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Nasrin
’
s Story
 by K.E. Stegall
 Published and Distributed by:
 
Kansas Class
721 MississippiLawrence, KS, 66044
Copyright 1994, 2000 by K.E.Stegall 
 
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. The publisher orauthor disclaims any personal loss or liability caused by utilization of any information presented herein.
 
Printed in the United States of America
 
 
 
Nasrin
’
s Story
by K.E. Stegall
 1
Nasrin
’
s Story
 
“Wouldn‟t the church‟s time be better spent preac
hing the gospel to a
needy world rather than talking about the place of women?”
 We had been talking about the decision of the Anglican church to open allchurch offices to women. My friend works with the Anglican Church of theMiddle East headquartered he
re in Cyprus. He didn‟t take a position for or 
against women in office, but summed up his opinion on the issue with the abovestatement.With that remark our discussion of this controversial decision in theAnglican church ended and we went on to talk about his work with Christians inthe Islamic world. We shook our heads sadly at the seemingly impervious andrigid face Islam turns toward Christ.***
“Why was it, and why is it, one asks, that while other areas see growing
churches and flourishing congregations, the countries where Islam holds sway
remain in such bondage to fear?”
1
 
“The book targets the 400 million Muslims living in cities across North
Africa, the Middle East, Central, and South and Southeast Asia where there arevirtually no churches composed of converts from Islam. It probes the question as
to why these cities have been infertile ground for church planting.”
2
 ***I was browsing through the bookstore looking for something to read. Thebook cover was a photo of a veiled woman with only her eyes visible. The eyeswere black lined and mascara heavy, yet clear, large and beautiful. But they were
1
 
Patricia St. John,
Until The Day Breaks
, O.M. Publishing, 1990, page 55.
 
2
 
From a book review by Roger Greenway of Calvin Theological Seminary of,
Planting Churchesin Muslim Cities: A Team Approach
by Greg Livingston,
 Evangelical Missions Quarterly
, Vol. 30,No. 2, April 1994, page 217.
 
 
 
Nasrin
’
s Story
by K.E. Stegall
 2without expression, opaque, closed without being closed. So much was hidden.The book was entitled
 Princess
and the back cover said it was the story of 
a woman from the Saudi royal family. “A woman glittering with jewels, living a
life of unbelievable luxury. But in reality she lives in a gilded cage. She has nofreedom, no vote, no control over her own life, no value but as a bearer of sons.Hidden behind the veil, she is a prisoner, her jailers her father, her husband, her
sons.”
3
 Seemed a little too sensational. I passed it by.***
She didn‟t fit my stereotype of a refugee. She was young and beautiful,
radiating health and vitality. She greeted the room full of strangers with an open,confident smile, and extended her hand in friendship.This is Nasrin. She and her husband are Christian converts from Islam.Along with their two sons they are now refugees from Iran living in Cyprus andare a part of the small congregation of believers with whom my husband and Iwork.They began their spiritual search by reading many religious books, but astime went on they found themselves studying the Bible more and more as theother books began to collect dust on the shelf.One day as they were reading the Scriptures, they looked at each other and
realized, “We are Christians!”
 That realization eventually made life for them in Iran impossible.Many months after that first meeting Nasrin and I were talking of our
children‟s activities. She mentioned that her boys had gone to a school sports day.“I‟m glad they can go to these sports things. I never went and I‟m happy when Isee my sons happy to do such things.”
 I asked her why she had never gone.
Didn‟t they have sports events in
Iran?
“No. They have. My brothers go often. But not girls. Girl is not allowed
to go out. Boys are free. They do whatever they want, but girls - no. Girls are not
free.”
4
 
3
 
Jean P. Sasson,
Princess
, Bantam Books, 1988.
 
4
 
Please do not assume, since I have chosen to report Nasrin‟s words in her own unique English,
that she is ignorant or uneducated. Nasrin has an excellent education and is very well informedabout world history as well as current events and philosophies. Nasrin is now teaching herself English, her fourth fluent language.
 
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