Yemen is one of the hardest places in the world to follow Jesus. This story, which comes from persecuted church agency Open Doors, is about Saleh*, a faithful believer who spreads the gospel despite extreme opposition.
Once Saleh decided to become a Christian, and although evangelising is very dangerous in Yemen, he would tell people about Jesus outside his local mosque. But persecution for that kind of boldness is inevitable. He was interrogated and accused of apostasy (converting from Islam), which can lead to execution. Thankfully, Saleh’s tribe stood with him, which is very important in Yemeni culture.
Saleh often had surprising encounters. ‘As a new believer and a potential future leader, I attended training and workshops outside Yemen, some run by Open Doors. They gave me the necessary tools for my ministry and helped me delve deeper into the Bible.’ But he was then arrested at the airport. ‘The authorities wanted to know why was I attempting to leave the country? Did I have any relationships with the ‘West’? But rather than detaining me, they made me a proposition. They sought to enlist me in their ranks, thinking I was a valuable asset.’
