Former Muslim confesses he wanted to die after converting to Christianity

Global speaker Dr. Nabeel Qureshi confessed he asked God to just kill him soon after leaving Islam for Christianity.

The international speaker with Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) made his public confession to thousands of Christians gathered at the National Mall in Washington D.C. Saturday, July 16 for the Together 2016 event.

"When I became a Christian, it was the most painful thing I ever did. I wanted to die," confessed Qureshi.

"I asked God to kill me because I lost my family. I lost my friends in the mosque. I lost all the people who loved me the moment I became Christian," he explained.

Qureshi, who also wrote three books titled "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity," "Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward" and "No God But One—Allah or Jesus," grew up an Ahmadi Muslim and traces his roots to Pakistan.

The predominantly Muslim nation reportedly persecutes its minority Christian population at an alarming rate raising concerns among human rights advocates. According to the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), Christians suffer persecution with impunity in a variety of ways, including sexual violence, kidnappings, forced conversions and charges of blasphemy.

"I said, 'God, why won't You kill me?'" shared Qureshi.

He said God responded, "Because this wasn't about you, it's about Me."

Qureshi considered his conversion 11 years ago as the most difficult and greatest decision in his life. He described himself as a "proud Muslim." In his own words, that meant someone who was not "looking for love" nor someone "looking for help."

He recounted when a Christian friend reached out to him during his freshman year in college. Qureshi said he debated with this friend as he didn't trust the Bible's credibility nor understand the concept of the Holy Trinity.

He changed his mind four years later.

Now he told the crowd of young Christians that God has a plan to heal the world that has seen violence almost everywhere. He challenged Christians to change this world.

"It can only happen through His hands and His feet and that is us," said Qureshi. "That's why you are alive. To share this message and transform this world by the Holy Spirit living inside you."