Stories from our field
“God helped me to climb a high and terrifying mountain”
What is it like to be a Christian among Muslims? Many followers of Jesus feel lonely and threatened. One of our team members, who is reaching out to Russian-speaking Muslims, knows from personal experience what that is like. Fatima* grew up in a Muslim family and came to faith partly through the testimony of one of our team coaches, Sylvia. Below, Fatima tells her story.
My name is Fatima*, and I live in Kazakhstan. I was born and raised in a Muslim family. One day, through His people, God began to reveal Himself to me, showing me that true freedom, truth, and life can only be found in Jesus Christ.
Even though I knew that Jesus is Lord, I tried to avoid this truth for a long time because I was afraid of my Muslim family. As Uighurs, even if we do not fully understand or follow all the laws of Islam, we still stubbornly believe that we are true Muslims. But by God’s mercy, I came to realize that true freedom is only in Jesus. So, I accepted Him as my Lord.
However, that was just the beginning. When my parents found out that I had started attending a home church and believed in Jesus, the persecution began. I was forbidden from attending any meetings, and my mother even monitored what I read or watched on my phone. I couldn’t read the Bible at home because it would have caused serious problems in my family, so I would only read it at work and never take it home.
After a while, I ran away from home because of the constant attacks from my relatives – the threats, being locked up, and even physical abuse. But through it all, God was always working and was always with me.
Since then, my relationship with my relatives has improved. They know who and what I am – not that they approve of it, but they accept it. My mother, especially, has become more accepting. I have shared the Good News with her and often invite her to our home church, but so far, she still refuses because she says she is too busy with work.
This period of my life was one of the hardest and scariest mountains I have ever faced. But God was with me. He led me through it Himself. There is no way I could have made it through on my own.
Today, I still live among Muslims. And to be honest, when I find myself at certain events, I sometimes feel lonely – standing there alone among people who do not know God, who are far from Him. Their views, judgments, and misunderstandings are still part of my daily life. But I have God with me – the One Who helped me to climb a high and terrifying mountain.
I pray for them. I remember who I was before I met God, what I was like, and that gives me the strength to pray for others – that they, too, may find God and come to know Him.
I thank God for revealing true freedom to me, for giving me salvation through Jesus Christ, and for finding me!
*For security reasons this is not her real name.
Will you join us in prayer and thanksgiving?
- Thank God that Fatima has become a follower of Jesus and now serves Him.
- Pray that Fatima’s family will come to faith.
- Pray for fruit in Fatima’s work among Russian-speaking Muslims.