Welcome back friends!  You came to meet the next incredible Revivalist, didn’t you!?!  Well, you won’t be disappointed!  I can hardly wait to introduce him to you.

But first, if you haven’t been with us…welcome!  We’ve spent the past few days identifying and meeting three types of Muslim activists: Radicals, Reformers, and Revivalists.  To help you better understand, here is the mantra for each:

• Radicals: “Islam is the answer, jihad is the way.”
• Reformers: “Islam is the answer, but jihad is not the way.”
• Revivalists: “Islam is not the answer, and jihad is not the way.  Jesus is the way.”

Without further adieu, meet Tass Saada.  A Palestinian born in Gaza, Tass and his family immigrated to Saudi Arabia in 1948 to escape the war going on in Israel (and the modern-day Gaza Strip).  Tass began to hate Jews for driving them from the land.  Later, the family moved to Qatar where Tass’s hatred of Jews grew to sheer determination to join Fatah and kill Jews.  A trained and accomplished PLO sniper, Tass was involved in many actions in and around Israel.  Known, also, for his ability to navigate through difficult traffic situations, Tass became the personal chauffeur for PLO President Yasser Arafat.  Eventually, he was expelled from Qatar where his family still lived, and he headed for America.

Though he recognized America as “the great Satan,” he soon noticed that he was not treated as an immigrant or a refugee…and he liked living in America.  Thus, he married an American woman so he could stay.

That was critical, because it took 19 more years for Tass to accept Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah.  Meanwhile, Tass worked in the restaurant business.  One day, as he served a rich man his meal, the man thanked Tass.  That was extraordinary because in Tass’s culture, rich men don’t thank servants…they simply expect them to serve.  That man, Charlie, became a “regular,” and Tass gave him the best of service.

As their relationship grew, Charlie talked about a “relationship with God,” and Tass thought he was crazy!  But the idea became more and more intriguing, and Tass saw something more that he desperately wanted: true peace of mind.  So, Charlie told Tass, “If you want to experience the peace of mind that I have, you have to love the Jews!”  Wow!  A tall order for one whose former ambition was to kill Jews.

Ultimately, Charlie shared Jesus with Tass, and Tass found himself on his knees praying for salvation!  Jesus saved that once-militant Palestinian Arab!  Miraculously, the Lord God had also saved Tass’s son 3 months earlier, but he had been afraid to tell his father!  Now they could celebrate together!

Hear Tass tell his story below.  (But don’t be confused with the intro of President Obama on the video!)

Tass and his wife, Karen, ultimately founded Seeds of Hope, to provide necessities to impoverished communities in the Middle East.  According to the website, “Our hope is to bring long-term change to families through education, economic development, cultural exchange, and humanitarian aid.”  Tass and Karen are the hands and feet of Jesus to his native land and people.  Their love pours out to them…and to the Jewish people.  Nice job Charlie!

Believing friends, our God is indeed a miracle-working God!  There is not a single person beyond the reach of Jesus.  Let’s pray that more and more people in the Middle East come to know Christ, and that those ministering to them go forward in boldness!

Interested in learning more about Tass’s incredible story, including his time as a PLO sniper?  Get hold of his book, Once an Arafat Man.  Very interesting!

We’re not done yet, friends!  I can’t wait to tell you about a former CIA operative in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard who renounced Islam and chose Jesus Christ!  Come back for more tomorrow!