Iranian Refugee Discovers Life in Death
For years, Hassan Saedynia believed his only chance to get to heaven was to die in a way that pleased his god. So at 16, the Iranian boy volunteered for war.
He didn't die, but spent years recovering from shrapnel wounds that covered 40 percent of his body.
He was miserable, blaming himself and God for his pain.
Desperate for a better life, Hassan moved to England, where he met Reza Sotoudeh, who worked with First Acts, a Campus Crusade ministry to refugees residing in the United Kingdom.
"Refugees come to this country and they don't know the language or the culture," says Reza, who was born in Iran. "They need people to listen and help them. Then you can share the gospel."
Reza and other staff members took care of Hassan and told him about the God of the Bible and His Son, Jesus. He eventually read the Bible and attended church.
One day Hassan sat in his living room, thinking through all he had learned.
"I decided God was talking to me," says Hassan. "He was saying, You don't need to be killed. Just believe Me and I can save you."
Hassan, now 40, finally understands that he can go to heaven-not because of how he dies but because Jesus already died for him.
