Dona beat and strangled Yusef, Dona contacted him and asked for money. Yusef told him he didn’t have much money, but that he would loan him all that he had. Dona took the money and never apologized or repented for his actions.
Then, just a couple weeks ago, Yusef shared at church that his brother had been asking more about his faith and was now ready to accept Christ!
Dona had been astounded at the way Yusef had forgiven him and even helped him despite the horrible way that he had treated him. When he asked Yusef why he had forgiven him, Yusef stated that he forgave his brother because Christ had forgiven him first when he was a sinner, unworthy of God’s grace.
Yusef and his mentor continue to meet with Dona and he plans to be baptized soon!
Action
You can be a part of the story. Help create Pools in the Desert in this dry land and share the Gospel with more people like Yusef and Dona. Our team has an amazing vision to reach the entire country and the surrounding countries and God is already working in mighty ways. Learn more and get plugged in at https://pools.raiselysite.com/
*Names in this story have been changed
