A Pilot Risks Persecution to Share Christ in His Homeland

Basit Hammad is from a country where Christians face discrimination and persecution. Despite the risks, Basit chose to place his faith in Christ as a teenager. Now, he’s preparing to return to his home country as a pilot to take the gospel to unreached people.

Listen as Basit shares his story—and mission to reach others in the midst of persecution—on this episode of GPS: God. People. Stories. 

Connect with us through email at gps@billygraham.org or on Facebook at Billy Graham Radio.

If you’d like to know more about beginning a relationship with Jesus Christ, or deepening the faith you already have, visit FindPeacewithGod.net. 

If you’d like to pray with someone, call our Billy Graham 24/7 Prayer Line at 855-255-7729. 

Transcript

Basit Hammad:  
[00:00:00] I personally know believers and pastors who have lost their lives because of their faith. Missionaries, pastors, leaders being burned alive, being beheaded, or being beaten down to death. All that happening in my country because we live under discrimination and persecution. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:00:15] If following Jesus Christ meant a life of persecution and hardship, would you still choose to follow Jesus? Basit Hammad did gladly and willingly. He’s the man you just heard. From giving his life to Christ in a country where doing that could cost you your life to becoming a missionary to the people of his nation, Basit’s story is one of resilience and hope in Jesus Christ. You’re about to hear it on this episode of GPS: God. People. Stories. An outreach of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. I’m Jim Kirkland. 

Billy Graham: 
[00:00:50] All through the Bible, we are taught that the upright man, the Christian, will suffer persecution from a godless, unbelieving, secularistic world. Jesus said, because the world hated me, it will hate you also. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:01:05] That’s Billy Graham. More later from him on what the Bible says about the persecution of Christians, as well as the hope Christians have in spite of their challenges. But if you need to know more right now about the hope Christians have, we invite you to visit our website. FindPeacewithGod.net. When you’re there, click where it says begin a relationship with Jesus. That’s FindPeacewithGod.net. You can also call us if you’d like to talk with someone at the Billy Graham 24/7 prayer line. (855) 255-PRAY. That’s (855) 255-7729. And we have the website link and phone number in our show notes.  

Audio and Music Tag:
[00:01:51]

Jim Kirkland
[00:01:57] Basit Hammad was born and raised in a Christian family in a country where Christian evangelism is not welcome. We’re not going to share the name of his home country so as not to jeopardize any ministry work there, be it now or in the future. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:02:12] 99.8% of the total population are non-Christians in my country. Me living with my family in my country, faced religious discrimination and persecution. My dad was rejected several good jobs because of his faith. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:02:26] Religious persecution in the job market for Basit’s father meant that Basit and his family lived in poverty. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:02:34] Sometimes, all we had to eat was just bread and water. When I talk about bread, it’s just bread. No sides. No fancy ranch. Nothing else. Just bread. Water was also one of the big challenges. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:02:44] When he was just 10 years old, Basit walked about a mile each way to get clean drinking water for him and his family. At school, Basit faced the same rejection in the classroom that his dad had faced in the workplace. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:02:59] I was the only Christian student studying in my school. I was often being rejected by other students. They did not want to sit with me, share their meals with me, or sometimes even play with me. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:03:08] That rejection hit Basit hard. One day, after school, he asked his parents why is this happening to me? 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:03:16] And they always tell me to stand firm in the Lord and hear God even in the hardest situations. That’s what I memorized. My very favorite verse from the book of Proverbs, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:03:31] And God started to direct his path when Basit was 13. One day at his church, his Sunday School teacher announce that all the children would be receiving special gifts from the United States. These gifts were part of Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse, a sister ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:03:52] Before that, I had never received a gift in my life before. So, I was just so happy and really excited that I might receive that gift. Finally, after two weeks, the day came. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:04:02] It was a Friday. After school, Basit went to the church as instructed. He had high hopes of receiving a gift. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:04:10] As soon as I entered into the church, I saw there was joy in the air. There were kids who were running from one corner to another. They had already opened up their shoeboxes. They had the toys or the stuff that they had gotten. They are showing it to their parents and to their friends. There was some people who asked me to stand in the line and wait for my turn. That’s exactly what I did. Finally, after a little bit, I was handed over a beautiful, colorful Operation Christmas Child shoebox. And I was so happy. I was so excited. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:04:40] Basit held the shoebox very close to his heart. He looked up and said thanks, God. The shoebox and the anticipation of the items inside of it was so precious to Basit that he didn’t open his box immediately. He waited until he got home. And there, on his bed, he opened it.  

