(somber music)
- [Wisam] My uncle had tried
to stone me to death,
and now my cousins were here to finish the job.
(angry crowd chattering)
- [Cami] Find out how God is using
Adventist World Radio
to reach the Muslim community
and other difficult-to-reach areas,
with the gospel message.
Hi, I'm Cami Oetman
and this is AWR360°.
(upbeat music)
- [Duane McKey] Adventist World Radio is broadcasting
to the most remote locations of the world,
in more than 130 different languages.
We've been doing this for the past,
well, almost 50 years now,
but I've never seen anything like this before.
From baptizing rebels and assassins,
almost daily we receive news
of amazing miracles
taking place all around
this little ole ball of mud.
Wisam's story right here in Nazareth
is an example
that especially touched my heart.
(Middle Eastern music)
- [Cami] Being born Muslim,
Wisam was taught to hate Christianity.
So when his sister decided
to become a Christian,
he was sent by his family
to kill her.
But because of a miraculous dream from God
he decided to begin studying the Bible.
He soon returned to Nazareth
to share his new belief with his family,
and his uncle upon hearing this
became very angry and ordered his stoning.
This happened over and over
until finally his brother stepped in.
Then his father advised Wisam
to flee the country.
Years later after his father
and uncle died,
Wisam's mother
invited him to return.
He immediately saw an opportunity
to share Jesus in Nazareth,
so he decided to set up a center of influence
where he used the Bible
to teach English to his fellow people.
We also gave Wisam
AWR Godpods
which he distributed among his community.
Recently though, things took a turn
for the worse
as the sons of his dead uncle
found out what Wisam was doing.
They too had participated in his stoning
many years before
and now rallied a mob
and went to Wisam's house
to attack it.
(louder upbeat music)
(angry crowd chattering)
Wisam's wife Audrey heard the commotion downstairs
and rushed out to see what was happening.
She knew right away
that Wisam was in serious trouble
and fell on her knees and began to pray.
Wisam's brothers rushed to protect him,
when he was hit with a metal rod.
But then his own cousin pulled out his knife
and stabbed Wisam.
But to his astonishment the knife bent,
leaving him unharmed.
Wisam's brother then picked up the bent knife
and said,
- [Wisam's brother] Try again to kill
the man of God.
- [Cami] As the mob retreated, they threatened,
"You will not know where or when,
but we will kill you."
Several months later,
Wisam received a shocking phone call
that these same two cousins
had been killed while riding their motorcycle.
It just reminds me that 'if God is for us,
who can be against us?'
This miraculous event agitated
the muslim community so much
that Wisam knew it was the perfect time
to use AWR's cell phone evangelism.
He immediately sought out someone
to translate the sermons into Arabic.
He found a man named Jamil,
who readily agreed to help.
Jamil worked for days,
sometimes late into the night,
translating the bible based sermons.
As he read he was so greatly moved
by the presentations that he felt compelled
to share them with one of his friends
from the Baptist Church.
She was so amazed by the sermons,
that she shared them with her pastor,
who was also impressed by what he read.
He then sought out Wisam to preach at his church.
Wisam presented at the Baptist Church,
sharing bible prophecy, our health message
and Ellen White's writings.
Their hearts were so convicted
that the pastor and almost his whole congregation
made the decision to be baptized
into the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
And on a beautiful Sabbath day
we held a church service at the Jordan River.
Then one by one they entered into the water.
Wisam had the joy of baptizing
these precious souls with Elder Duane McKey.
God is calling all who are willing
to proclaim His last-day message.
Adventist World Radio not only broadcasts
into the Muslim countries in their own languages,
but we are working with people like Wisam,
helping to share the gospel message
in countries that still need to hear
the wonderful story of Jesus.
Thank you for supporting AWR.
Jesus is coming soon,
and he invites you and me
to be a part of this great movement
that will light the earth
with the knowledge of his truth.
From broadcast to baptism, this is AWR360°.
(Middle Eastern music)