Abu Kathir (Timothy Abraham)

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Abu Kathir is a former Muslim who lived in a farming village in Egypt. A native Arabic speaker, Abu actively tried to convert Christian missionaries in his country to Islam.

I consider myself privileged and honored to share about my journey with Christ in 
Egypt. It was a young man from Pennsylvania who shared Christ with me while I tried 
to convert him into Islam. Right after my conversion I was baptized secretly in 
Cairo. Filled with the joy of salvation, I could not hide or deny Christ anymore. 
Therefore, when my childhood friend asked me if Christ was crucified, I answered, 
"Yes!" and explained why. He prayed with me, for the first time, to receive Christ. 
He was shaking vehemently and perspiring profusely every time he prayed with me. 
He could see how mighty the name of our Lord Jesus was. 

My former leaders in the Islamic fanatical group, desiring to know who the 
spearhead was, and threatened to kill him if he would not tell them everything 
about my evangelism. Sadly, he betrayed me and I was beaten up in front of the 
mosque where I had formerly preached Islam zealously. In their sight I was a 
blasphemous infidel who deserved to be killed unless I would recant. They regarded 
my conversion as the most horrendous form of desecrating Islam and the Quran. 

Since my secret conversion was now made public and Muslims plotted to kill me, 
I had to flee. I was hunted by Muslims from my village in the Delta, to Ismalia 
until I arrived in Cairo where my Christian friends lived. Yet Christians were not 
willing to shelter me and I had to go back to the village, seeking refuge in His 
protective hands. I came back from Cairo and found an angry mob of Muslims filling 
up our house. My mother was wearing the garment of mourning, dressed in black as 
is the custom in Egypt. Muslim women yelled at me, "Your mother doesn't deserve all 
this from you. Why cause her all this grief7" Another woman lamented, "Poor mother!
Her son left her for the Christian infidels. If I were her, I would kill my son for 
running after the infidels like a dog." I received a letter from a friend in Jordan 
who reported that my father was walking down the streets in Jordan weeping bitterly
as Muslim laborers there reproached him severely. He stayed sick in bed for a
month because of this until he and I talked on the phone. 

It is absolutely unforgettable that outraged Muslims broke into our house 
barbarically. My mother knelt down at the feet of our neighbor "Sayed" begging him 
to spare my life and kill her instead. In such indescribable agony, my mother 
disowned and disinherited me before all people in my village. I love my mother 
more dearly than any person in this world, but no human power, regardless of how 
gigantic it is, can separate me from the love of Christ. I will always live for 
Jesus. 

For the first time in my life, my Bible, all my Christian books, and music tapes 
were confiscated and burnt. I decided to flee from the Delta region to Cairo. Even
though the police were tracking me down, the Lord blinded their eyes and
protected me. In Cairo, I was hiding with an Egyptian Baptist friend who was
comforting me all the time. I broke down when he read,

"So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were
counted worthy to suffer shame for His name" (Acts 5:41).

I am grateful to God for providing this Baptist friend who discipled me, teaching
me to live a victorious life affluent in worship and thanksgiving. He gave me a
pocket Arabic New Testament and told me frankly that his parents were afraid that
if they continued to hide me they would be in jail forever. I had nowhere to go.
I stayed in Egypt as a secret Christian for five years not knowing what the
future would hold.  God Himself became my joy and He provided a way of escape out
of Egypt.

Now I am living in the United States, and I am fervently preaching the Gospel of
our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. I am preaching His hope and joy over the radio,
in churches, and even in the Middle East, as I record my radio programs for
Muslims there.

I was once blind and now I can see.  I believe Muslims can see the Light of the
World, Christ Himself.  I would be thrilled to get mail from my Muslim brothers
and sisters as well as others.  My email address is cgcs@nando.net with a note
saying "To Timothy Abraham".

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