The Underground Church: A Search for Discipleship

FAITHFUL AMIDST PERSECUTION

Hamza was raised to do good deeds in search of Allah’s favor. His parents were devout Muslims and raised him to be like them, but there was something inside him that was empty, and no matter how hard he tried, he felt devoid of purpose. In a state of hopelessness, he tried taking his own life, but in that moment, Jesus came to him in a vision instead. He understood that Jesus was the son of God, and now he had hope. Hamza couldn’t wait to share the news, so he told the people closest to him, his parents.

His father’s eyes looked back at him with disgust and disappointment:

“You are not my son; you need to leave this house now.

If I ever see you again, I will kill you myself.”

Hamza was silent; his heart was heavy with sorrow, but not for himself, but for his parents, who couldn’t see the light. Shortly after the police interrogated him, “What do you believe in?” He couldn’t lie.

"I believe in Jesus.”

That was enough for them. The following day, Hamza was detained and tortured mercilessly while they demanded the names of fellow believers. Even though his body was being beaten, his spirit remained steadfast, and he remained silent. When they realized they had no further reason to hold him, they let him go. Hamza could barely walk, but he knew he had to leave. He packed a bag and fled to another province. There, he started working as a language teacher. Hamza was still confused and had many questions about his newfound faith, but he didn’t know who he could trust to ask or share with.

TRANSLATING THE BIBLE IN SECRET

Nearby, Rahim lived a double life for four years. His family—devout Muslims—watched his every move, but behind closed doors, he was clinging to a private faith. On his phone, he downloaded the Bible, and online, he started a secret Kurdish Bible study group. He couldn’t find a reliable Kurdish Bible translation, so he began translating scripture for use as he taught the Bible. The believers he knew in person were women, and as a man in his culture, he couldn’t gather with them to study the Bible. Desperate to grow, he traveled to Lebanon for theological training, praying his family would never find out. More than anything, Rahim longed for the day that they would come to know the truth and believe as he does.

Once he returned to Iraq, Rahim yearned to find a man, a brother in the faith, to disciple him and share fellowship and prayer.

FELIPE

At the start of this year, Felipe, a Reflejo missionary, arrived in Iraq with hopes and dreams of being a light in a dark place. Every night in prayer, he would ask God to make his future home a place of encouragement for persecuted believers. When he finally moved into his apartment, he dedicated it to the Lord.

Soon after, Hamza became his language tutor. There was something that caught Felipe’s eye. Hamza was a joyful teacher, but he bore scars all over his arms, and on his wrist, he wore a bracelet inscribed with 5:17. Without even thinking, the Bible verse 1 Thessalonians 5:17 came to Felipe’s mind: “Pray without ceasing.”

Then came Rahim. Over a simple meal, Rahim whispered:

“Would you pray for my family? They don’t know that I follow Jesus.”

For years, Hamza and Rahim had prayed to meet another brother in the faith, and they were overjoyed to see God’s answer in sending Felipe to disciple them. In a land where being a Christian is forbidden, and following Jesus can mean exile or death, God brought them together—not by chance, but by design. Now, in Felipe’s small apartment, a missionary, a persecuted teacher, and a secret translator knelt in prayer, trusting that the gospel of Jesus Christ now being shared in secret would one day shine across Iraq.

*Pseudonyms used to protect the safety of workers and believers.