Overcoming Persecution: Rasheed Akther - Part 1

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Now the devil's worst nightmare in your tagteam partner cheetah call. It's time will come back to time to man up with the Russian nightmare. Well, the devil's nightmare. Nikita Cole will all I have in the studio with me today. A fascinating story when I heard about this man's story. I said he is. He has to come on the show. Rasheed is from Pakistan.

Let me tell you what I think you the listener will be as fascinated by the story. As I was when I heard it hate you know what cricket is when I'll not talk about the little cricket blog and talk about what they play in other parts of the world cricket with a man in the studio with me today. Rasheed was a world-renowned cricket player back in his day, but now, through the power of salvation and transformation.

This man has an amazing ministry over in Pakistan taking care of orphanages. Rasheed welcome to the show. Thank you. Great to have you with us today and you know I heard about your story and I mean it.

I was like just fascinated by the course you know I have have a relatable background and in the in the sense of cricket in on it and in almost a summer listeners may have to go Google that they may not be too familiar with the sport of cricket. However, because of my worldwide travels. Having been to 30 different countries and I remember when I was in South Africa I mean that was the day time deal South Africa and I'm guessing in Pakistan cricket is probably a good national pastime as well write to us little about that story.

Your days and in the world of cricket stock from the South Africa. I really love to go to pray dear because, on those good old days before it even seeks you when you play for South Africa or play event South Africa you cannot play any of your ticket okay so do go I'm talking about before the mid 70 mid 70.

I like to go because they pay you good money they pay you good money and I really want to go but dad exhaust minutes.

I stopped not to go on mostly displaying in the British colonies okay British colonial like Australia, New Zealand, England, Pakistan, India bungalow day Shanda, what you call this country of Sri Lanka and South Africa and Ghana days trying to get in dear nowadays okay and how how old so so how old were you when you when you first were introduced to cricket when you started playing cricket. How old were you well. I prefer younger age. I mean, may I say that 15 year but I stop playing, get real good character or the four Pakistan in the 22nd 22 years old man when I was at 22 years old. Okay so so so you started starkly cricket it a very a very young aging… Obviously pretty proficient with it well enough or talented enough that you played for that I guess would be the national exactly Pakistan the national team from Stanton at age 22 and then NC became what would the sword you regard as like a professional cricket player yes yes there he went from the amateur status to becoming a professional at age 22. That how many years did you professionally play cricket, please. 7 1/2 year 7 1/2 years in and you what I understand, Rasheed. You are one of the best of the best love this to the people called me but I can for them and that I am. I used to do that. I mean I was the first rearing Pakistan or the all subcontinent out. If I may say that in England I was the first player who complete at 3001 in a very young age. While yet 3000 that is another Nordic escape, and especially those Google date when you play this West Indies West Indies that there was a very fast boiler and when I Michael holding his the board fast boiler in my days in my day, he was already fast boiler those good old days and I picked him up six run in six ball and every ball I put the six run any game to hug me do that. Name five think is good. I had read. He said no I'm not a good IQ. You are the first person to stand and play my ball.

I'm going to give you 5000 followed.

Well yourself first for the listeners out there. As she hears that here's the deal guy I admittedly I don't know a whole lot about cricket. I remember sitting in my hotel room in South Africa and what watching the game and I'm like, it's like some people from like, for example, you may come from Pakistan real is were you born and raised Jesus up. You come here you see American football and and I still have some people go.

I just don't understand the game of football. The American football game. I just don't understand it. Well, I can relate the back is not. I hear you saying about the runs that I used to member that stick you guys and hole in the way the guys would like wind up in and pitched the ball in a life I can't wrap my head around what I like how you more runs and hit it here and there but nevertheless a fascinating game and certainly you guys are tremendous athletes. That's true that's true, and the cook. It is in British colonies still do people play and want to play. I was locked.

I'm in a vesting. These was our best. Those good old days. West Indies DI mean what a cup enough to not hold water cup David, not twice to time, given our rule to time in N Pakistan bundle and the one time one time Pakistan one but you see when you were playing you are like an in an English league or play for Napoli for pocket. Just Pakistan. Yeah, she won the World Cup want to.

