The following is a guest post from Jym, a fellow missionary to China. I originally received this story from him via e-mail earlier this week, and he has agreed to let me re-post it on my blog. It is his account of a very unique witnessing encounter he had recently with a Muslim-Christian boxing coach at a McDonalds in south-central China.
As you will soon see, the moral of the story is please “tell someone about Jesus today”!
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“Hello”. I (Jym, American missionary in China) said to the foreigner (American).
“Hey, Hi John. You are John, right?” said the big muscle man. “I know you, we have met before.”
“No, sorry, I’m Jym.”
“Oh, my name is Abraham, you look like a new guy I met here named John. What do you do here?”
Abraham, I silently thought, maybe he believes in God.
“Well, I teach English part time, write children’s stories sometimes, and preach the gospel most other times.” I replied.
“I believe in Jesus, I converted my wife .” He said.
Me converted my wife. Myself converted my wife. I converted my wife.
Me, myself and I. The unholy trinity.
I listened to his doctrine. It was strange at times. It was simple and honest at times and it was not in accordance to the Bible in places.
“OK”. I thought. This guy is a little confused. That’s ok, he just needs a good dose of the Bible! That’ll cure anyone!
At the time, I had traveled to Kunming for processing visa/business related paperwork. I was there from 17th to the 28th of May.
The city of Kunming has everything to offer as far as conveniences in our modern era, and I had rode my bike to a McDonalds for a cup of coffee and that is where I stumbled upon Abraham. “This guy needs a friend and encouragement.” I thought to myself.
I sat in a booth on one side of the restaurant, and he sat in a booth across the aisle.
“What do you do here?” I asked
“I am training boxers for the Chinese National Team. They will be competing in Japan for the World Title. I have 6 fighters and 3 of them have a great chance for the title in their respective divisions. In July, we are bringing Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield here for a boxing expedition.”
That explained Abraham’s phenomenal physique. Although he is 48 years old, he is in top shape. He then gave me a brief history of his life and boxing experiences. Very interesting to say the least. A few F-words slipped out as he was speaking and he would say: “sorry, please excuse my french.”
Somewhere during our dialog the conversation turned to Islam.
“Islam is a radical counterfeit religion.” I said. “Muhammad was rejected by the Jews and the Christians before he went on a killing rampage in his home town and began his own cult religion.”
“What do you mean he was rejected by them? Muhammad was a good man, a little misguided, but a good man, a kind man. His teachings were good.” Abraham replied.
“No! you can not say you are a Christian and believe in the teachings of Muhammad. Muhammad preached that Jesus was a good prophet but he was not the son of God! That is the spirit of anti-Christ! Muhammad was a false prophet!”
“You don’t know ANYTHING about Islam!” barked Abraham angrily. “Not as much as me at least!”
Abraham’s boxing “Killer instincts” were kicking in as his blood began to boil.
“Well, I have studied the Koran,” I said. “and own several books written by former scholars who have now left that religion. Some even went as far as to say that Muhammad’s so-called visions were nothing more than epileptic fits.”
Abraham was outraged.
“I’m a Muslim! My parents were born in Lebanon. My Uncle is the leader of the Muslim Shiites in that region. I was born a Muslim, however at a young age came to America, and was reared in New York City. You don’t know anything about Islam! I know! I lived it my whole life.”
I was very alarmed. Abraham was enraged. He was furious and foaming at the mouth a bit. Was this guy some secret Muslim disguised as a Christian?
I thought to myself: “Is this guy going to kill me? Am I ever going to see my children again?” as I sipped my coffee. Really, I did.
I could see the anger in his eyes; and getting in a fight with a professional boxer, reared Muslim, raised on the streets of N.Y., middle eastern man was not what I considered a good start to this day! Part of me (the flesh) was up for the challenge, but the spirit of the Lord in me knew better.
“What can I do Lord?” I thought silently. “What can I say to calm him down?”
“Abraham!” I said in a bold voice. “If you want to believe in Muhammad, that is your business, but don’t say you are a Christian! You are free to choose what you believe, however, I suggest you read the book:’Muhammad Vs. Jesus’ first.”
My suggesting him read a book seemed to surprise him. Sort of like a surprise “upper-cut” to the chin! Abraham’s wrath took a nose dive, and he listened methodically like a boxer up against the ropes getting pelted with body shots.
“This book,” I continued, “was written by a man from the Middle East. In fact, he was raised in a Muslim family, by Muslim parents and even graduated from the most prestigious university of Islam in Cairo. He has a PhD in Islam. His name is Mark Gabriel.”
“Really.” said Abraham.
