One of my dearest friends is Hussain Andaryas, an articulate, gifted Muslim-trained follower of the One True God.  As a child growing up in Afghanistan, Hussain encountered a Westerner who placed in this 12 year old boy’s hands, a copy of Matthew and Luke’s Gospels. That event led to an eight year journey in which Hussain sought God as a student, as a jihadist tank driver, and as a religious zealot studying in Iran and Egypt’s leading Muslim seminaries.  Amazingly, God took that young boy on an 8 year journey of seeking, and eventually finding faith in Jesus Christ. And his life was never the same again. Torture and persecution, family rejection and personal sacrifice have been his along with the gift of life in Christ.  You can learn more about Hussain’s story at hesavedme.com.

Turn the clock forward to this past week in which Hussain and a team of Afghan believers engaged Iranians and Afghans who call in on a live TV show via satelite. During September 150 individuals from Muslim nations called into the live television broadcast to discuss faith in Jesus Christ. Here’s some of the conversations.

  • I would like to commit my life to Jesus Christ. From a Muslim in Iran.
  • I want to follow Jesus and be taught. A Muslim calling from Afghanistan.
  • I’m an Iranian businessman helping Afghans follow Jesus.
  • I’m an Afghan follower of Christ worshiping in a secret house church.
  • I’m an Afghan believer in Afghanistan and my pastor has been arrested.
  • I’m a Muslim in Afghanistan – please help me become a follower of Jesus.
  • In the name of God I will kill you for this television broadcast.  This should be your last broadcast.

Over a half million hits have been recorded on the TV website www.afghantv.com.

So, is Jesus real?  Did he actually live and die and rise for us?

Afghans and Iranians and people from many different faith backgrounds bank their lives on Jesus’ authenticity.

So if Jesus is real, why do we merely flirt with faith in him?