Escaping Execution

Rohaan*, a Pakistani, founded a successful language school as a young entrepreneur. Because he soon had more customers than he could teach on his own, he hired additional teachers. One of them was Mariam*. Raised as a Muslim, her new boss's faith was very foreign to her. He was a Christian. But she was impressed by the young man's behavior. Mariam began to ask questions. Language lessons were complemented by Bible study and conversations with prayer. The Muslim woman decided to live her life with Jesus.

Waiting for death
When the two got married, it became clear that the bride had turned away from Islam. This carries the death penalty, both for the “apostate” and for the “seducer.” The couple fled for their lives. Rohaan and Mariam were on the run for several years. They moved from place to place and kept in hiding. But one day, the refugees were recognized on the street. A former acquaintance loudly accused the couple of breaking the law. A mullah should be called, and the police too! Even faster than the requested law enforcement officers, numerous people appeared who joined in the insults and threats. Surrounded by the angry mob, the young couple knelt down in prayer and waited for death.

“I know where you need to go!”
At that moment, a large, male figure of light appeared right next to the praying couple. Frightened, the aggressors took off. Only the intimidated couple remained behind. Rohaan and Mariam stood up and saw a taxi whose driver waved them in. No sooner had they sat down in the car than it sped off without a word. “Where are you taking us?” “Quiet! I know where you need to go!” came the gruff reply.

The driver stopped in front of a gate in a stone wall and broke the silence: “Go through here and don't look back. You are expected.” The passengers followed the instructions. Behind the wall, they saw several small buildings under trees. And sure enough, a man was standing to the left of them. “Follow me,” he said. “You need a place to live.”

Last month, Rohaan visited us in Europe: “Thank you for what you have made possible!” After twelve years, the couple and their two children managed to flee to a safe country. From there, the couple supports Christians who are threatened in Muslim countries.

*Names changed