“That is not all! After graduating from the University of Cairo, Mr. Gabriel became a professor of that University until he became a Christian. After that, he was run out of Egypt by his family, went to America, and, of all things got his PhD in Christian theology!” I said.
“Interesting.” said Abraham. Abraham had moved closer and was actually sitting at my table now. Maybe it was so that he could get his big hands around my neck and squeeze the life out of me!
“You should really read this book; it was written by an expert in both fields of Islam and Christianity. It has enormous authority.” I said. “you can decide for yourself.”
Abraham was calm, and no longer angry, however, I felt like I was not finished speaking to him.
“Jesus ministry was one of love, kindness, and compassion.” I added. “Muhammad’s teaching were filled with violence and hatred. These differences can be clearly seen in the followers of each respected faith.”
“for example” I said. “During the Si Chuan earthquake, like many Christians, my son and I went to the battered region and brought the love of God to a friend’s wife. She was 37 years old and in the last stages of lung cancer. We went to the hospital everyday, would hold her hand, pray with her, sing songs with her, and read the bible to her. Her body had withered away but her soul was thirsting for eternal life. She had rejected God most her life, but during that final stage of her life, she reached out to God, and God saved her. She received Jesus just a few weeks before her death. She died in peace.”
I looked up. Abraham was in tears. The tears were flowing down his face, and he was wiping his eyes as his bottom lip was quivering.
I was praising the Lord because God was touching this mans heart.
“Here you are.” I said. I gave him the coffee stained napkin that had accompanied my coffee. Abraham didn’t mind the stains. He’s a boxer!! He took the napkin and gently wiped his moist, wet cheeks.
“That is fine, Abraham. I cry a lot too when I am emotional. I am a lot like you. It doesn’t matter.”
“You are right.” said Abraham. “Islam is a violent religion, I can not even tell my parents or family that I believe in Jesus. Look! Look what I have on my hat!”
Abraham pulled off his tattered hat. Under the bill were the words written by his own hand: “God is above you.” The words were a bit smeared from sweat. Probably from all those intense training sessions.
“I wear this hat everywhere and remember that God is always with me.”
“Yes, He is.” I replied.
I spent that afternoon with Abraham at the boxing Gym, and translated his instructions to his boxers.
Felisa sent me a text message: “Stay out of the Ring!”
“Don’t worry! I will!” I replied.
It was very interesting to say the least.
What is the point?
“Hey, Hi John. You are John, right?” said the big muscle man. “I know you, we have met before.”
“No, sorry, I’m Jym.”
“Oh, my name is Abraham, you look like a new guy I met here named John. What do you do here?”
Abraham, I silently thought, maybe he believes in God.
“Well, I teach English part time, write children’s stories sometimes, and preach the gospel most other times.” I replied.
“I believe in Jesus, I converted my wife .” He said.
Me converted my wife. Myself converted my wife. I converted my wife.
Me, myself and I. The unholy trinity.
I listened to his doctrine. It was strange at times. It was simple and honest at times and it was not in accordance to the Bible in places.
“OK”. I thought. This guy is a little confused. That’s ok, he just needs a good dose of the Bible! That’ll cure anyone!
At the time, I had traveled to Kunming for processing visa/business related paperwork. I was there from 17th to the 28th of May.
The city of Kunming has everything to offer as far as conveniences in our modern era, and I had rode my bike to a McDonalds for a cup of coffee and that is where I stumbled upon Abraham. “This guy needs a friend and encouragement.” I thought to myself.
I sat in a booth on one side of the restaurant, and he sat in a booth across the aisle.
“What do you do here?” I asked
“I am training boxers for the Chinese National Team. They will be competing in Japan for the World Title. I have 6 fighters and 3 of them have a great chance for the title in their respective divisions. In July, we are bringing Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield here for a boxing expedition.”
That explained Abraham’s phenomenal physique. Although he is 48 years old, he is in top shape. He then gave me a brief history of his life and boxing experiences. Very interesting to say the least. A few F-words slipped out as he was speaking and he would say: “sorry, please excuse my french.”
Somewhere during our dialog the conversation turned to Islam.
“Islam is a radical counterfeit religion.” I said. “Muhammad was rejected by the Jews and the Christians before he went on a killing rampage in his home town and began his own cult religion.”
“What do you mean he was rejected by them? Muhammad was a good man, a little misguided, but a good man, a kind man. His teachings were good.” Abraham replied.
“No! you can not say you are a Christian and believe in the teachings of Muhammad. Muhammad preached that Jesus was a good prophet but he was not the son of God! That is the spirit of anti-Christ! Muhammad was a false prophet!”
“You don’t know ANYTHING about Islam!” barked Abraham angrily. “Not as much as me at least!”
