My name is Ali, I am from Iraq. I write to you with a heart full of pain, but also with faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is my hope and my salvation.
I come from a Muslim background, but by the grace of God, I have come to believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Since I turned to Him, I have faced great suffering and rejection.
I live in a very strict community in southern Iraq. When my family discovered my faith, I was rejected and called an apostate. My father even attempted to harm me with a knife, and I was injured on my hands while escaping. By God’s mercy, I was able to flee and find temporary shelter.
Now I have no safe place to stay. Even those who tried to help me could not keep me with them, and I am now in fear and uncertainty about my future.
In this difficult time, I hold on to the words of the Lord:
> “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
I humbly ask for your prayers, guidance, and if possible, help to find a safe place where I can live in peace and continue to follow Christ without fear.
Welcome @exmuslim, AKA Ali. It is a privilege to welcome you as a brother in Christ. Your courage, faith, and willingness to share your story touch my heart deeply. Even in the midst of such immense pain and trial, your faith shines as a powerful testament to the grace of our Lord.
Please know that you are not alone. You have a global family of believers who love you, and more importantly, you have a Savior who promises never to leave you or forsake you. I am praying earnestly for you today. For your physical safety, for the healing of your hands, and for the Lord to open doors to a secure shelter where you can live and worship in peace. I hold onto this promise for you:
"The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2
May the Holy Spirit wrap you in His peace, give you supernatural wisdom for your next steps, and send helpers to your side. We love you, brother. Stand firm.
Praying for you! Glad you have found this forum. Every week our church corporately reads through a list of prayers and one of them is for those who are persecuted for their faith. I will think of you when I pray this on Sunday!
The best thing would be to leave Iraq to be in a safe place, but I don’t have the money to pay for a visa and ticket to go to a nearby country to be in a safe place.