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Son of Hamas Leader Gives His Life to Christ

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Son of Hamas Leader Gives His Life to Christ Away from Islam and into the Light Son of Islamic Leader Story by Christa Kinde Son of Hamas Leader gives his life to Christ In some ways, it was a perfectly normal eldest son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, one of a Bible study. Curious, Joseph accepted the From that day forward, the members of his The church’s vision statement is to, “Boldly dear to myself, so that I may finish my race day—just another Sunday in just another the most popular Palestinian leaders of the tract and began reading the Scriptures. One new church considered themselves Joseph’s challenge the false faith of the unbelieving with joy, and the ministry which I received small church. As the recently established Islamic Resistance Movement, better known verse in particular turned Joseph’s world adopted family and began to look out for world with the truth that Jesus is the only from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel congregation took their seats, a young man as Hamas. This political, social, and paramil- upside down. Love your enemies (Matthew him. Even though they could not possibly Way, Truth, and Life.” Joseph’s presence in of the grace of God (Acts 20:24). In one slipped through the doors. He stood in the itary organization’s ultimate aspiration is to 5:43-45a). This was something he had never relate to this young man’s experiences, they the church seemed to be a challenge from of his television interviews, Joseph boldly back as Pastor Matt introduced the topic of eliminate the nation of Israel and replace it heard before, but it was something he wanted could show him the love of God. God. They sensed that the Lord did not want stated, “I don’t want to die, and I don’t want his message—Islam. with a Palestinian Islamic state. It is blamed to understand. Joseph attended the meeting them to hide Joseph’s testimony, as if it were to pretend that I like to die. I love to live. for numerous attacks in the West Bank and and began to read the Word of God. Matt said, “He’s not just out there on his a light under a bushel. After Joseph agreed I love to serve my Lord, but if this will be “Many people think that the problem with the Gaza Strip. Many nations, including the own anymore; he’s at the heart of the daily to go public, steps were taken to attract the how I prove my faith, I ask God to give me Islam is that [some of] its followers are radi- United States, consider Hamas to be a ter- For months after that initial encounter, life of a small, growing church.” Joseph is media’s attention. patience to do it.” cal fundamental extremists, but that’s sim- rorist organization. Joseph studied the Bible in secret, compar- often at his pastor’s house, spending time ply not the case,” Matt began. He explained ing its teachings side by side with the Koran. with Matt’s family. The Palestinian is always “Going public with Joseph’s story would do Matt says that the church receives emails through an analogy that the problem with Joseph grew up during turbulent times. Convinced that Christianity held the truth, ready to help when a church member needs two things,” explained Matt. “First, it legiti- from Muslims all over the world who have Islam is not a matter of extremism; the very Protests and raids were commonplace occur- Joseph placed his faith in Jesus Christ and assistance moving furniture and is an active mized his conversion. We wanted to stand secretly converted to Christianity. His hope foundations of the Muslim religion needed rences, and funerals for rebels killed in the became a secret believer. Only a handful of part of the prayer chain. with him and state that we recognized the is that these individuals will find the cour- to be questioned. uprisings took place almost every day in the other Palestinian Christians knew of his con- fruits of his walk, we baptized him, and we age to stand up and declare their faith, even cemetery next door to his childhood home. version, and as he became increasingly com- Matt continued, “We baptized Joseph in the continue to fellowship with him. Second, we if it means they’ll lose everything. “It would As Matt outlined some of the Koran’s teach- Like all the other children in his hometown, mitted to his faith, he knew that he needed Pacific Ocean, and not many weeks later, a didn’t want to hide. As Americans, we have shake the very foundations of Islam.” Matt ings, the young man in the back quietly he demonstrated his bitter hatred for the to make a difficult decision. Muslim men young woman in our congregation was also the freedom to openly practice our faith, asks that Christians everywhere join Joseph slipped into a chair. This might have been Israeli soldiers who were their enemies— who convert forfeit their lives, so Joseph baptized. She was an Orthodox Jew, and her and our vision statement says that we’ll in praying for his father, his mother, and his just another sermon, and at that moment, throwing stones, burning tires, and shouting would have to give up everything—his heri- parents disowned her that day. It was really boldly challenge the false faith of an unbe- younger siblings—that they would come to their visitor was just another face in the insults. As a teenager, Joseph was appointed tage, his homeland, and his family. He came amazing to see those two—one a former lieving world. Even if it wouldn’t be an easy faith in Jesus Christ as well. crowd, but it would not be long before president of the Islamic Student Movement. to America seeking religious freedom. Palestinian Muslim and one an Orthodox road, we needed to go out with the story.” Joseph’s story would come out—a story that Following in his father’s footsteps seemed Jew—getting along, caring for one another Matt’s vision is that other Christians will is nothing short of miraculous. his life’s natural course. Yet indeed I also count all things as family. If that’s not a demonstration of Exposed to the Light find the confidence to invite Muslims to loss for the excellence of the knowl- God’s peace, I don’t know what is.” When the FOX News special, “Escape read the Bible, just as that one Christian When Matt first encountered Joseph at a Then, Joseph was taken in a raid by the from Hamas,” was aired a few months later, tourist with a missionary heart offered that edge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for gym and invited him to visit his church, he Israelis—arrested, blindfolded, hurried to a “And everyone who has left houses Joseph was suddenly the focus of the inter- invitation to Joseph. “Christians don’t have whom I have suffered the loss of knew nothing about the young man’s past— transport, and locked in a tiny prison cell. or brothers or sisters or father national media’s attention. His interviewers to totally understand Islam to reach out to just that he was a Palestinian believer. As He spent 18 months in Megiddo Prison, all things, and count them as rub- were amazed that he was openly declaring Muslims. God is opening doors, and many or mother or wife or children or the congregation welcomed the newcomer and during his incarceration, he witnessed bish, that I may gain Christ. where he could be found. Rumors of death are ready to receive Him.” lands, for My name’s sake, shall in, pieces of his story began to surface, and corruption, torture, and abuse of Hamas Philippians 3:8 threats were already circulating, but Joseph his closest friends soon realized that Joseph’s members. The suffering he witnessed, how- receive a hundredfold, and inherit takes Paul’s words to heart. But none of decision to follow Jesus had come at great ever, was at the hands of their own people, Solidarity in Christ eternal life.” Matthew 19:29 these things move me; nor do I count my life personal cost. In fact, his very life could well the leaders of Hamas that were incarcerated. As Joseph finished telling his story, the be in danger. He had been prepared to give his life for his members of his new church in America were beliefs, but as he watched these men turn stunned, yet their response was unanimous. Wanting to be open about his situation, on one another, Joseph’s faith in Islam and Surrounding the young man, they laid hands Joseph asked for the opportunity to share Hamas was shaken to its very foundations. on him and prayed. They celebrated with his testimony. “Everyone was expecting to him and cried with him, and every single hear that maybe he was coming out of drugs Soon after his release, Joseph walked down one of them committed to stand with him, or something like that, but once Joseph the old, narrow streets of Jerusalem. He even if it put their lives in danger too. started telling his story, jaws were dropping,” noticed a young Westerner approaching said Matt. people. The foreigner offered Joseph a tract about Christianity and invited him to attend Joseph’s Chronicle Mosab Hassan Yousef—who now prefers to be called Joseph—was born in the village of Bir Zeit, near Ramallah. Joseph is the 15.
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