My soul and my heart were always seeking a way to find real peace, but I always came back empty handed. I lost many years of my life not having the answers I needed. Now that has changed.
My Christian journey, during this transition period of my life, began in earnest as I walked into a church in a Middle Eastern country in June of 2014 and is completed now that I am part of the Lake Avenue Church family.
I struggled with my married life and was totally depressed during this time. Then Jesus walked into my life to save it. Once He came in, He shed light on my life and revealed all my secrets. I am also grateful for my husband’s support in my decision and want my life to be transformed so that Christ’s truth and love in my life will shine.
When I was Muslim there was a realization I was not complete and fulfilled. I always felt an emptiness, which was magnified when faced with difficult situations. I felt I needed a strong faith and a holy place where I could go to solve all my weariness, fear and loneliness. But now, faith in Jesus is filling these missing parts of my life.
I’m grateful to have the chance to know Jesus, by having a close relationship with Him and also affirm my faith and commitment to Him by getting baptized.
These days I can feel his presence during every moment of my life as I walk with him, step by step. I can also see him in people's faces and as he gives me the opportunity to make them happy or help them and by reading God’s word.
On this path I faced many critics, however I endured all of them by following my heart. Because Jesus loves and protects me, whatever happens, I will walk with my head held high conquering all difficulties by keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus.
My husband and I have lost our home country - where we were born - where we have precious childhood memories. Everyone wants to be able to return to their memories… We are not able to return to the people we love and the places we are so familiar with. If we did, we could even pay for our faith with our lives. We've lost the chance to be with our family for many years. We've lost our jobs and our social standing. We need to start our life in a new country, new culture... but I know I followed my heart, by fixing my eyes on Jesus. I know He will never, ever leave me and He will always help me pass through the challenges we will face. I will always be able to look back on this decision and know our children will not live in constant fear. They will be able to know Jesus from the start.
In conclusion, I want to say thank you to Pastor Roger Bosch and his wife Lili, who gave me the opportunity to be baptized at their house and who help me a lot on this path by praying for me, and I want to say thank you to the friends who helped and led me a lot to reach this point and the friend who introduced me to the Lake Avenue family. What’s more, I want to thank all the Lake Avenue Church family, the supportive group I am part of there, and finally to say a big thank you to my husband and my family who have really supported me.
P.s , I want to continue to pray for all Muslim people who are finding Jesus, but who can't speak about their faith, so they will be able to find a way to follow their faith freely.
*Names and locations have been omitted to protect the safety and confidentiality of the person who shared their story.