by foot to faith (part 2)

In our October prayer letter, I wrote of Hammed and Leila, new friends of ours in Brussels. They tell the story of an unbelievable journey to freedom in Brussels, but speak even more enthusiastically about their incredible journey to faith. They began as Muslims in Iran and are now living as Christians in Brussels.

(If you did not get part 1, you are probably not on our mailing list. I can email it to you if you contact me – as well as include you in other mailings if you’re interested.)

When Hammed and Leila arrived in Brussels, they were sent to Le Petit Chateau. This is the Belgian housing area for all asylum seekers. It is over-crowded and only the most basic needs are met.

Leila had become ill on the long walk across the Balkans and was now close to death. Hammed was attempting to care for her, their twin boys, and their youngest son, still scarred from the torture inflicted on him by the Iranian government.

One day, Leila saw a group of people gathering around some visitors. They were Christians from a nearby church. Hammed wasn’t interested, but Leila wanted to hear what they were saying. Through translation she understood that they were being invited to church.

Under normal circumstances she would not have been interested, but she was so sick and the people seemed nice. They begged and begged her to come, and she finally agreed. With difficulty, she managed to convince Hammed to allow her to go.

It was their first time in a church. They listened to the service through translation and were not impacted significantly until Leila heard an invitation for any who were sick to stand up and be prayed for. Immediately, she rose to her feet. Hammed spoke sharply to her, “Leila, sit down. We are not Christians. We don’t believe in their God.” Leila was desperate. “What other chance do we have?”

As Leila stood, an amazing thing happened. The pastor prayed and she was healed. The sickness completely left her body. The next day they visited the doctors who confirmed that, to their great surprise, she was well.

Hammed was more easily convinced the next time people showed up to invite them to church. Though not Christians, Hammed and Leila were grateful for her healing and wanted to know more. After the service, Leila approached the pastor with a question.

“Is it true that your God can do anything?” Leila asked. “Well, I want to ask him for permission to leave Le Petit Chateau. If he does that, I will become a Christian.”

The pastor gulped, and then prayed as she requested. He knew what she was asking for was impossible. This had never happened before. All asylum seekers stay in the holding area until they have received their papers. Still, in faith, he prayed.

The next day, Belgian authorities showed up at Le Petit Chateau and did something that has not happened before or since. Due to some change in policy, all residents were free to leave and find housing elsewhere. As a result, some 700 people were freed – one of whom promptly became a Christian.

Hammed was a stronger Muslim than Leila, so he did not become a Christian right away. He met with Christians for almost a year and studied the differences between the faith of his childhood and the new faith of his wife. But he is now a follower of Jesus, as are their three sons.

Hammed and Leila serve the Lord enthusiastically at the church where they became Christians and in the community. Leila tells her story often in churches and schools and Hammed leads ministry efforts to other Iranians – many who new to Brussels and on their way to faith.