05/15/2019 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – Hardline Islamism, as we have come to know it today, grew throughout the Middle East during the 1990s. Egypt was not immune to this rising threat, and extremist groups began sharing their propaganda throughout the countryside.

Mohammed was a young Egyptian man in his twenties during this time. He found himself drawing closer to hardline Islam, and eventually began spending more time with extremist groups. They would increase Mohammed’s responsibilities, tasking him with exploring Christian theology so that he could teach the weak points to the group’s members.

However, general pressure from the government would force Mohammed to temporarily leave for Jordan. There, he found work as a handyman. One day, his job took him to a Christian organization. “They were godly people, and treating me with love, which made me think, why are these people so good in spite they are Christians,” recalled Mohammed.

It was treatment that Mohammed had never expected to experience from Christians. His next job was very close to a church, and Mohammed found himself trying to eavesdrop on churchgoers’ conversations. “I wanted to hear what they were saying in discipleship groups, and wanted to know more,” he says. “When I finished working, I asked someone in the group if I can attend the church weekly and they welcomed me.”

For two years, Mohammed attended this church every week. He found that his ideas about Jesus began to change, and thanks to the discipleship of the pastor, he came to a better understanding of what Christianity is. He eventually converted to Christianity, and even attended theology college so that he could better explain his new faith to others.

Despite the risk, Mohammed returned to Egypt. The secret police soon discovered his conversion and began treating him harshly. He said, “It was a hard time. I can’t speak about that.”

For the last two decades, every few months, the secret police have frequently returned to Mohammed. Today, “they don’t treat me badly. But they told me clearly that I am free to do anything in my house, but don’t cause problems by sharing my faith in public.”