Though born into a strong Christian family, Amir's relationship with God was once merely that of tradition—attending church and reading scripture out of habit rather than heartfelt conviction.
Everything changed for Amir when he heard a transformative sermon about surrendering completely to God. The visiting preacher's words about giving our whole being to the Lord pierced Amir's heart, echoing his father's oft-repeated wisdom: "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" In that moment, Amir's cultural Christianity blossomed into genuine faith, and he gave his life to Christ.
This newfound passion led him to theological studies and active church ministry, where he served his community, especially the youth, with joy and purpose...
And then war broke out in Sudan.
In May 2023, the Rapid Support Forces, a militia guided by Islamist principles, set up the church as barracks, preventing anyone from entering. They set the church's ministry center on fire.
But the militia didn't stop there. They figured out who were Christians in the area, and they looted their homes and burned them to the ground. They held Amir at gunpoint. Amir says that despite the danger, "I refused to leave until I knew that all of my brothers and sisters in Christ at the church were safe. I stayed behind until everyone left and prayed that they make it out safely."
Soon, Amir fled to Egypt with his pregnant wife and children, leaving behind the only home they had ever known. "The war pushed everyone out of Sudan," he said. "It scattered us." He fled with his children and pregnant wife, who soon gave birth to a baby boy!
A local church gave the family a mattress and some basic food supplies to help them in their early days as refugees, and he found a job as a villa caretaker...but it was hardly enough for him to feed his children and provide for their grade school tuition fees.
Our Field Minister Rami meets Amir...
Our Field Minister Rami was introduced to Amir through church networks, and Rami listened to Amir's story. He offered him encouragement and hope in the name of the Lord...and told him about Help The Persecuted's Enduring Livelihood Ministry, which helps persecuted believers find paths to dignity and independence through entrepreneurship.
Amir's face lit up as he thought about the possibilities. He lives in a densely crowded city, and some alleyways are so small that taxis cannot go there—but tuktuks can! Working with Rami and our Field Minister Mark, who has extensive business experience and specializes in our Enduring Livelihood Ministry, Amir created a business plan. He even coordinated with another persecuted Christian who was looking for work to lease his tuktuk to him in the evenings!
When Amir purchased the tuktuk, he says, "It was a feeling I cannot describe. I do not have the words for it. When you called me and told me that I will be having my own Tuktuk, I could not believe it at first! Then I went to the church, and it was true! Wow! You gave me hope, and God gave me this blessing, and I am thankful and overjoyed."
The tuktuk has made it possible for Amir to take care of his family. His children are able to go to school, and everyone has a place to sleep at night, good clothes, and more than enough to eat! Amir says, "It was so hard for me to provide a living for myself and my family. I tried everything, but I could not provide enough."
Today, if you're in Egypt, you just might see a tuktuk with words, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want," painted across it...it would be Amir's!
Amir's tuktuk, and our entire Enduring Livelihood Ministry, which has helped persecuted believers across the Islamic World start over 300 different businesses, is about so much more than a job— it's about restoring dignity and independece to a family that has sacrificed everything for their faith.
Thank you for your partnership, which makes stories like Amir's possible!