Hassan Bouziane was a serious and practicing Moslem, hardline. But in 1998 someone in his village began preaching the Gospel to him. Reading a Bible led him to see that Jesus was not merely a prophet but the Son of God, and he was baptized by Methodists a year later.
Like the missionary saints and protomartyrs of the Franciscan order during the lifetime of St. Francis, Hassan preached the Gospel at the mosque. One of only two Christians in his village, he was persecuted and brought before a prosecutor who told him that everything people need to know about Jesus is in the Koran. Hassan continued to proclaim Christ, and he was released, to the amazement of the people present. For three years people would come every night to throw stones at his house, but a few became Christians themselves, and when his mother was cured of cancer, both his parents converted as well.
Once a young man arrived with a knife, ready to kill him. Hassan went out into the street so everyone could witness whatever might happen. He asked the man with the knife, “Will you really be able to kill me?” and falling on his knees continued, “Go ahead, it will be for the glory of God”. The would-be killer trembled, lowered the knife and left. Thenceforth Hassan and his parents were left in peace.
Hassan did not stop his preaching, and he also found his way into the Catholic Church after he realized that his Protestant pastor had no true mission or authority from God.
Summarized from an article in Famille Chretienne, April 11, 2009, accessible at www.famillechretienne.fr, under the headings Agir and Evangelisation.