Basit Hammad: 
[00:05:01] There was some school supplies. There were some stationary supplies, some markers, some crayons, some coloring books, some tennis balls, some toys that I can play with and share with my friends and my siblings. But one of the most precious things that I received in my shoebox was a picture Bible. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:05:19] Basit’s Sunday School teacher had used a picture Bible to teach his class. He had always wanted his own to see Bible stories like Jesus on the cross or David facing off against Goliath. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:05:32] That was something that I really loved. But I didn’t have my own picture Bible because Christian resources at that point in my country were very few. And they were very hard for us to get. But my mom always used to tell us to pray about the things that we need, and God will provide us at the right time. So, I just did that. And I was praying to God. And that picture Bible was an answer to my prayers. And that picture Bible became a treasure for me. I spent hours studying and reading from that.  

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:06:00] That was a problem, however. The picture Bible was in English, not Basit’s heart language. Still, he creatively found a way around the language barrier to put the Bible to good use. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:06:13] Every time I would open up the picture Bible and show it to my mom, and she would give me the Bible reference of that story in my language. And that’s how I will read the Bible story and look at those pictures. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:06:26] Out of all the kids who received Operation Christmas Child boxes at the church that day, it seemed like God meant for that particular shoebox gift to land in Basit’s hands. Basit started attending Sunday School more regularly and understood the importance of prayer and God in his daily life. But nevertheless, he still wrestled with doubts and questions about God for several years. At 16, Basit was struggling with those concerns when he had a small accident at a youth camp that would lead to a big change in his life. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:07:00] The preacher was a rock climbing guy. He was giving us a glimpse of how rock climbing works. So, he tied down the ropes to a two-story building. And he was just letting everybody go down by putting the belts on them. Whenever my turn came, I was just having a macho attitude because there were some girls that I really liked. And I was just trying to have that attitude in front of them. Hey, don’t tell me what to do. I’ve got this. Just trying to be cool in front of them.  

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:07:25] Trying to be cool almost cost Basit a very high price. His fingers almost got crushed in the rock climbing gear. And he nearly flipped over while slowly making his way down the two-story building. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:07:39] I was really upset because I made a fool of myself in front of everybody, because I was trying to be cool. And the preacher just came. Everybody just came and started to ask me if I’m good or if I need anything. And the preacher came as well and started to ask me if I need something. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:07:54] Embarrassed, Basit just wanted to go back to his room. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:07:59] Whenever I started to walk towards my cabin, the preacher came and started to talk to me and asked me several questions. And I started to ask him why did Jesus give His life for me on the cross? If God is sovereign, why doesn’t He save me? Why doesn’t He provide for my needs? I’m living in poverty and stuff. And he answered my question, starting from the creation from God all the way to the message of salvation, and gave me all of the biblical references. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:08:24] Basit asked the pastor these questions in confidence. He didn’t want anyone in his family, or friends, or community to know. That would potentially bring shame upon them. After the talk, he walked on to his cabin. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:08:38] And during this time alone in the cabin, I was just praying. Then, in the evening session, he was particularly talking about John 3:16. And that’s when I heard the message. And I understood that I am a sinner and need a Savior. And I went up, and I confessed there that I’m a sinner. That’s the time when I gave my life to Christ. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:08:59] Basit understood just how challenging it could be to follow Christ in his anti-Christian country. Yet, he wanted a relationship with God anyways. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:09:12] I personally know believers and pastors who have lost their lives because of their faith. Missionaries, pastors, leaders being burned alive, being beheaded, or being beaten down to death. All that happening in my country because we live under religious discrimination and persecution. But there is one thing, I knew that I am saved. And that was the joy because I am saved from God’s wrath. And that was just so precious and amazing for me. So, I would say that I know it is challenging. I know it’s difficult. But there are believers in my country. And they find joy if they will get persecuted on God’s name. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:09:46] After surrendering his life to God, Basit started to serve in his local church. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:09:51] I played a musical instrument, which is really common played in my country and in the surrounding countries. And I started to play that instrument. I also started to serve with my pastor. And we would go into the streets and do street evangelism. And one time, I saw some other missionaries. Another time, I would see some other pastors doing the street evangelism in the streets. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:10:13] Seeing people share the gospel in the streets made Basit think about those who don’t have access to good roads. He realized no one was taking the gospel to them. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:10:24] I started to pray about it, and I started to talk to my pastor about what we can do to go and talk to these people and share the gospel with them. And my pastor came up with this idea that was should do some hiking trips back and forth into those villages. Build a relationship with these people. And then, share the gospel with them.  

