Middle East (MNN) — An E3 Partners worker in the Middle East is recovering after being attacked by a radical Muslim.
We can't mention the country or the man's name for security reasons, but according to Tom Doyle, Middle East Director for E3 Partners, their worker whom we'll call Jamal was attacked by a conniving Muslim.
Doyle says, "Jamal was sharing with a Muslim who really seemed to be seeking. He seemed to know a little bit about Christianity. He was talking about dreams and visions, and there was some trust there. Jamal was completely surprised that the man attacked him."
The attack was violent, says Doyle. "The man said, 'Do you have any literature?' and Jamal says, 'Yes.' When he turned to get something, the man jumped out of his chair and had a long screwdriver and tried to get Jamal in the back of his head. And then, Jamal turned around in shock, and the man then tried to shove [the screwdriver] through his chest."
As Jamal tried to fight the man off, he was then hit in the face by a club. Miraculously, Jamal survived the attack, and the national police were called by a family member
Doyle says while the Muslim was being taken away to jail, Jamal showed love to his attacker. He said, "I forgive you. There's nothing between you and me. I want to come visit you in prison. There's nothing between my family and yours, and I hope to see you when you're out of prison. I know God is going to use this in your life, and I'm going to pray for you."
It was heard by authorities. Doyle says this is a unique message in the Middle East. "There's no forgiveness there. You do something to my family, I do it back to your family, and it just never ends."
Doyle adds, "Jamal's display of forgiveness is the most powerful message because it's not the message of the other religion. That puts Christianity in a different category, which it really is. This message of forgiveness — that's what's needed there."
E3 Partners continues to train pastors in the region. Doyle says as you support a pastor there, you're ensuring this message of Christ's forgiveness is heard throughout the Middle East. "They're going out to the villages, the places where people don't tend to go with the Gospel. It's a lot more dangerous and more traditional, and they are reaching Muslims and discipling them and planting small congregations."
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