Who is Mosab Yousef?

Aside from being a New York Times best selling author of the book entitled, Son of Hamas-- Mosab Yousef is the firstborn son of one of the leading founders of a terrorist organization committed to the total destruction of the State of Israel. But rather than choose a life of hatred, racism, and murder, Mosab Yousef chose to save both Israeli and Palestinian lives, even thwarting an assassination attempt on the future President of Israel, Shimon Peres!

Given the code name, “The Green Prince”; Green because of the color of the flag of the Palestinian people, and Prince because he was the heir apparent to his father’s role in Hamas, Israel’s security said that, “So many people owe Mosab their life and don’t even know it. The amazing thing is that none of his actions were done for money. He did things he believed in. He wanted to save lives. His grasp of intelligence matters was just as good as ours — the ideas, the insights. One insight of his was worth 1,000 hours of thought by top experts.” Forbes Magazine described Mosab as “a genuine Palestinian freedom fighter” and former CIA director James Woolsey called Mosab a “remarkable young man” who should be commended for “extraordinary heroism and courage.”

But to many in Mosab’s community in the West Bank, he is a traitor and now a marked man. It’s why an Israeli interviewer remarked, “I ask myself — if this is courage, or total craziness.” Yet how refreshing it is that in a day when peer pressure can make a puppet out of man, that a person like Mosab Yousef steps up to the plate, thinks for himself and at risk to his own life — does what is right! We need more like him. Men and women of courage. John Wayne once said, “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.” I thank God for Mosab Yousef. A man who amidst great danger to his own life, saddled up anyway. He saddled up to save lives!

I hope you will join us in welcoming this young man to our city. It’s rare to have such a unique hero in our midst. Come and hear the inspiring and courageous story of “The Green Prince” — how he fought terrorism, saved lives and was changed by God’s love. Bring your family. Bring your friends. Bring you neighbors! September 4, 7:00 pm Calvary Chapel Auburn, Ca. Doors open at 6:30pm.

To hundreds of thousands the son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, Mosab Yousef, is a mystery man. For example, while being interviewed by Israeli TV Channel 2 the interviewer remarks “I ask myself — if this is courage, or total craziness!”

The interviewer had been discussing with Mosab how he had worked to fight terror saving both Israeli and Palestinian lives(even thwarting an assassination attempt on the future President of Israel, Shimon Peres) but in the process also provided information that led to the arrest of suicide bombers and others terrorists from his home town and West Bank. In short, such activity makes Mosab a traitor to many in his own community and a marked man. It’s for this reason the interviewer remarked, “I ask myself — if this is courage, or total craziness!” Here’s Mosab’s answer, “Look, you are afraid when you do something wrong. When you believe in what you are doing, you are not afraid!”

What makes Mosab Yousef, tick? Why is he the man he is? Is he crazy or courageous?

Speaking to Christian journalists Mosab remarked, “It is hard to believe that the son of Hamas ends up working for the Israeli and saving Israeli and Palestinian lives. We know the secret. The secret is very simple. It is not difficult for us to understand the love of God. When the love of our Lord is in a man’s heart, this man acts totally different. They don’t want to admit that. If they admit that what changed my life is Jesus Christ this will open lots of questions and they don’t want to go there.”

You will discover that one of the main reasons that people do not turn to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior is NOT because of an absence of evidence that He is the Son of God — that He died — that He was buried — and that He rose again –but because of the change that results in following Him. Namely, when a person experiences the love of Jesus Christ in their own life, it transforms their outlook in how they view others! They love. They forgive. They value their fellow man! They want to be a part of the solution in their generation. They want to help people physically, emotionally and spiritually! This is the story of all genuine followers of Jesus. Christians are different because of the God they worship. At the very heart of a Christian’s reality is the belief that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for His enemies, praying for their forgiveness. In addition, at the cross,  He conquered sin, death and judgement and three days later bodily rose from the dead. Jesus is alive and He’s able to change a man from the inside out. It is this, new man, that the world needs! It is this, new man, that Mosab embodies!

