May 2009

Torched by Dr. Pat

A Bible Society in the Middle East created a student center in the heart of a strongly Muslim university town. A young Muslim, Adrian, who became a Christian, runs the center. He and his team have been faithfully sharing the gospel with Muslim students who visit. Because some of the staff, including Adrian, were formerly Muslims and because of their Christian presence and work in this town, the center has been threatened with destruction and the staff members have received death threats.

News Service 2000 has been partnering with this work for many years, providing funds for Bibles and other materials. Some time ago I shared at a “Cultural Night” at the center and had opportunity to share the love of Christ with students who were asking questions like “What do you think of our suicide bombers?”

 On a day shortly after that gathering, before dawn, the Bible Society’s centre was brutally set on fire.  A young female staff member was the first one to enter the center at 2 p.m. to find that the upper floor was covered with a sheet of black dust; her main thought was that there might have been a fire outside during the night. Another staff member arrived 15 minutes later and escorted the first staffer to arrive downstairs.  The two young ladies were shocked to see that the floor downstairs was set on fire and that Adrian’s office was the most damaged. As Adrian arrived, he discovered that somebody had cut through the back window and broke the glass with a long wooden stick wrapped in sheets of cloth soaked with fuel. The remains of two fuel bottles were also found.

Adrian explained there had been a serious threat level in the previous month, but the level was then reduced after talks with the police and other authorities in the village. The security forces have denied receiving any reports on the night of the attack, but have promised to proceed with the investigation.

This incident left the team with a painful experience, yet a challenging one. We know and strongly believe that our ministry in this area is a true lighthouse to many of the students who find comfort, joy and peace in our center. God has also showed us that He is in control, as a shelf containing Bibles and Jesus films remained unburned among the ruins.

Please take the opportunity to pray for the team, especially Adrian who is leading them and is undergoing daily persecution for standing with the Bible Society.