On Tuesday, October 11, 2011, Lateef, our lay worker and a former Muslim, was physically assaulted in an open Muslim assembly. This sad incident happened while my family and I were in Grand Popo at the AFM missionary retreat. That Tuesday afternoon, he was invited by some Muslim friends to attend a debate at one of the town’s open assembly areas where people meet to hear Quranic admonitions and discuss news of all kinds.

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A group of about 15 people assembled that day. After some religious exhortations and some prayers by the leader of the assembly, Lateef was asked a question about biblical dietary teachings. Many Muslims have heard that the dietary restrictions in the Bible are similar to those in the Quran, but they are confused because they don’t see most Christians practicing those principles in their daily lives. So the assembly asked Lateef whether the Bible forbade eating pork.

Lateef had his Bible with him and simply read Leviticus 11 aloud. Apparently, the reading of the Bible in front of a group of Muslims by a Muslim-turned-Christian did not sit well with an old man in the group. The man became even more offended when Lateef’s reading left the group speechless, without any argument. His anger boiled over, and he began to strike Lateef on his head and face and threw him to the ground. He accused Lateef of being a traitor to Islam and said he had brought shame to his family and community. He was so physically violent that others had to interfere to protect Lateef from serious injury. A large crowd gathered very quickly.

Through it all, Lateef remained silent and did not fight back.

Hearing the disturbance, Lateef’s brother came running. When he saw Lateef bleeding in the dust at the feet of the raging old man, he was ready to beat the old man. Lateef had to plead with him to calm him down.

Lateef is the only Christian in his family, and when news of the incident reached them, they planned to take revenge on the old man and humiliate him in the same way he had humiliated their brother. Big trouble was brewing, but God used Lateef to calm his family down and prevent a feud from erupting. Many other people who were present condemned the old man, pointing out that Lateef had been invited to the assembly and asked to answer a question.

We thank God for protecting Lateef from greater harm and helping him resolve the incident. Lateef still has some lingering pains, but he counts it a privilege to partake in his Lord’s sufferings. “But rejoice, since you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Pet. 4:13).

Thanks for your support in prayers.

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