Timothy Keller, New York Times best selling author offered the following perspective that removes the mystery out of why a Christian is different, why Mosab Yousef is different.

• “The Greco-Roman world tended to despise the poor, but Christians gave generously not only to their own poor but to those of other faiths. In broader society, women had very low status, being subjected to high levels of female infanticide, forced marriages and lack of economic equality. Christianity afforded women much greater security and equality than had previously existed in the ancient classical world. During the terrible urban plagues of the first two centuries, Christians CARED for ALL the sick and dying in the city, often at the cost of their lives.”
• “Why would such an EXCLUSIVE belief system lead to behavior that was so open to others? It was because Christians had within their belief system the strongest possible resource for practicing sacrificial service, generosity, and peace-making. At the very heart of their view of reality was a man who died for his enemies, praying for their forgiveness. Reflection on this could only lead to a radically different way of dealing with those who were different from them. It meant they could not act in violence and oppression toward their opponents!”

At the end of Mosab’s book entitled, “Son Of Hamas”, Mosab writes, “Truth and forgiveness are the only solution for the Middle East. The challenge, especially between Israelis and Palestinians, is not to find the solution. The challenge is to be the first courageous enough to embrace it.”

I couldn’t agree with Mosab more! Crazy? No way! Mosab Yousef is a godly and courageous man! And I am reminded of what Jesus said recorded in John 8:31-32: “If you continue in my Word, you will be my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free!”

Over the years we have hosted some very special guests at our church but no one like, Mosab Youself! You are simply not going to want to miss Saturday September 4th at 7:00 p.m. Believe me, it’s worth staying home that Labor Day Weekend for the rare opportunity to hear Mosab’s incredible story in person.

In short, Mosab …

– Fought terror.

– Saved lives.

– And, has been changed by the power and love of Jesus Christ! His story is nothing short of extraordinary.

Working undercover for Israel, Mosab had the code name “The Green Prince”: green because of the color of the flag of the Palestinian people, and prince because he was the son of one of the founders of Hamas, the arch-enemy of Israel, and the heir apparent.

Mosab saved many Israeli AND Palestinian lives, as he provided information that helped thwart terror attacks in the Middle East.

Here is a description of him from his book, The Son of Hamas:

• “Before the age of twenty-one, Mosab Hassan Yousef saw things no one should ever see: abject poverty, abuse of power, torture, and death. He witnessed the behind-the-scenes dealings of top Middle Eastern leaders who make headlines around the world. He was trusted at the highest levels of Hamas and participated in the Intifada.He was held captive deep inside Israel’s most feared prison facility. His dangerous choices and unlikely journey through dark places made him a traitor in the eyes of people he loves–and gave him access to extraordinary secrets. . . . After a chance encounter with a British tourist, he started a six-year quest that jeopardized Hamas, endangered his family, and threatened his life.He has since embraced the teachings of Jesus and sought political asylum in America.”

Mosab writes …

• “As long as we continue to search for enemies anywhere but inside ourselves, there will always be a Middle East problem.Religion is not the solution. Religion without Jesus is just self righteousness. Freedom from oppression will not resolve things either …Manipulated by lies and driven by racism, hatred, and revenge, I was on my way to being one of those people. Then in 1999, I encountered the only True God. He is the Father whose love is beyond expression, yet shown in sacrifice of his only Son on a cross to atone for the world’s sins. He is God who, three days later, demonsrated his power and righteousness by raising Jesus from the dead. He is the God who not only commands me to love and forgive my enemies as he has loved and forgiven me but empowers me to do so. Truth and forgiveness are the only solution for the Middle East. The challenge, especially between Israelis and Palestinians, is not to find the solution. The challenge is to be the first courageous enough to embrace it.”

Get the news out! Bring your friends, family and neighbors. I will be interviewing Mosab, live at Calvary Chapel Auburn September 4th at 7:00 p.m. as we celebrate the power of Jesus Christ to change and heal lives!