From Islam to Jesus

Nick (left), Arash (center) and Ilir (right), all three do a great job in TV Vision Norway. But the road ahead has been long and tortuous. All three are trained to become part of Islam. But Nick, Ilir, and Arash felt an emptiness within and instead experienced salvation in Jesus Christ. Now they are part of TV Vision Norway.

The story of the three can now be found under “Documentaries” on our new platform tvvision.no. The program is 55 minutes long and was made for Vision Norway’s celebration of 17 years on the air. The stories of the three young men are a story am tradition, culture, religion and much more. It is common to follow the long lines in countries where Islam is strong. And it is not least common to follow what the father, the head of the family, decides.

A small town in Albania

Nick, or Kreshnik Ceka as he is called, grew up in a small town in Albania, right on the border of what is today Kosovo. Tropojë was strategically located to develop a criminal environment, with a lot of weapons and mafia conditions, on the border between two countries with a troubled existence.

It should also make its mark on Nick, who was just a child when this last war in the Balkans was fought in 1998 and 99, the first to Kosovo’s independence. Nick and his sister were sent to a village not far away, to be protected from the ravages of war. Here, Nick came into contact for the first time with a Christian youth environment and was gradually more and more influenced by the new. But restless as he was, it took its time.

But one day, in the middle of the night, he surrendered his life to Jesus. Nick moved to Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, and later to Norway. He received a fine education and is today part of Vision Norway’s TV staff.

Something more

Ilir Vreta is Nick’s brother – in – law. They are married to their respective sisters. Ilir grew up in a mountain town called Kruje, Albania, but his family now lives in Durres, Albania’s second largest city. It is perhaps best known for the great earthquake from November last year in which over 50 people were killed.

In Ilir’s upbringing, the Islamic presence was very intrusive, especially through the Bektashi order. But Ilir was convinced that there was something more and had a longing in his interior for another dimension. Through a dramatic event, apparently in the middle of the night, and at exactly the same time three days in a row, Ilir surrendered his life to Jesus.

Like Nick, he also ended up with “Youth on a mission” at Grimerud farm outside Hamar. And later the road went to TV Vision Norway. Ilir has a broad background in Albanian state television, but will use his profession to serve Jesus.

Then came the revolution

Arash Rezaeimehr is the oldest of the three guys. Born just outside Tehran and at a time when Iran was still a Western-oriented monarchy. But two years after Arash was born, the revolution came. Ayatollah Khomeini introduced a priesthood and an ideology that turned the country upside down.

Arash’s father died when he was quite young and those around him claimed that it was a punishment from God for not doing Islamic deeds and rituals.
Arash was angry with God, but at the same time decided to do what was right. And he did that throughout his youth. However, he always felt that something was missing. Inwardly he felt an emptiness. A wedding changed everything. Arash met one Christian among 600 guests – the rest of whom were Muslims.

Arash was saved, but serving God in Iran was a risky affair. The police heard about his movements. Arash had to flee, never to return. He ended up in Turkey, and was helped on to Norway. Larvik became his new city and Bethany his congregation. Arash has worked for Iranian state television and thus has a good background for working with television. He also ended up on TV Vision Norway.

These are three different stories, but the longing for God and eternal life was common to all.
This documentary in less than an hour is worth watching.