#104 Fleeing Iran & Finding Christ - Ali

 


Ali had been a practicing Muslim in Iran for his entire life. But after the Iranian government violently cracked down on Ali and his friends, he became disillusioned with Islam and moved to America. Ali was exposed to the God of the Bible who appeared to be radically different than any other god Ali had heard of before.


Guard dogs sniffed all around the eighteen-wheeler, their chain leashes glinting in the Texas sun as they dangled from the hands of the U.S. border patrol guards.

Sweat trickled down Ali’s face, and he lay totally paralyzed with terror. 

Wedged up in the tight space above the cab of the eighteen-wheeler, he knew it was only a matter of seconds before he was discovered. 

Through a tiny crack, all Ali could see was a sliver of concrete, gleaming white in the sunlight. For a moment, it reminded him of his mosque, back home in Iran, which now felt like a lifetime away. 

“Maman and Baba are probably saying their midday prayers right now… and I may never see them again.”

Every muscle in Ali’s body was throbbing, but he didn’t dare move; he had traveled all the way from Iran to Mexico, then had run for 12 hours through the night, using the cover of darkness to swim across the Rio Grande River and slip across the border into the United States. 

The guards outside suddenly began speaking loudly in English, but Ali couldn’t understand what they were saying. Through the crack, Ali caught a glimpse of another border patrol agent, surveying the eighteen-wheeler. 

In his hands was a large, gleaming gun. 

In an instant, Ali was back in Iran: he was again caught in the crush of the demonstrators, thousands of determined faces chanting with fists high in the air… then the Iranian military came… then he heard the gunfire… screams… saw dead bodies lining the streets, their clothes spattered with blood…

Ali jolted to the present as he heard the crunch of the guard’s boots returning; the roar of fear grew so loud in his ears, it drowned out everything but his own thoughts.  

“This is it…it’s over. ” 

Ali’s jaw tightened with bitterness. 

“Allah never cared to protect me before…why would he care to protect me now?” 

Listen now to Ali share his
true story of fleeing Iran and encountering Christ.

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