For months, Islamic authorities had ignored the tiny house church he started with a handful of former Muslims in a dusty, desolate village on the outskirts of town. But the 26-year-old Arab farmer's brazen evangelism had become a problem. The church was growing, and it was now turning too many heads and winning too many souls for authorities to overlook. Today, they'd come to end it.

Ibrahim's eyes scanned the mob of about 20 men, led by the village's chief, Karim,* sent to confront him. Ibrahim recognized many of their faces. They were his neighbors, even friends. Now as Karim's hired thugs, Ibrahim saw only hatred in their eyes. Armed with knives, machetes, spears and guns, the men stood ready to kill if necessary. ...