So there's a World Cup Cricket tournament and and Pakistan where we are part of the team that you were yet while that is so that's the equivalent of the Super Bowl and automatically exactly for the Stanley Cup and here in Iraq]. That's right. While that's pretty that's pretty important. Every four years they have not every, but heavy for every 40 and they have to me not to have a vertical okay so it's similar to everything every four years. Typically, like there's the Olympics. Yeah exactly put cricket in the Olympic yeah no not yell that was because you have to pay money so Olympic don't want to be when okay okay so you've got. That's pretty that's pretty cool again some relatability there. I will. I was a world champion in professional wrestling several different times so you are world champion cricket so brushy, we got some relatability here. Amen. Also, that's very cool but we got something else that's relatable as well. I left the wrestling world at the tail end of 1992 the beginning of 1993. Fast-forward to October 1993 I found myself at an altar. I didn't grow up in church, I found myself in an altar surrendered my life to Jesus and that encounter at the altar that day forever changed me and change my life. You have a slightly different story and that growing up in Pakistan. We understand that you grew up Muslim exactly grow up Muslim but at some point someone introduced you to the gospel message and you meant Jesus tell us tell us a little bit about that story.

While I was littered. I was in the hospital actually type and there is somebody deducts lady came to me and she said connect can I pray for you and Debbie don't mind it doesn't Muslim don't mind it to pray for for somebody else you know if somebody come to me as a Muslim. We saved some good things you can do that and she should pray for she pray for me and she pray for me and she say you would be heated okay now we let let me ask you where you it.

This is during your cricket days. Yes yes yes so that you sustained or suffered injury from from cricket in the SS so that's what you handle.

Yes, this Dutch woman cut was she like a missionary in Pakistan now and those Google days there was no much a hospital and there was a big hospital.

One is the holy family that that's run by the Catholics and Seventh-day Adventist run by the Adventist people okay but I was there to do my group go to the Adventist Hospital some kind Adventist Hospital.

So this of the Dutch missionary comes. This is a rigorous, yeah, but he's not. She's knocked missionary about what you caused that Seventh-day Adventist she she's a Pentecost Pentecostal Dutch missionary. Yeah, she says can I pray for you and and then she says you get to be healed. That will what was your response that you and I said that would be great because in two weeks I'm going to go to play for England. I have because I used to play in Conkey to an English English County because it Pakistan don't give you.much money, but the English can't give you and you know that when you're a player you look that kind of thing so I have a contract with the Lee County New England okay yes contract so I have to go and days so they say okay and I said aloud that would be great and I talked to hundred brick about good and she talked to me about introducing me, Jesus and the holy he and I said well you and I never been in a mosque. My mother used to send me but that never been in Moss. I used books used to play some better – you know you know when you have a passion for something you do directly, you know, and my mother used to send us a send us on duty that Ramadan days go to mosque and you know but I never been dear another part of God do. I didn't know I was actually not higher if I said searching the truth. One day I was knocked knocked out even a good bosoms even let me put it this way right right you know a lot of people go for Friday prayer I don't I don't want to go even though good good good good good time like a good time. People used to go but I said go ahead.

I'll all sit in the dressing room in that and I understand that immediate you know here in America.

I mean there's there's there's people who profess to be Christian, but never go to church. Yeah right yeah and you know that yet they profess to be Christian, but they buy out for whatever reason they don't go inside the cuticle fear if you're needing to buy a car and have marginal credit for considering using buy here pay here that's worse than taking the Russian sickle Winston-Salem motorcars will put you behind the wheel of a car you can rely on while helping rebuild, repair or establish your credit score conveniently located on Silas Creek Pkwy. in Winston-Salem. Be sure to check them out today at W. S. M. C. The number one.com because you are number one green vinyl tile hardware from the carpet that right number one in the reader's with the war Department.

