Sermon Sharing from Greenfield Hill Congregational Church

Below is an excerpt from the sermon by Rev. David Johnson Rowe of Greenfield Hill Congregational Church referring to Abbas’ time with them in Connecticut speaking and sharing.

There are times in life when we feel stymied, lost, don’t know what to say, can’t
figure something out, afraid, afraid to choose, afraid to speak up, or just plain
wiped out, emotionally, spiritually; you’re at your end. That’s when, Jesus says,
the Holy Spirit steps in, clears your head, gives you voice, puts steel in your
spine. INSPIRES you. See that word, “inspire”? It means, literally, to “put the
Spirit in you.”

Thursday night we hosted a fascinating young man, Abbas Hameed. A
handsome young man, he’s probably 40, but he looks 15. He’s been through
hell in life! Born in Iraq to a Catholic dad and a Muslim mom, that mixed birth
exposed him to oppression early on. His dad was imprisoned and tortured
under Saddam Hussein and later executed by Islamic terrorists. But Abbas, by
law, became an Iraqi police officer at age 18, right at the start our war against
Iraq, a war he welcomed in hope of freedom.

 

Abbas began working with the U.S. military as a translator, becoming part of a
SWAT team, Intelligence, Special Ops, consistently proving himself valuable.
Abbas and our soldiers shared the same daily horrors of roadside bombings,
terrorists, firefights, car bombs, death, destruction on a daily basis. Time and
time again his young life was spared as if by some design, some divine, guiding
hand, plunging him into a spiritual whirlwind.

He wanted to know why was he still alive? Why was he spared? What did God
want from him? Indeed, what, or who, is God? His father’s brutal imprisonment
had led to whole-life transformation and a revived Christian faith before being
murdered. Abbas saw a spark of Christ in some American soldiers. He saw the
almost magical reverence soldiers had for the Bible. He wanted to know more.

He wanted to know God. As he continued his service to our military, he took a
hard right turn into Christianity and has let that turn become the guiding light
for his life.

During the question-and-answer period, he ended going right where this
sermon is going. Despite all the horror and evil he has seen, despite being on a
terrorist hit list, despite the wrongs of his own life which shame him, he lives
without fear, without hatred, without revenge; he lives a life of forgiveness,
even toward the terrorists, a life of love here in America, a life of faith through
his own ministry. How does he do it? How is he not angry, not bitter, not
broken?

Well, he repeatedly called it the “power of Jesus.” The “power of Jesus” in him
helps him to love his enemies. But what is this “power of Jesus”? I mean, Jesus
isn’t here, he left, he said so himself!

Well, that’s the Holy Spirit. That’s the power of God and the “presence” of Jesus
experienced in a new way. It’s God at work, even if we don’t see God. It’s Jesus
at work, even if he has left the building. What stays on is God’s Spirit, what we
call the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost. This essence of God in Christ, unseen but
fully experienced.

May you be encouraged by this message and the words shared!

To have Abbas speak at your event please reach out on the Contact page today.

Recent Speaking Event – Finding God in the Desert

I had the blessing of sharing with the church and community from Greenfield Hill Church in Connecticut the end of May this year.  Here is more information on the event.

THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2018, 7:30pm–8:30pm, reception to follow

GHCC Memorial Room, 17 Meeting House Lane, Fairfield, CT

Born and raised in Samarra, Iraq, Abbas Hameed was used to navigating tense situations. His father, a frequent target of Saddam Hussein’s police force, spent years in an underground prison where he endured complete darkness –an experience which led his father to seek God until his own death at the hands of terrorists.“After that incident, I asked God silently if he truly exists –‘Please don’t punish me but help me to be a good man and seek you.’”

At nineteen, Abbas completed his required training in the Iraqi police and was drafted to a compulsory lifetime of service. With the US invasion he fled to Tikrit to join the US military police as a security officer and interpreter. While on duty, Abbas intercepted a car bomb. He shot at the driver. The bomb exploded. When he got up off the ground, Abbas realized he was the only survivor.“I felt certain that the God who created heaven and earth was responsible for saving my life.” Abbas saw an American soldier reading his Bible, and he wanted to know more.

I have more openings for this type of speaking event.  Please contact me to discuss more.

CBN’s 700 Club Promotes Abbas’ Testimony

What a blessing and privilege to have Abbas’ testimony recorded and produced into a video by the 700 Club of CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network).

The 700 Club team came to our home a few months ago and captured a lot of video footage.  They have now put all this together into a great 5 minute video.

See the full version here:

Abbas is available to speak at churches, conferences, and events.  He can share his testimony and challenge groups to go deeper with God.  He is also focused on discipleship and training messages for Christian groups, as well as evangelistic outreach to non-believers and Muslims.

Please contact Abbas to learn more about his availability for speaking.

The video here was produced by the 700 Club and can be viewed here with their story. >

 

 

Training Event Held at Greater Philadelphia Mission Fellowship

Abbas had the privilege of speaking at the Greater Philadelphia Mission Fellowship this past October.

The GPMF hosts a quarterly meeting with a focus on mobilizing Chinese churches into mission.  They have a specific focus on evangelism efforts and outreach to Muslims.  Abbas was able to share his testimony of being a Muslim background person who came to faith in Christ.

Abbas was able to spend time sharing and training the group to equip them for their outreach efforts.

Abbas is open for future training events, ministry events and sharing his testimony.  Contact him via the website here to inquire further.