Abraham’s boxing “Killer instincts” were kicking in as his blood began to boil.
“Well, I have studied the Koran,” I said. “and own several books written by former scholars who have now left that religion. Some even went as far as to say that Muhammad’s so-called visions were nothing more than epileptic fits.”
Abraham was outraged.
“I’m a Muslim! My parents were born in Lebanon. My Uncle is the leader of the Muslim Shiites in that region. I was born a Muslim, however at a young age came to America, and was reared in New York City. You don’t know anything about Islam! I know! I lived it my whole life.”
I was very alarmed. Abraham was enraged. He was furious and foaming at the mouth a bit. Was this guy some secret Muslim disguised as a Christian?
I thought to myself: “Is this guy going to kill me? Am I ever going to see my children again?” as I sipped my coffee. Really, I did.
I could see the anger in his eyes; and getting in a fight with a professional boxer, reared Muslim, raised on the streets of N.Y., middle eastern man was not what I considered a good start to this day! Part of me (the flesh) was up for the challenge, but the spirit of the Lord in me knew better.
“What can I do Lord?” I thought silently. “What can I say to calm him down?”
“Abraham!” I said in a bold voice. “If you want to believe in Muhammad, that is your business, but don’t say you are a Christian! You are free to choose what you believe, however, I suggest you read the book:’Muhammad Vs. Jesus’ first.”
My suggesting him read a book seemed to surprise him. Sort of like a surprise “upper-cut” to the chin! Abraham’s wrath took a nose dive, and he listened methodically like a boxer up against the ropes getting pelted with body shots.
“This book,” I continued, “was written by a man from the Middle East. In fact, he was raised in a Muslim family, by Muslim parents and even graduated from the most prestigious university of Islam in Cairo. He has a PhD in Islam. His name is Mark Gabriel.”
“Really.” said Abraham.
“That is not all! After graduating from the University of Cairo, Mr. Gabriel became a professor of that University until he became a Christian. After that, he was run out of Egypt by his family, went to America, and, of all things got his PhD in Christian theology!” I said.
“Interesting.” said Abraham. Abraham had moved closer and was actually sitting at my table now. Maybe it was so that he could get his big hands around my neck and squeeze the life out of me!
“You should really read this book; it was written by an expert in both fields of Islam and Christianity. It has enormous authority.” I said. “you can decide for yourself.”
Abraham was calm, and no longer angry, however, I felt like I was not finished speaking to him.
“Jesus ministry was one of love, kindness, and compassion.” I added. “Muhammad’s teaching were filled with violence and hatred. These differences can be clearly seen in the followers of each respected faith.”
“for example” I said. “During the Si Chuan earthquake, like many Christians, my son and I went to the battered region and brought the love of God to a friend’s wife. She was 37 years old and in the last stages of lung cancer. We went to the hospital everyday, would hold her hand, pray with her, sing songs with her, and read the bible to her. Her body had withered away but her soul was thirsting for eternal life. She had rejected God most her life, but during that final stage of her life, she reached out to God, and God saved her. She received Jesus just a few weeks before her death. She died in peace.”
I looked up. Abraham was in tears. The tears were flowing down his face, and he was wiping his eyes as his bottom lip was quivering.
I was praising the Lord because God was touching this mans heart.
“Here you are.” I said. I gave him the coffee stained napkin that had accompanied my coffee. Abraham didn’t mind the stains. He’s a boxer!! He took the napkin and gently wiped his moist, wet cheeks.
“That is fine, Abraham. I cry a lot too when I am emotional. I am a lot like you. It doesn’t matter.”
“You are right.” said Abraham. “Islam is a violent religion, I can not even tell my parents or family that I believe in Jesus. Look! Look what I have on my hat!”
Abraham pulled off his tattered hat. Under the bill were the words written by his own hand: “God is above you.” The words were a bit smeared from sweat. Probably from all those intense training sessions.
“I wear this hat everywhere and remember that God is always with me.”
“Yes, He is.” I replied.
I spent that afternoon with Abraham at the boxing Gym, and translated his instructions to his boxers.
Felisa sent me a text message: “Stay out of the Ring!”
“Don’t worry! I will!” I replied.
It was very interesting to say the least.
What is the point?
The point is that God almighty wants us to be a witness for Him today for the Lord Jesus Christ. Our faith should be worn on the outside like a well tailored suit. These clothes should never be taken off. Remember, there is someone who you will cross paths with today who needs to hear about Jesus!
God wants you to be His ambassador today.
Tell someone about Jesus today.
All our love from China,
Jym
yes, the gospel is the power of salvation. Praise God for this encouragement to speak boldly and trust the One Who upholds the universe by the word of His power.