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:10:42] Basit was excited about his pastor’s idea. They made a few trips. But soon, they had to stop. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:10:49] We were living under poverty. We didn’t have the proper gear and equipment to do those hiking trips. The last trip that we did was about a 10 hour hike back and forth. And it started to rain. It was really cold. Whenever the team got back, everybody got sick. And they decided that we’re not going to do it anymore unless we have the proper gear and equipment. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:11:10] But Basit wasn’t going to give up on those villagers. He prayed for God to make a way to build a relationship with these people and share the good news with them. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:11:19] One day, I thought that maybe I can rent a helicopter or small aircraft, and I can go into those villages. That would be very easy. I can go in the morning. Do whatever I have to do all day and then come back in the evening. And I looked on the internet, and I find out that there is no civil aviation in my country. The only aircraft that I can hire is military aircraft, which is very, very expensive. Like it was more than three jobs that I was doing at that time to support myself, my education, and my family. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:11:49] Months went by while Basit kept praying for an open door. Through online research, he came across several mission aviation organizations. And he started reaching out to them. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:12:00] So, I started to send them emails. I was like why don’t you come to my country? There is a big need of the gospel.  

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:12:05] One of the organizations in Alaska wrote back to Basit. They said they’d be very glad to help, but they were unable to do their ministry in Basit’s own country. They couldn’t do what he ultimately could do. So, they suggested he come to the United States to get his flight training to become a missionary pilot back in his country. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:12:29] I was very excited. And I was young. And I’m just thinking that next week I’m going to the U.S. The following week, I’m going to be a pilot. And the following week, I’m going to come back and be a missionary pilot in my country. But it didn’t work that way. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:12:41] It would take Basit nine years to build relationships and raise the support he needed to go to the United States. Some of the hardest moments of Basit’s life were lived in that near decade of waiting and trusting God. He even made a backup plan just in case things didn’t work out. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:13:02] I was planning on taking a loan and starting a business in my country. With that income, I can start a youth camp and youth ministry in my country. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:13:11] Some of Basit’s most difficult times of discouragement were about to come. Yet, those times were be some of the best times for receiving encouragement from God. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:13:21] God was speaking to me through the Scriptures. And every single day was a new Scripture that would come. I’m like, okay, I need to trust in Him. And He’s going to make things right. And whatever His will is, it’s going to happen. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:13:35] Nonetheless, the odds seemed to be stacked against Basit. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:13:39] I had a really bad reputed passport, and no travel history. Whenever I was applying for a U.S. visa, everybody around me, the consultants, everybody was telling me that I’m not going to be able to go to the U.S. because there is no chance they’re going to give me the visa because of all the negative things that are happening with me. The scenarios that were with me all were all negative that I’m going to get a visa. There was no chance. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:14:06] Their words influenced Basit, and he started to believe them. He called the president of the Bible college he was trying to attend overseas, saying he didn’t think he was going to receive his visa. Basit asked, why don’t we spend that money to do some mission work here in my country?

Basit Hammad:
[00:14:23] And he told me this thing that has always outstood with me. That prayer is the nerve that moves the muscle of God. And he tells me that we walk by faith and not by sight. And he told me how many people are praying for me. So, just keep applying. If it’s God will, it’s going to happen. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:14:41] In 2021, Basit was finally able to come to the United States. He was admitted to a Bible college. His first steps in becoming a missionary pilot. He considers it a complete miracle. But that miracle also led him to another one. Meeting the woman who would become his wife. 

Basit Hammad:
[00:15:02] In 2022, whenever I was in my Bible college, I went on a Sunday to my church as a regular church. And I saw this Operation Christmas Child posters that. I was like I know these people. I know them. They were in my country. And I received a shoebox. So, I sat down in the service. When my pastor came, I told him that I know these people. And that I received a gift, just the same one whenever I was in my country. So then, he went up on to the stage. While closing, he told everybody that there is a shoebox recipient that we have here. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:15:35] Afterward, the Operation Christmas Child representatives connected Basit with Samaritan’s Purse’s headquarters. They asked Basit if he wanted to be a volunteer spokesperson. And after prayer, he accepted. It was at his spokesperson training that Basit met his future wife. Since then, Basit has graduated with a master’s in ministry, become a pilot, and as of this recording, he’s in process of being ordained at his local church. As a missionary, he formed a non-profit for reaching groups of people around the world who have never heard of Jesus Christ, including groups of people in his home country. 

