Forced To Live on a Rooftop for His Faith

A North African Christian perseveres in faith despite longstanding persecution from his family. When Waqar was a university student, he heard the gospel and committed his life to Christ. This angered his father, who cut off financial support and kicked Waqar out of the home. He eventually allowed Waqar to return but withheld food and forced his son to live in a shed on the roof, even under the blazing North African sun. For nearly 20 years, he lived that way. “This took a toll on him, physically, mentally, spiritually,” said a front-line worker. “His father told him all he had to do to make it stop was say the shahadah [Islamic declaration of faith] and return to Islam.” But Waqar, who is now 40, refused. Christians have since helped him escape, obtain safe housing and become part of a church for the first time. “It felt like coming home,” Waqar said. He asked for prayer for his faith to grow and for means to support himself.