Categories: Uncategorized

Drug Addict Finds Hope in Christ

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.
christian-addiction-centers-1

do-i-need-rehab
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

Hesham Shehab

Hicham [pronounced HESHAAM] grew up in a world of bitter animosity between Muslims and Christians, which he experienced personally in a physical attack when only about 7. By age 13 he was recruited by an extremist Muslim group and later fought against Christians in the 1975 war in Lebanon. He was preparing to become a Muslim Preacher (Imam) when a car accident laid him up for a year. In 1980, in his first semester in college, his brother was killed by Christian militia. Hicham's response was to study by day, and by night take out his revenge in attacks on Christians. However, hearing the Sermon on the Mount, in a course of cultural studies (in college), brought him to faith. Later, Hicham earned an M.A. in the history of the Arabs and did Ph.D studies in the history of Islam. Hicham finished his pastoral education at Concordia, Fort Wayne, IN, and is currently in the Ph. D program there. Presently, Hicham, and ordained LCMS minister, pastors Salam Christian Fellowship and works as a missionary to the Muslims with the Lutheran Church in Illinois.