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1230 truth that were so cheap. She prays for you and and and says you're going to be healed and you like okay that great and so what happened, so she gave next day, but she never come on the daytime. She already is coming the evening and she came in the daytime I rounded 1030 1110 3011 in the morning and she said I got a message for you gentlemen, I see about that Canada what is a message. He said the Lord has sent me to you and he wants to. He's a veggie to heave you but you have to accept is the kingdom and the Lord on the heel of God. I have to think about it okay I have to think about it long and hard yeah because I thought I'm going to be a second-grade citizen. Okay then you know what, then I'm going to leave Mike. Right. And that's my passion. Then I have to. I like going to money thinks I say let me have a good time 1520 minute let me think about it and she said okay and you will you, you counted says to continuity.

If I you know enough to know if I make this decision. If I accept this Jesus she's offering.

We see Christ in my life that there might be some consequences to to your professional cricket career I and and from what I know probably consequences to your family as well. Exactly didn't really think through that process that got yes yes so that's interesting that recently. I'm currently right now, Lord, got me preaching a message that you make me think of the message of preacher right now. One of the messages called called counting the cost. Okay, that's the name of the message. I say that if you're going to be a Jesus follower, you really need to count the cost because there is there is a cost of following Jesus exactly and what I'm hearing from you and your story is a buy if I accept Jesus. There is a chance my cricket career may be ended.

And from what I understand from the Muslim faith and family is is even you are not being ostracized and or you might say kick out your family right this happened what happened yeah tell us what happened this you so as I gotta think about it. Give me 20 minutes okay what happened and did not think about it. I said well let's go and I got ago I got a Google play could get in England, Conkey. So what I'm going to do unacceptably little while but I've been here then I'll go back on my way, but there I don't know actually does those days it unaccepted a Christ.

When I made decision.

I'm going up juggled with God or play with the God that you did did you do that with like so dislike she'd lead you in a prayer or he or she is a she lead me in a prayer I decided you said you said yeah SHE HAD SHE HAVE TO. SHE HAS RAY OWNED ME I INSTANTLY I'VE BEEN HEARING INSTANTLY HEALED. GOD SHOWED UP KNOW IN A POWERFUL FATHER WHILE IN THAT THAT THAT OPEN YOUR EYES. YEAH, AND IT WAS THAT BEFORE YOUR DECISION TO RECEIVE JESUS IN YOUR HEART AFTER ALL. AT THE SAME TIME, NO SAME TIME SAME TIME SAME TIME. ON DAY I COST TO THE DOCTOR THE SURGEON AND I SEE IN TWO DAYS YOU KEPT ME OBSERVATION AND DAY 70 THINK IS GOOD NOW I'M GOOD I'M GOOD I'M GOOD AND EVERYBODY SAY THAT GOOD REPORT ALL KNOW HE HAD YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM TWICE. OKAY, THAT'S GOOD AND DAY AND HE SAID OKAY LET ME BRING MY FAMILY LIKE I NEED TO MAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU AND I SAID YOU CAN TAKE AS MUCH AS YOU WANT A PICTURE. THIS IS AFTER DR. AND I SAID WHAT YOU CAN GIVE ME.

YOU CAN MAKE A PICTURE BECAUSE AS MUCH AS YOU WANT BUT TO RELEASE ME TO DO IT TOMORROW BECAUSE INC. IN A BEAK I GOT A RUN FOR THAT IN ENGLAND SO HEAT SO THE DOCTOR CONFIRMS YOUR HEALED BUT HERE THE STORY REAL DOCKET IT WITH THE CATLIKE MANY TIMES THEY CAN EXPLAIN IT RIGHT YEAH BUT BUT HE OBVIOUSLY ABSOLUTE CONFIRMS YOUR HEALED GRACE. WE KNOW WHO HER HEALER IS YOUR POSITION.

