In the first of a new series, Paul Calvert tells Nihads story

Bethlehem

Nihad (name changed) is a young man who lives in Bethlehem with his wife and three sons.

Nihad was a moslem until one night when he went to bed, a figure in white came to him as he slept. On what he thought was a normal evening, something extraordinary had happened, but Nihad was left puzzled by the visitation. One question was on his mind, "who could it be"?

The next day he couldn't stop thinking about this man in white, it seamed to capture his whole attention.

He decided to go and visit the Catholic priest, but because Nihad was a moslem the priest wouldn't help him. He was too scared because he knew it could mean death if he showed Nihad the way to Jesus.

Again Nihad went to sleep and the same man in white visited him." Who is this man" he thought and "why is he following me in my dreams"? Nihad was desperate to find an answer.

Having hit a brick wall with the priest, Nihad decided to go and see an Imam at his local mosque. The Imam was a bit nevous with his answer and said, "it was nobody". This wasn't the sort of answer Nihad wanted.

Again it was bedtime and Nihad wondered if this mystery man would visit him in his dreams. He did, this white figure came yet again. This time he decided to go and see the Greek Orthodox priest, who was far more helpful telling him, "you want to speak to my brother he is one of those Evangelical Christians, maybe he could help you".

So Nihad went off to see the priests brother and he shared his story with him. The brothers response was "praise the Lord", which quite shocked Nihad. He thought this guy was possibly on drugs, but he went on to provide Nihad with an answer. "It's Jesus, he's visiting many Moslems in this way", said the brother. "They can kill me but not the Holy Spirit."

This was the answer that Nihad needed and he became born again and discipleship followed.

Nihad kept this wonderful news to himself for a while not sure how the rest of the family would feel about his new friend. But then he just couldn't keep it a secret anymore, he told his ten year old son, who thought he was crazy, but after a closer thought he said, "he's my Dad, he's always right" and also made Jesus his Lord and Saviour.

It isn't easy changing your religion from Islam to Christianity. The Koran says if you change you should die and for Nihad and his family it meant a road full of struggle and difficulties.

Nihad went to visit his family and they surrounded him with guns and accused him of being a christian, but God protected him. Life became very difficult for Nihad with the Palestinian intifada, but God was always there leading and guiding him.

Life was also tough with a Moslem wife who didn't accept Nihads faith. She caused a lot of trouble and friction developed in the family. Nihad would leave the home for periods of time and when he came back, his wife would leave the home for a while.

Eventually there was only one answer and that was divorce. Nihad had to find the money to pay his wife. This is an arab custom, paying back the dowry given at the marriage, if the marriage fails.

Nihads wife went back to her family but life was really tough. She was a Moslem woman in a man's world. She lost all her rights and came to the point of realising that her husband was good after all.

She cried out to Jesus, "help me" and straight away everything changed. He had brought her to the lowest point in her life just to save her.

From nowhere everything started to fall back into place. Nihads wife had a new friend, one that she and her husband could share together.

Now Nihad and his family are all together thanks to a little dream about a man in white.