With the current political turmoil in the U.S. and ongoing riots and protests in France, it’s easy to overlook stories that embody hope and resilience.
However, during a recent episode of “The Glenn Beck Program,” co-founder of Blaze Media, Glenn Beck, shared a narrative that he believes highlights that true hope lies beyond politics—in Jesus.
“I don’t think God is involved in politics. He’s focused on transforming hearts, which is ultimately what transforms culture and, subsequently, politics,” Glenn stated.
He then recounted the journey of Ahmed Joktan, a physician from Saudi Arabia who transitioned from Islam to Christianity and has since dedicated his life to evangelizing among Muslims.
“Ahmed grew up under strict religious guidelines set by his father, a mufti—an Islamic academic. His father was the authority on Sharia law, the one making crucial decisions about severe penalties,” Glenn explained. “By age 13, he had memorized the entire Quran.”
Entering medical school in Saudi Arabia proved challenging for Ahmed because he lacked proficiency in English, which made studying difficult. To assist him, his father sent him to Auckland, New Zealand, for an intensive language course.
It was during this stay that a remarkable event occurred.
“One night, he experienced a dream where the doors to his balcony swung open and blinding light filled the room. A man entered, surrounded by this overwhelming light, and beckoned him, ‘Come to me,’” Glenn described.
In his dream, this illuminated figure revealed a structure with white pillars, saying, ‘Go to the house of white pillars, and there you shall find the truth,’” Glenn recounted.
Overwhelmed, Ahmed disclosed his dream to his class. His teacher, a Christian, suggested he might have seen Jesus—a notion Ahmed was hesitant to accept.
As he wandered the streets of Auckland, he stumbled upon the very building from his dream.
This location was Auckland Baptist Tabernacle, a church established through the missionary efforts of Thomas Spurgeon, son of the notable preacher Charles Spurgeon.
Inside, he met Pastor Brian Johnson.
“They engaged in discussions about sin, life, salvation, and Jesus. The pastor even referenced parts of the Quran that identify Jesus as the Word of God, which resonated with Ahmed’s prior knowledge,” Glenn noted.
“Ahmed was initially resistant to reading the Bible but eventually came across John 14:6, which states, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ The same term ‘truth’ used by the voice in his dream,” he added.
Although Ahmed’s conversion brought him joy, it was quickly overshadowed by fear. He had to return to Saudi Arabia, a nation where Islam prevails and any public practice of other religions is prohibited.
“He managed to smuggle an Arabic New Testament back into Saudi Arabia hidden within his English textbooks,” Glenn recalled.
However, Ahmed’s family soon discovered him reading the Bible.
“His brothers violently attacked him, and when his father came home, he pointed an AK-47 at him, threatening, ‘I will kill you if you don’t burn that book,’” Glenn recounted.
To survive, Ahmed burned the Bible, but by then, the Word of God had already been etched into his heart.
Ultimately disowned by his family, Ahmed relocated back to New Zealand to live out his life as a Christian.
For more about his ministry, Mecca to Christ, you can check out the video above.
