Matthew 25:36-40 English Standard Version (ESV)
36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’
Last month, Salam Christian Fellowship received an appeal from a Middle Eastern family whose daughter, Zahra, 17, tried to commit suicide.
Zahra came to America when she was 9. Zahra loved America and was a happy child.
But, Zahra, in her teenage years, ran with the wrong crowd that got her hooked on drugs. She went through a few rehab programs, but every time she failed to stay sober. She did not have enough support.
Pastor Hesham took her to a rehabilitation center in Rockford, IL, for treatment. After her discharge, Zahra needed to be in drug anonymous meetings daily, but her family had no means of transportation. Pastor Hesham and Salam volunteers drove her daily to her meetings, and encouraged her to stay the course, and prayed for her.
Today, Zahra is an active attendee of Salam, and come with her family every Saturday.
Zahra was re-admitted to her high school, and is now looking forward to finish high school and go to college. Her dream is study criminal justice and with the law enforcement in order to serve the America that she loves.
Salam is a faith ministry with very limited resources, but Christ’s love compels us. We give out of our poverty and trust God to provide for this mission. – Rev. Hesham Shehab