Over 80 Muslim refugees in German camps convert to Christianity

Pastor Albert Babajan conducted the baptism ceremony of over 80 Muslim refugees from Iran and Afghanistan on May 5 in Hamburg City Park despite certain doubts that some are only doing so to gain better chances of being granted an asylum.

"The motive for the change of faith is the same for many: they are disappointed with Islam," Babajan told German magazine Stern (via Christian Today). The pastor is looking to convert at least 500 Muslims by this year's end. Yet he also admits that there may only be 20 or 30 percent of the refugees who truly want to hear the gospel. The converted refugees believe they will gain high chances of winning an asylum since conversion to Christianity by a Muslim is punishable by death or imprisonment in Afghanistan and Iran.

Fully aware of this, Babajan said that he's able to determine the true believers from those who are only taking advantage by asking how Christ has changed their lives. He believes that the Christian faith changes the way people think and view the world.

This is the same belief shared by Pastor Gottfried Martens of Trinity Lutheran Church in Berlin who has seen his congregation grow to about 600 converted Christian refugees by September 2015 from a mere 150 parishioners.

"I know there are — again and again — people coming here because they have some kind of hope regarding their asylum," Martens told Fox News. "I am inviting them to join us because I know that whoever comes here will not be left unchanged." He also claimed that only about 10 percent of the converts do not return to church.

"I've been looking all my life for peace and happiness, but in Islam, I have not found it," Shima told Stern about her recent conversion in Hamburg, as reported by Christian Today. "To be a Christian means happiness to me."

Somaz, another convert, shared her thoughts: "In Islam, we always lived in fear. Fear God, fear of sin, fear of punishment. However, Christ is a God of love."