April is a big month! We’ve got Palm Sunday and Easter, I turn 60 on the same day my younger son turns 11, a daughter turns 16 a few days later and of course, the event you’re all looking forward to: The NFL draft!
Actually, you probably don’t prioritize watching the draft, but here’s the story this year that might pique the interest of Muslim Connect tribe members: Ahmed Hassanein may become the first Egyptian in history to play in the NFL! He loves Jesus and his story is amazing.
Born in the US, Hassanein moved to Egypt at six years old with his dad and zero Arabic! He had a hard time fitting in and staying out of trouble, but found sports to be a good outlet. He excelled in a variety of sports and became a national Cross Fit champ.
When he was 15, a plan was concocted for Ahmed to return to the US with his half brother, a teacher and football coach at a small high school in California. He soon found himself once again losing the language lottery! But he was a terror on the football field! He didn’t know the rules, but resonated with the instructions, “See ball! Get ball!”
Late in high school, some tape Ahmed posted on Instagram caught the eye of the defensive coordinator at Boise State. Turns out his brother had played with that coach when they were both students at Azusa Pacific!
By his senior year at Boise State, Ahmed found both great success on the gridiron and a relationship with Jesus.
People who predict these things think he’ll go in the 5th or 6th round of the NFL draft. I don’t predict much, but pray he’ll continue to be a solid follower of Jesus and that God will give him a strong voice for Christ in the US and especially back in Egypt.
More on Ahmed:
Nine minute video interview.
Great version of Ahmed’s story.