YES SIR, GOD HEALS YOUR BODY. THE DOCTORS BLOWN AWAY GOES I GO TO GET A PICTURE WITH YOU RIGHT DOCUMENTED ALL YEAH RIGHT BECAUSE THEIR FAMILY AND EVERYBODY CAN BE DO THAT FOR THEIR FAMILY BECAUSE HE SAID HE'S A HE'S WHAT YOU BECAUSE THAT'S THE REASON IS THAT THEY COULD PRAYER AND HE'S A VERY VERY FAMOUS MAN SO LET THEM LET LET'S DO THAT, LET'S DO THAT AND HE BROUGHT HIS FAMILY AND WE HAVE THE FAMILY PICTURES HIS FAMILY AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS IS TO THEN LUNCH WITH VICTOR. I SAID DO IT DIGITAL AND DAY ATTEND. GOD, I'VE BEEN HEARING THAT TIME TO UNTIL NOW, COMPLETELY HEATED AND THEN THE LORD ONE DAY HE CALLED ME PUT THE MINISTRY, BUT I HAVE A VERY HARD TIME FOR MY CRICKET. I USED TO PLAY FOR FIFTH PHOTO FIFTH NUMBER SOMETIME I PLAYED THIRD DOG FOOD. WHEN THEY COME TO KNOW THESE, MY FRIENDS AND CRICKET PLAYER MICHAEL LEEK. I SHOULD SAY AND DAY DID START PUTTING ME LOSS NUMBERS SO LOST NUMBER DON'T GO. THE GOOD BATSMEN DON'T GO TO THE LAST NUMBER YOU KNOW. SO I DECIDED TO GIVE UP MY COULD GET. I GAVE MY CRICKET I BECOME A SECOND-GRADE CITIZEN I OPENLY ANNOUNCE THAT I'M A CHRISTIAN I'M NOT ANYMORE MUSLIM. I'M LONG AND I OPENLY CAN FOSTER ADAPTED AMONG THE PEOPLE.

THEN THERE THEN WE HAVE A CERTAIN OTHER DIFFICULTIES IN YOU KNOW WHEN YOU IN THE MUSLIM CULTURE YOU ACCEPTED CHRIST THIS MANY TIME IS SO HARD RIGHT A HARD RIGHT People IN AMERICA. I DON'T THINK REALLY UNDERSTAND ME.

I THINK WERE STARTING TO MAYBE UNDERSTAND IT A LITTLE BIT MORE AS MORE MORE PERSECUTION TO THE CHURCH COMES AT LARGE. EXACTLY WHAT I EVEN KNOW FROM TRAVELING SO IT TO SO MANY COUNTRIES OVERSEAS AND ON SOMEONE LIKE YOURSELF AND IN A SCENARIO LIKE YOU'RE DESCRIBING IN PAKISTAN PREDOMINANTLY MUSLIM NATION. YOU MAKE A DECISION RECEIVE JESUS. I MEAN IT YOU DO, THE COST TO MAKE THAT DECISION. MANY OF YOU BEFORE YOU MAKE THE DECISION RIGHT SO YOU AND NOW IT'S REAL.

I'M A CHRISTIAN I'M A CHRIST FOLLOWER AND EXACTLY. I'M GUESSING YOUR FAMILY WASN'T REAL THRILLED ABOUT THAT DID THROW ME OUT THROUGH YOUR YEAH MY MOTHER, MY FATHER, MY FATHER SEE YOU CHANGE YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND YOU ARE YOU ARE YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO COME IN MY HOME NOT PART OF THE FAMILY, NOT PART OF THE FAMILY ORDER. EVEN MY HOME SO ISAAC IS SOMEONE A BLOCK IN THE MORNING WHEN I'M GOING TO GO. HE SAID GO SLEEP ON THE STREET. I SAID IS THE LORD GO. I HAVE ENOUGH MONEY I STICK UP FOR A FEW NIGHTS AT A HOTEL AND OFF… I GOT MY OWN APARTMENT. SO THAT'S KIND OF THINGS FOLLOW CHRIST IS ALWAYS GOOD TO BE FOLLOWED.

JESUS IS ALWAYS GOOD WAY. TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM EVERY DAY NO MATTER WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES. A CONSEQUENCE YOU HAVE YOUR FAMILY GIVE YOU IT WILL GIVE YOU THE VICTORY OVER EVERYBODY AND END OF THE DAY THE LORD GIVE ME THE VICTORY OVER MY FAMILY. EVERYBODY TURNED TO CHRIST.

EVERYONE IN YOUR FAMILY YEAH EVENTUALLY COMES TO CHRIST, WHO WAS THE FIRST ONE IN YOUR FAMILY WHO WAS THE FIRST ONE OF MY MOTHER.

