From “Jihad Child” to Child of God
Imagine growing up with the name “Jihad child.”
The phrase usually describes a child who’s been indoctrinated or forced into militant or terrorist activity by an extremist group. These children are taught absolute obedience, trained to use weapons, and exposed to violent propaganda and suicide-attack videos.
For Mohammed Gibran, it wasn’t an extremist group that gave him the name. It was his parents, and with it they were communicating their hopes and dreams for his life.
But God had a different plan.
“Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13
Jesus drew Mohammed home, and we’ve shared his full story at the end of this post.
His is just one Gospel story from the Middle East, a part of the world many of us think of as “difficult for the Gospel.” In reality, it’s a place where God is on the move, and here are four things we’re seeing.
People in the Middle East Are Looking for God
In the past 12 months alone, nearly 2.15 million people across 18 countries have been invited to meet Jesus through a PTL Gospel of John, in both digital and print. The top five countries in the Middle East where people are searching are:
- Iran – 621,000
- Pakistan – 469,000
- Afghanistan – 167,000
- Iraq – 155,000
- Yemen – 103,000
An Invitation Is an Opportunity to Become a Child of God
On October 6, we received a firsthand report from League Partner William. Hearing what God is doing through his work was both encouraging and humbling. If you missed our Field Report, we’d encourage you to watch it here: PTL Field Reports
Christmas Rallies Are a Starting Line
One of the topics we discussed with William was the upcoming Christmas Rallies that his ministry, Gawahi Mission TV, will be holding again in the coming months. As he shared with us:
“These rallies are a big opening in this radical Muslim nation. Christmas opens the doors like never before. We knock on the door of the government officers and ask to do these rallies in the biggest highways in the country . . . God opens the door . . . People come on motorcycles or walk for hours and hours to receive The Gospel they have been longing for.”
These Pocket Gospels of John go far, traveling throughout the Greater Middle East. William told us that people are even carrying them into Afghanistan, where they’re helping others download the app and seek Christ. That’s why we see the Christmas Rallies as a starting line, not a finish line.
Beyond the Starting Line, the Gospel Goes Forth
Every Gospel of John, whether digital or in print, opens the door to what comes next.
Digital Gospels: We’re equipping William’s ministry call center to respond to people who’ve downloaded the Gospel of John and have questions. As William explained:
“It is hard for people to keep the hard copies in their homes due to parents or family who come against and try to kill them. Our team [Gawahi Mission] is working to build some communities [on the PTL app] to guide the call center. Lots of people have downloaded and are connecting with the call center to discuss and dialogue and get answers to questions.”
Printed Gospels: A printed Gospel is often the beginning of a relationship. In the Field Report, William describes how he kept meeting with one man over time. That man was Mohammed, the “Jihad child,” and you can read his story below.
Whether it’s held in someone’s hands or read on a screen, we’re focused on seeing more and more people across the Greater Middle East invited to meet Jesus. Our prayer is to help equip these efforts so that millions will have the opportunity to meet Him this Christmas season.
From “Jihad Child” to Follower of Jesus
When William first met Mohammed Gibran at a Christmas Rally in Islamabad, he saw another young man searching for answers. What he did not know was the story Mohammed carried with him.
Growing up, Mohammed’s family gave him the nickname “Jihad Child.” He was raised to believe, as William put it, that “anyone out of Islam is allowed to be killed. He thought he would grow up to kill Christians and Islam would be ruling”.
Yet God was already at work. Before meeting William, Mohammed began experiencing dreams and seeing Jesus.
Not long after, while his heart and mind were still stirred toward Christ, he heard about the Christmas Rally taking place in Islamabad. He went to the rally, met William, and received a PTL Gospel of John.
In that moment, Mohammed encountered the person of Jesus through Scripture. The words he had once rejected became words of hope, grace, and truth. What began as obstinance turned to curiosity and then grew into faith in Christ! Mohammed continued to meet with believers from Williams team.
And the impact did not stop with Mohammed.
Over time, and through his witness, some members of his family also came to know Christ — while others have opposed his decision and even physically attacked him.
Today, in the face of this persecution, Mohammed is actively sharing his faith with others and helping point people to the same Savior who transformed his life.
Mohammed’s story is a reminder that God continues to reach people in places where the Gospel seems least likely to take root. Through one invitation, one Gospel of John at a Pakistani Christmas Rally, a life once thought to be destined to hate Jesus and his followers was completely changed.
And Mohammed is not alone. Stories like this are becoming increasingly common as more people throughout Pakistan encounter Jesus through God’s Word.
