It's a God Thing

I went to church yesterday and heard a very powerful story, and sometimes you just feel this need to share it. So, here it is.

A gentleman who just joined our church, Mike, came to the front to share the story. He is from Egypt, and his family was a good, good friend of former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. Although I don't know a lot about Sadat, he was a man who promoted peace among people, religious freedom, and put an end to the Israeli-Egyptian wars that were going on at the time. He actually won a Nobel Peace Prize for bringing peace between the Arabs and the Israelis. In Mike's words, President Sadat was his hero. The people of Egypt practice Islam, and are called Muslims and believe that you get to heaven by good deeds, and Allah is their God. Apparently, there are underground churches for those who believe differently. If you worship another God in public, you can be sent to jail, tortured or killed on the spot.

In 1981, President Sadat invited Mike and his family to a ceremony where President Sadat would be honored. Mike was to sit in the first row, and President Sadat sent a limo to pick him up. For some reason, Mike said he was unable to move, he was "frozen in his tracks" and when the limo came, he didn't get in. He watched the ceremony on television, where President Sadat was assassinated, along with the first two rows of people - government officials, dignitaries, and the general public. And, today, he believes he was saved by God that day he couldn't get into the limo.

Mike decided to leave his country, and was put on a "hit list" subsequently in his country. He came to the United States, was invited to a bible study on a chance meeting and there he learned that he could be saved by God's grace. He's lived here ever since, and has spread the word of God everywhere he goes.

But, this story may not have a happy ending afterall. Mike will return to Egypt to visit in two weeks. The same Egypt where his name is on a "hit list", where he is a marked man, where he can be murdered on the spot for believing in Christianity. And, when asked why he would do that, he replied, "I would rather live just one more day in this freedom, than have my people live 100 years of bondage in Egypt. I have to share my story, and spread the word." Wow.

Please pray for Mike, and the people of Egypt.