YOUR MOM TO COME ON HE SAID SHE SAID THAT IS GOOD THERE.

THAT'S YOU DON'T THINK IS A SOMETHING CHANGED AND YOU YEAH YEAH AND SHE SAID SOMETHING IS GOOD IN CHRISTIANITY. OTHER LIKE YOU NEVER DO THEM GRANT YOU NEVER DID GO TO MOSQUE TO WELCOME YOU TO JUST READ THE BIBLE OF THE TIME. YOU KNOW THAT. YEAH LET'S CALL THAT YOU HAD A ROAD TO DAMASCUS AND CO. WAS ALL HE BECAME INVOLVED. YOU WERE A CHANGED MAN.

SHE COULDN'T DENY YEAH THE CHANGES SHE WAS SEEN IN HER SON JACOB, AND SHE STOPPED COMING TO MY HOME. MY APARTMENT AND WE HAVE A GOOD RELATION WITH HEART. I HAVE A GOOD RELATION. SHE HAS A GOOD RELATION AS IF MOTHER AND SON, DAVE. THEN MY FATHER THAN MOTHER, BROTHER, SISTER, EVERYBODY COME TO KNOW THE LORD OF THE WE JUST GOT, YOU KNOW WHAT MAN THE STORY SO FAST THAT WE JUST GOT A FEW MINUTES LEFT OUT. I WANT TO COVER THIS PAPER THE LISTENERS OUT THERE BEING YOUR SOUL FOR JESUS IF THEY SEE THE CHANGE EVENTUALLY YOUR WHOLE ENTIRE FAMILY COMES TO KNOW JESUS A MAN AND IN OUR LAST FEW MINUTES LEFT YOU THOUGH. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS TO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW SINCE THAT DECISION. A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. YOU NOW HAVE A MINISTRY OF YOUR OWN IN PAKISTAN. YES SIR, MINISTERING TO ORPHANS RIGHT STOREFRONT AND THE SCHOOL TO TELL US TELL US IN OUR LAST COUPLE MINUTES OR TELL US ABOUT THE BR HUNDRED TRYING TO BE BOUGHT THEM. NINE THEN EVERY THINK WE BEEN DONE WE ARE WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD A SCHOOL TO SCHOOL AND THE ORPHANAGE AND WE HAVE A RIGHT NOW OFTEN CHARTED OFFER HOUSES. WE SEND THE CHILDREN AND NOW WE BELONG TO BETA OF OUR OWN FACILITY AND IS HALF HIGH SCHOOL. THE CHILDREN ON HOSPITAL NAME IS ST. THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE ST. THOMAS BROUGHT THE GOSPEL INTO DR. LUND MUST WHILE IT SO YOU ARE FULFILLING REALLY ARE FULFILLING SCRIPTURE WHEN GOD SAID, TAKE CARE THE WIDOWS AND THE ORPHANS EXACTLY YOUR TAKE CARE THE ORPHANS THERE IN PAKISTAN. YES, DAD AND I KNOW PEOPLE WANT TO GET A HOLD OF YOU. THEY CAN JUST EMAIL YOU DIRECTLY RESCUED after@yahoo.com Kalispell therefore you get your pen and paper out are a SH EE D akther@yahoo.com light of light. Pakistan is is the ministry and and you taking care of the orphans and and got about 60 seconds. Here is just jealous or just stroke which got the school, the orphanage, we want to do what we can to help. Best of support you is great to have you.

Sure they want a fascinating story but I love to be here and dad, thank you very much you giving me this opportunity and God bless America and God bless this a studio and especially you and Robbie did more. Well I tell you what you you you you mentioned a great name, Robbie Gilmore and the Christian car guy. He's got a phenomenal shoulders old and and so just great to have you here with us think that will have to since the Lord crossed our pass will have to have you back again another time and and I know you're here in America right now raising funds, raising money for the orphanage and the school you will get a pray believe in and as I know you are. I could just just just sensitive man got to do continue some great things in the three got bless you brother thank you thank you for folks to say thank you for tuning in view. It's time to man up today with the Russian nightmare.

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