In staunch Muslim communities, even small fellowships, such as this one, can pose great risks for believers.

When Rafan Nawaz became a believer, life didn’t exactly become easier for him.

Rafan is from a Muslim background and has had to suffer dearly for his decision to follow Christ. Even two of his own brothers rejected him. But his deep love for the Savior helps him face these trials willingly.

He Didn’t Always Want to Hear
For most of his life, Rafan did not want to listen to the Gospel. But a little over a year ago, his younger son, Parvez, fell very ill with a high fever. Parvez became incredibly weak and was even bedridden. His sickness was so severe that he could not walk or speak, let alone go to school.

Rafan and his wife, Lala, spent a great deal of money on treatment for Parvez, but their efforts were in vain. Their little boy’s condition looked bleak, and they lost all hope for his survival.

Around this time, someone told the couple about Jayesh Shakir, a Gospel for Asia–supported pastor.

Being a Muslim, Rafan was reluctant to go to a Christian pastor for help. But after discovering Pastor Jayesh was from a Muslim background, it helped break down barriers in Rafan’s mind and drew him to go talk to the pastor.

If a situation comes where I need to lay down my life, I wouldn’t be bothered; rather, I would do it so happily.

Pastor Jayesh listened as Rafan shared about his son’s illness and gladly lifted the boy in prayer at the troubled father’s request. He also told Rafan about Christ’s love.

Rafan and Lala witnessed a miracle: the Lord healed Parvez, and he started to walk and speak again! He was also able to go back to school. Seeing what the Lord did in their son’s life opened Rafan’s and Lala’s hearts to Jesus. After a little over six months of regularly attending worship services, they each chose to trust in Christ and made a public profession of their new faith. The couple also opened their home for a weekly prayer meeting where at least six families from Muslim backgrounds gather each week to hear from God’s Word.

Rafan and Lala have found the lasting peace Jesus offers, but their faith in Him has not come without paying a price.

The Price They’re Paying
Since the day they chose to follow Christ, this couple has, not surprisingly, faced opposition from the local Muslim community.

One morning, about 250 Muslims raided Rafan’s house, simply to harass him. Rafan was not there because he was working, but the mob told his wife to bring him to the mosque for purification ceremonies or the couple would face severe consequences. The men also took his Bibles and Christian literature.

The mob arranged for five men to attack Rafan. When he found out about this plan, Rafan did not return home but sought out Pastor Jayesh instead. Thankfully, Rafan and his family were able to thwart the planned attack, but the opposition against them only mounted.

Rafan had his own small business of selling clothes. He would purchase dresses from wholesale dealers and carry them on his motorcyle to sell to people. When Rafan became a Christian, members of the local Islamic group in his community thought that if he lost his business he would come back to Islam. So they influenced Rafan’s dealers and customers to stop doing business with him. Rafan’s small business did fail, but still he stood firm in Christ.

This made the group furious. It has appointed a three-member committee to regularly visit Rafan’s house to try to persuade Rafan to come back to Islam. Each time, the three men search his house for Christian literature—and if they find any, they tear it to pieces in front of him. Rafan started hiding his Bible in a tin container where he stores rice and wheat.

“What you believe is a lie,” the men tell Rafan. “There is no single truth in Christianity.”

The local Islamic community often tries to persuade Rafan to come to the mosque and go through a purification ceremony, but he refuses. They tell him that if he received money from Christians for his conversion, they will pay it back for him. But Rafan refuses.

“I became Christian out of my own will, not through anyone’s compulsion or money,” he tells them.

The Muslim group has even offered to restore his business and provide financial help if he would come back to Islam. But this did not sway Rafan from following Jesus.

Suffering, But Faithful to Jesus
With the loss of his small business, Rafan’s family struggles financially. His family now must live in a rented house, which adds a financial burden because of the 1,200 rupees (US $26) they must pay each month for rent. Although he has been able to find another job, the 2,200-rupee (US $47) a month salary is not sufficient to run his family.

He also needs to pay back a 25,000-rupee (US $536) loan he had drawn to develop his clothing business. He would like to be able to relocate because of the fierce opposition, as well as be closer to Pastor Jayesh, but he is unable to move until he repays his debts.

Rafan is concerned for his two sons because he can no longer afford to send them to the school they had been attending. He must now send them to a school that does not provide as good of an education.

Rafan has two brothers who are established financially, but they are not willing to help him. They, too, have turned against him because of his new faith. They have excommunicated Rafan from the family and don’t associate with him. Pressured by the local Islamic group, they also constantly threaten him to return to Islam or face fatal consequences.

In all of this, Rafan continues to host the weekly prayer meetings in his home and remains faithful to Jesus.

“Jesus Christ is God who died and rose again and lives forever. I know Jesus died for me, and His blood washed away all my sins, and He is the source of eternal life.

“Whenever we face problems, if we pray, He will listen and answer us. Even if more problems come, I will never leave Jesus. If a situation comes where I need to lay down my life, I wouldn’t be bothered; rather, I would do it so happily.”

GFA leaders request prayer for Rafan:

  • Pray that Rafan and Lala will stay strong in Jesus in the midst of this opposition.

  • Pray that Rafan’s brothers and the committee formed against him will stop harassing Rafan and personally experience Jesus’ redemptive love.

  • Pray that Rafan’s and Lala’s lives will shine brightly as a testimony to their Savior.

  • Pray the Lord would meet all of Rafan’s family’s needs.

  • Pray for the Lord’s protection and hand upon the prayer meeting that meets in Rafan’s home.

  • Pray for the Lord’s continued blessings on Pastor Jayesh’s ministry.