Life sometimes pushes us to the edge, tests our patience, resilience, and stretches our belief in the unseen. For Ayaan, those challenges became the turning point that transformed his life and strengthened his faith. His journey is a testament to the power of "seek and ye shall find!"
The Cry for Guidance: "If You exist, show Yourself to me."
Ayaan's story begins in his teenage years, growing up in a devout Muslim family in Iraq. Curiosity about faith ran deep in him from an early age, especially when he learned about Jesus as a prophet, and then later about the existence of Christianity. He would approach nearly everyone around him with the same simple question: "Are you a Christian?" That persistent curiosity grew into something deeper, a hunger to understand what Christianity truly was.
Like many young people, he wrestled with existential questions about identity, purpose, and belief. But as he grew older, things became more difficult, and at times, God felt silent. One day, he climbed to the rooftop of his home, lifted his eyes to the sky, and poured out his heart to God.
"Why am I here? Why did You create me? And why are You so far away?"
"I was going through one of the hardest moments of my life," Ayaan recalls. "I lifted my eyes with tears and said, 'If You exist, show Yourself to me.'" That moment of raw vulnerability marked the beginning of a spiritual journey that would transform everything.
A Leap of Faith: Accepting Christ and stepping into a new path.
After a period of searching and suffering, Ayaan felt an undeniable pull toward the Church. The very first time he walked through its doors, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior, stepping into a new world of faith and personal transformation. At that time, he was young, unmarried, and still finding his footing. Faith became not only a spiritual anchor but a guiding force for navigating all that lay ahead.
Pursuing his faith brought its own obstacles. Ayaan's family did not fully understand his choices. "They started watching me," he says. "They would ask, 'Why don't you read the Quran? Why do you go to church?' They even followed me from place to place. There was no physical violence, but the hurtful words and threats shook me."
Despite this emotional struggle, Ayaan's faith remained strong. He refused to let fear dictate his life, relying on prayer and trust in God.
Early Days as a Christian
Ayaan was blessed with marriage a few years later! "In 2012 I met my wife. She is also a believer and has a special testimony of her own. A year later, we got married, and life's challenges took a different form."
One of the challenges he faced was the difficulty in finding work. "I used to work with the police, and I needed to quit because it was dangerous in a country like Iraq," Ayaan explains. Finding a job as a convert from Islam was challenging, but Ayaan began to explore filmmaking after he started serving in that capacity at his local church. He felt it was a meaningful way to use his talents.
However, he was limited because he couldn’t afford the equipment he needed to do his best work. "I needed equipment like a camera to invest in my projects and personal skills," he said. The tools he needed were not just for work; they were a gateway to stability, creativity, and self-sufficiency.
Then, through local church networks, he met our Field Minister Elias, who told him about our Enduring Livelihood Ministry. Together, they worked up a business plan for Ayaan to begin to scale his business so he could start earning a steady income!
"When I realized it was a gift from the Lord, with no interest and no repayment, I felt overwhelming joy. It was a huge and joyful surprise," he recalls “Help The Persecuted is truly a real support for every believer," Ayaan shares. "They gave me a grant no one else, and no other entity, would have offered without anything in exchange, except for the church, which does not have the means to do such a thing. My family and I are very grateful to the Lord for the gift and for the people in the organization who made it possible."
Today, Ayaan's life has blossomed in ways he could hardly have imagined. He is married with two young children and is using the equipment and resources provided to serve others. Because of your support, he has been able to continue his work as a filmmaker, producing content that carries a message far greater than any single project.
"Through the equipment I received, I hope to serve people and share the message of Christ," he says. "I want to deliver a true message of love to the world. This project created real change in my life."
Ayaan's dreams of establishing partnerships and collaborations with Christian, creating content that can show the global church how Iraqi believers face and adapt amid today's difficult circumstances. His hope is that the world would see, through his lens, a faith that does not shrink in hardship but shines all the more brightly because of it.
Ayaan’s Gratitude—for You
Ayaan is so grateful to all of you who are helping him rebuild his life. "Help The Persecuted is a true support for people in need, especially converts," he says. "I hope they continue supporting such people in the future, and may God expand their influence more and more."
"May God bless you for your true and genuine work," he adds, "in supporting real believers who need help and encouragement in such circumstances. I pray in the name of Jesus for the continuation of this ministry."
If you want to minister to more persecuted Christians like Ayaan, you can do so here!