Why Did You Leave Iran?

Last week I was preparing “Omar” for his asylum hearing: “Why did you leave Iran?” Omar explained that he had always had reservations about Islam because of its severe legalism. But then in 2013, even that tenuous connection to the Muslim religion dissolved when his 17-year-old nephew was abducted by three Muslim men and brutalized so severely that the boy committed suicide the next day. From that day on, Omar (secretly) renounced Islam. Spiritually numb, Omar, too, was now contemplating suicide, yet still wondered if a “good God” might still exist somewhere. Soon after, Omar started working in the Iranian oil patch where, after a while, he met a man who was somehow different—always calm and peaceful. Strangely, this man took off from work every Sunday. Over time they became friends. Omar assumed his buddy must have a girlfriend whom he always visited, but his pal would never elaborate. One day, the friend revealed that he was a Christian and left camp every Sunday to attend an underground home church in another town. Omar recoiled at first—not only because of the religion aspect but also because in Iran even knowing a Christian can be deadly. Nevertheless, the friend gave Omar a New Testament. “Read this. It will change your life.” Overcoming his skepticism, Omar read it and was soon overwhelmed by the tranquility and peace that flooded over him as he read about Jesus. He hid his NT under his mattress. Soon after, Omar was sent to Berlin on business. One day after his arrival, his friend called with the horrifying news that the secret police had raided Omar’s belongings and had found his NT. Imprisonment or even execution would now be his fate if he returned. In a daze, Omar somehow lost his money belt containing his passport and even the cash for his trip. By now, night had fallen. Omar lay down under a bridge, covering himself only with a filthy blanket a homeless man had given him. In only one day, Omar had lost his entire life…

And so there Omar lay, staring into the dark—having lost his homeland, job, family, and even his wallet. Cold, hungry, and dirty, the next morning he wandered aimlessly around Berlin’s Bahnhof Zoo, not knowing what to do next. After a while he overheard two men speaking Farsi and decided to ask them for assistance. “Brothers, I got here from Tehran yesterday and my whole life has come crashing down. Can you help me?” Unbeknownst to them, the Lord was about to work yet another of His countless miracles. “Come with me,” one of them replied. “I have some food and you can rest up a bit. If you want, I can introduce you to some friends who’ll put you up until you figure things out.” The man took him to his apartment. Omar washed up. His new friend served him a hot meal and let him sleep on the couch. The next day was a Sunday. As it turned out, the Iranian was a Christian and took Omar to church: Trinity Lutheran in Berlin-Steglitz, probably the largest Persian Lutheran church in Europe. There Omar heard the same Good News that he had secretly read about back in Iran: Whoever believes in Jesus Christ shall not perish but have eternal life. Once again, a tremendous feeling of tranquility and peace washed over him. After the service, Omar was introduced to Pastor Gottfried Martens who offered to help him with the asylum process in Germany and invited him to stay with the many other refugees from Iran and Afghanistan whom the congregation was housing. Soon after, Omar became a Christian. *** Fast forward four years to last Thursday—to Omar’s court hearing which he had asked me to attend. My colleagues and I—and, most importantly, the judge—were impressed with how well Omar explained his Christian faith. He was granted asylum. And so, Omar’s old colleague back in the oil patch was right when he had secretly handed him a New Testament, saying: “Read this. It will change your life.”