Christian apologist Nabeel Qureshi, 34, has died from cancer on Saturday, September 16, 2017. He is survived by his wife, Michelle, and his daughter, Ayah. His death greatly shocked the Christian community as it seemed like only yesterday that he announced that he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Many poured in their condolences to the beloved brother in Christ, testifying the impact that his life has made on many for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
"My beloved brother Nabeel, rest in peace and joy with the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. #FriendsForEternity," David Wood, head of Acts 17 Apologetics Ministry, tweeted Saturday afternoon.
"Our brother Nabeel Qureshi has gone to be with the Lord. Please pray for his wife and family," tweeted Mike Licona.
"Nabeel Qureshi, your eyes will now see and your hands will now touch that which is the only Real estate," tweeted Ravi Zacharias.
"Heartbroken to learn that Nabeel Qureshi @NAQureshi has died. Thankful for his gospel work, but glad he is now in the presence of Jesus," Ed Stetzer tweeted.
Just last week, the cancer-stricken author asked for prayers that God would perform a miracle "within the next few days" as doctors have given up on treating his body and have recommended palliative care.
"Not the best news," Qureshi, a Muslim convert to Christianity who previously served with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, said a video update from his hospital bed.
He informed his fans and followers of his illness saying the prognosis was "quite grim".
"This is an announcement that I never expected to make, but God in His infinite and sovereign wisdom has chosen me for this refining, and I pray He will be glorified through my body and my spirit," Qureshi wrote. "My family and I have received the news that I have advanced stomach cancer, and the clinical prognosis is quite grim. Nonetheless, we are going to pursue healing aggressively, both medical and miraculous, relying on God and the fact that He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine."
The one thing he's been wrestling with through his illness, Qureshi said, is the question of "where does my faith need to be?" vs. "I, as a believer and a real person, where can I actually find my faith?"
"In other words, do I need to perform?" he explained. "Do I need to say, 'I'm going to have this level of faith right now?' And honestly I don't think so. I think God understands where I am right now, and He comes alongside us in that and He loves us and He gives us the strength for today."
Qureshi once again asked his followers to pray for him before concluding with a prayer.
"Father, we come before you, trusting you even now for a miracle," he said. "We know that John 11 uses those exact words - even now, you can do a miracle. We saw Him raise Lazarus from the dead, we see the Lord in Genesis 22, rescue Isaac at the very last second. We see the dead girl raised from the dead. Luke 7, we see a boy raised from the dead. So, God is able, He is more than able. I'm just going to rest in that as best I can."
He added, "Lord, we know you are able. Please heal, please come through, but if it shouldn't be Your will, your sovereign will at the end of the day, then I trust You, and I love You anyway. We praise You, Lord. We pray in Jesus' name, amen."
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