I want to share my story with you, a story of God’s spreading love and my weird life which maybe can be God’s test. Maybe my whole life is a big test.
I’m a 26-year-old boy from the Middle East. I was born and raised in a Muslim and religious family. From childhood I always asked others about God, and others recommended that I speak with God in religious ways. But I always speak to God in my language in my alone times.
When I was kid, I found a Mary and Jesus picture in the middle of an English book, and I saved it. It was very interesting to me, but I did not know who the face was in the picture. After I showed that picture to my dad, he told me this is Jesus and Mary and he asked me not to hold this picture because it’s for Christians and we are not allowed to have a picture of infidels. He scraped the picture, and I started crying and repaired the picture with glue and held onto it. The Jesus face in picture was very kind to me, unlike Islamic pictures which we had in our house wall.
At nights I started to look at the picture and talk to Jesus in the picture and in my imagination, He was answering me. Afterwards when I felt troubled, I called Jesus’ name and thought he is always with me taking care of me, but also, I had no clue or information about who Jesus really is. I just loved him in my heart and mind.
When I turned 17 years old and got access to the Internet, I decided to find out who my childhood hero was and started searching about Jesus on the Internet. Then I got some basic information about Jesus. After a while I was in one of my relative’s house which had satellite TV. There was a TV channel by name of “mohabat channel.” It was talking about Jesus, and it was interesting to me.
There was a pastor on TV who said if you want to be God’s child, if you want to be a new creature in God and your sins forgotten, then put your hands on the TV screen and pray with me. It was a silly thing for me to put my hands on the TV and pray and I don’t know why I did that. But that man on TV prayed and I repeated after him. After my prayers were over, my tears were falling, and everything was changed.
After a while I started seeing changes. One day I heard my mom saying that my cousin turned to Christianity and my mom was cursing him and calling him an infidel. I went to meet my cousin, I asked him,
“Did you really turn to Christianity?”
He said,
“Yes.”
Then I shared my story with him, and he became happy and gave me a holy bible.
I started to read holy bible and know more about Jesus. Then I started to repent and stay on Jesus’ words. After a couple years I found some other Christians in my town. We had a small home church and were happy about it. We read the bible and worshipped in our small home church.
After one year, Islamic security agents came and imprisoned my friends and destroyed our little home church and said if you want to stay alive, repent and never have a meeting. Then my friends escaped out of the country and city to save their lives. It has been about five years that I’ve been all alone, only me and my bible and the Holy Spirit’s presence. This is just a brief bit of what God has done in my life
I want to serve the Lord the rest of my life but don’t know how. If any of you my dears have any idea, please share with me. I need your prayers and encouragement, please share.
Hi victorymani, we’re moved by your story and are praying for you. You have friends here so anytime you like, feel free to post comments here. I know you feel alone but know that we are one body in Christ. There are many of us and we can’t be in the same physical place (yet) but can communicate on the Internet.
How awesome to “meet” my brother in Christ! I will pray for you and I look forward to hearing more from you (: I cannot pretend to understand your plight, but what a blessing you are to God, remaining faithful in difficult times. You are an ecouragement to others and I appreciate your sharing. God bless!
My dear brother in Christ!
It was so wonderful to find your testimony of personal revelation of The LORD Jesus Christ. Another amazing story of God’s grace – Praise The LORD! His Word tells us before we were born He knew us and chose us to be His. That is why you had a connection with the picture of Him although you didn’t have any other information of Him God draws us to love Him and serve Him 🙂 He is the God of ALL COMFORT who comforts us like no other.
You say you are in the middle east. I was wondering if you have some qualification from your studies that would permit you to obtain a temporary visa in another non-muslim nation so you can move? I was from Singapore, I moved to Australia in 97 from parents starting a business in Australia. I cannot imagine how hard it must be to have to hide your faith day to day…in the book of Revelations it says that some of God’s people dwell near synagogues of satan but they kept their faith in God (God keeps them by His grace) and He never failed them. God is ALL POWERFUL and He alone do the miracles we need Him to do for us, no matter what our circumstance is. All we need is to ask Him in prayer.
I am in Perth, Western Australia and I live in an apartment unit and I think I am the only one who believes in Christ in my neighbourhood and already find that is hard for me. I feel very alone most of the time except for 1 kind neighbour I have. You and I are not alone. Remember Jesus said they hated Him first because darkness hate The LIGHT. But we must keep walking in The LIGHT and keep loving Jesus and God will protect us from all harm. I am blessed by your testimony and I hope that you can find a means of escape from your household or nation. It was over a year ago that I left my parents house to stay in an apartment by myself. It was very difficult to live with them because they try to make me afraid because they are afraid. They are afraid of other people, of this world and of the devil. I am not afraid because I also had a personal revelation of Jesus in year 2010. I always tell myself that the only one I should be afraid of is God (Jesus Christ) because He is the King of King and LORD of LORDs everything must bow to Him 🙂 I must be bold against evil because Christ is in me giving me strength ! 🙂 I love Jesus so much but I know He loves me much more. I know He loves you too… He will provide for all your needs, therefore do not worry about tomorrow, do not also be afraid but pray about everything and you see God will make things happen for your good and to free you to serve Him also. 🙂
This is great testimony. Further helps those who live in a ‘free’ society, apppreciate that opportunity. you’re not alone bro. thanks to forums like this, you can share the word, experiences, encouragement and ask questions…this is basically a virtual church. Feel free to send personal mails too. Happy to be here.
Thank God
Dear Brother in Jesus,
God Bless you! I thank Jesus for you and your bravery. I pray that God strengthens you and guides you to a safer place in due season and I hope you are reunited with your friends again. Still, remember you have a new family in Jesus now, I pray God sends you more brothers and sisters in Jesus to support you through this time. However, know this-that you are not alone- you have God, you have Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit. Jesus is closer to us than a brother!
After 6 Years I have read my own Testimony again, And blessed, believe me in this 6 years after this testimony God is not only my childhood super hero, he is like my whole life super hero and still working with all his mercy in my life. That was also the power of your prayers and encouragements which gave me strength.
Still need your prayers and like to join a virtual church to worship God together. Feel free to contact me at victorymani88 at gmail dot com
God’s grace upon us are new every day. Our Lord Jesus has promised us to be with us always. May the Lord continue to reveal Himself to you. Keep serving the Lord faithfully.
Mani, you are such a blessing to us and your story continues to encourage my heart. Keep growing in the faith of God. Praying for you this morning to connect with others in the body of Christ through a virtual church.
Hello Mani! I suggest you ask God for a revelation of His love, either tangibly or through His Word. His love really strengthens me, manages my impulses I still have till today, and encourages me to keep going 🙂 may the Lord bless you and keep you, and shine His face upon you!