HOW A DREAM AND A BIBLE DISGUISED BY TAPE CHANGED YASIN’S LIFE

When Yasin* from IRAQ first took a Bible home, he covered the title in tape. He had to go undercover. He knew how dangerous it was for an Iraqi Muslim to own a Bible. But he was soon to take an even riskier step: deciding to become a Christian and share the gospel.

The first time Yasin read the Bible, he cried. “The first thing I read in this Bible in my own language was Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount,” he remembers. “I cried because of the beautiful words in it. The words of Jesus gave me peace in my heart.”

Though brought up in a Muslim home, Yasin wasn’t content in his faith. “Until I became an adult, I followed Islamic law and went to the mosque, but I was not comfortable with it,” he says. “I did not have much faith in Islam. It was a habit – but not true worship.” He prayed, asking God to reveal Himself.

A Miraculous Dream

Eventually, an answer came in a dream. “I saw someone coming towards me,” Yasin says. “He was so beautiful. He put his hand on my head and said, ‘You are my beloved child; this is the way, follow me.’” A Christian friend said, “This is God showing Himself to you.”

Yasin met a local pastor, a convert from Islam, and read the Bible for the first time. After attending a conference by Open Doors partners, he decided to follow Christ.

Yasin’s Transformation

Yasin kept his faith secret, even from his wife, Nara*. When he finally told her, she was horrified. But he asked her, “What do you prefer – the violent man I was before, or the servant I’ve become because of my new faith?” His transformation was undeniable.

Violence and Death Threats

Yasin began sharing the gospel with others. His brother, informed by a local mullah, attacked him multiple times. “He tried to kill me several times,” Yasin says. “One time, he broke my nose.” Others in the community also persecuted him. Someone even threw a firebomb at his house.

Despite the threats, Yasin’s faith remained strong. “The persecution is continuous,” he says, “but there is no other way; I want to give everything to God.”

Yasin’s family find faith

Over time, Yasin’s wife and children also chose to follow Jesus. “My daughter is a master’s student and now evangelises to people and is also preaching the gospel, like me and my son,” Yasin says. But their faith has come at a cost. The children remain unmarried due to being seen as ‘infidels’. Yasin had to close his shop and now works as a shepherd.

Still, he says, “Jesus offered Himself for me. He was insulted, He died on the cross. He did this all to redeem me. I will not deny or leave Him.”

God’s Mission

Yasin tried to leave his village, but God called him to stay. “I know God wants to use me here. I know that God has a mission for me, to bring the good news to my village.” Two people who once insulted him have now become believers and attend church with him.

*Name changed for security reasons