Basit Hammad:
[00:16:12] I’m in the process of support raising. But once that’s finished, then my wife and me are hoping to relocate in my country. And we’re going to be doing full-time, long-term missions there. And there’s a big need of sound doctrine in my country. And there is a big need of the gospel in my country. And we want to do that. And God is slowly opening up the door of aviation as well. So, I’m going to start very soon my flight training again and see how God can use that in my country. But our long-term mission is to serve Him in any capacity that He wants us to do. 

Music tag:
[00:16:44] 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:16:53] To serve God in any capacity He wants. That’s a great example to us to boldly share with people the gospel of Jesus Christ no matter our circumstances. If you’d like to know more about who this Jesus Christ is, we can help you with that. Visit our website at FindPeacewithGod.net. When there, click on begin a relationship with Jesus. That’s at FindPeacewithGod.net. You can also find the link to the website in our show notes. In just a minute, Basit will share about trusting God regardless of difficulties or even the threat of persecution.  

Audio tag:
[00:17:33] 

Billy Graham: 
[00:17:42] All through the Bible, we are taught that the upright man, the Christian, will suffer persecution from a godless, unbelieving, secularistic world. 

Announcer:
[00:17:51] Billy Graham … 

Billy Graham: 
[00:17:52] Jesus said because the world hated me, it will hate you also. He said because I’ve chosen you out of the world, therefore, the world hated you. Nowhere in the Bible do I read that Christians should expect it to be normal, to be popular, or comfortable, or successful in the eyes of this world. In some parts of the world, today, it still means physical persecution and suffering to become a Christian. However, Jesus also said blessed or happy are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For so persecuted, they, the prophets which go before. In other words, Jesus said, you will be blessed and happy and have special compensations and rewards if you suffer persecution and if you suffer death. God wants men and women who will live the Christian life today and every day. In living that life, I can assure you that you will find a peace and a joy that you’ve never known before. In the midst of suffering, or persecution, or even death, I am asking you, today, whoever you are, to say yes to Jesus Christ. Just say I, too, will follow Him to the death of sin and self in my own life. I do want to commit myself to Him. I want to share in His glory that is yet to come. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:19:29] Learn more about being bold in your faith and standing strong for Jesus Christ by visiting our website. FindPeacewithGod.net. When you’re there, look for grow in your Christian faith and click there. That’s at FindPeacewithGod.net. If you’d like to speak with someone right now, there’s someone waiting at the Billy Graham 24/7 Prayer Line. (855) 255-PRAY. That’s (855) 255-7729. Once again, (855) 255-PRAY. Our guest on today’s episode of GPS is Basit Hammad. As a man who has faced religious persecution most of us will never know, we ask Basit what’s the one thing we could learn from him. Here’s his response. 

Basit Hammad: 
[00:20:22] I think that the biggest that I would tell is that trust in Lord and lean not into your own understanding; acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He shall direct your path. We know that in our circumstances, things can go down the road. And it’s very easy to question God or to question why this is happening with me. Or like why God is not talking to me. Or why God is not opening up this thing. What am I going to do? What’s going to happen with my life? But pray is the number one thing. Pray, pray, pray. And with prayerful consideration, seeking God’s guidance and God’s wisdom on what He wants in their lives. And I want to tell this to everyone. The Great Commission is for everybody. It’s not a suggestion. It is a Great Commission for everybody to go and make disciples of all nations. Every Christian is bound to Great Commission. And God has a way that He’s going to use us for His kingdom and His glory. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:21:18] We’re grateful Basit Hammad joined us on this episode of GPS: God. People. Stories. He continues in his calling as a missionary and volunteer spokesperson for Operation Christmas Child, as well as a husband and now, father. If stories like Basit’s encourage you, and who can’t use a little more encouragement, why don’t you hit the subscribe button on YouTube or your favorite podcast app? In the middle of life, GPS will be there for you in the middle of the week, every other Wednesday. I’m Jim Kirkland. And this is GPS: God. People. Stories. It’s an outreach of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Always good news. 

Music tag:
[00:22:00] 

End of transcript