A Texas pastor who was disowned by his Iranian father for leaving Islam says the great cost for Jesus is worth it.
Pastor Afshin Ziafat of Providence Church in Frisco, Texas, wrote of his sacrifice in a recent desiringGod.org piece.
He wrote, “When I left Islam to follow Jesus, I didn’t know what it would cost me,”
Ziafat was born in Houston, Texas, to a devout Muslim family and though his family moved back to Iran when he was 2 years old, the Islamic Revolution of the 1970s forced them to return to Texas.
He noted that while he was in the second grade a Christian English teacher gave him a copy of the New Testament and shard the Gospel with him, which eventually led to his decision 10 years later to convert to Christianity.
After declaring his faith in Jesus at an evangelistic crusade, he told his father of his conversion.
His father said, ‘No, you’re not, young man. You’re a Muslim and you’ll always be a Muslim.’ Afshin replied, ‘Dad, the Bible says that if I trust in Christ alone for my salvation, then I’m a Christian, and I do.’ his dad said, ‘Afshin, if you’re going to be a Christian, then you can no longer be my son.’”
Afshin responded, “Dad, if I have to choose between you and Jesus, then I choose Jesus. And if I have to choose between my earthly father and my heavenly Father, then I choose my heavenly Father.”
Afshin went on to seminary and became a pastor.