Stories from our field
Muslim from Bangladesh Asks: ‘How Do I Devote My Life to Christ?’
Imran* from Bangladesh is scrolling through his phone. In his early thirties, single, and unemployed, he carries the heavy burden of caring for his sick mother. He feels disillusioned with life. While browsing, he comes across the Facebook page LifeQuestions. An advertisement for a free online Bible course catches his eye.
Intrigued, Imran wonders if the people behind this page can offer him some guidance. He types a message: “Can you tell me what the meaning of life is?” It marks the beginning of a profound conversation that will span several months.
His conversation partner is Bob Hengelaar*, a GlobalRize mentor based in the Netherlands. Bob explains that life was created by a loving God. “Do you know this God, Imran?” he asks. Imran says he doesn’t. “Would you like to know who He is?” “Yes,” Imran replies, giving Bob the opportunity to share the Gospel with him.
As it turns out, Imran is more than ready. It soon becomes clear that he has already been doing his own soul-searching and knows much more than he initially let on. “When I read the Quran, I read about Jesus. I wanted to know more about Him, so I started reading the Bible. I’ve also been watching videos on YouTube about Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. I know now that He is the Savior and that He died for our sins. I have given my life to Him and I pray to Him every night. I want to fully devote my life to Him, but I don’t know how.”
Bob is struck by this confession of faith and encourages him to start the online Bible course. “I am treading very carefully here, brother,” Imran admits. “My entire family is Muslim. They cannot find out about this.” He adds: “I was so disenchanted with life. I had no desire to marry or work. Now, I feel like I’ve found a way to turn my life around. I pray to Jesus often, and I feel much better spiritually than I ever did before.”
Imran is a man with many questions. “If Jesus is the only Savior, why did God send Muhammad?” and “Why did God give him a divine book?” He also wonders, “Why is it that some Christians convert to other religions or become atheists?”
Imran recently spent three years in Saudi Arabia, where he became deeply disillusioned with Islam. He was also disappointed in himself; he hadn’t managed to earn enough money there, leaving him financially dependent on his older brother.
Bob teaches him how to bring his struggles to the Lord in prayer, even modeling how to talk to God. Step by step, Imran begins to grasp what it truly means to live with and for Jesus.
One day, Imran shares some news: “I watched The JESUS Film with my mother. She now believes that Jesus is the Son of God!” While Bob is thrilled, Imran remains cautious. “If I lead my mother to Christianity now, my brothers will kick us both out. We are both dependent on them. No one can know about this until I am able to stand on my own two feet.” He mentions plans to start a YouTube channel to share the faith, but feels he would need to leave Bangladesh first—it is simply too dangerous to be a Christian there.
Imran expresses a desire to be baptized, and Bob cheers him on. At first, Imran views baptism as a mere formality, but he soon discovers the sacrament runs much deeper. Eventually, he shares the big news: “I was baptized yesterday! Afterward, I felt as though all my sins had been washed away and my soul made clean. The feeling is so profound I can’t even put it into words. Today, I went out with the pastor to share the Gospel. He even gave me a new name: Paul.”
After his baptism, Paul seems to have found a new sense of boldness. Where he once spoke of fleeing Bangladesh, he now wants to stay in the city. “My mother is elderly; she needs me.” He has started joining his pastor on evangelism trips to neighboring villages. He even shares that a local woman wants to be baptized. “She’s getting baptized this Thursday. I’ll be right there with her!”
Bob is encouraged but concerned. “Aren’t you worried about your safety?” he asks. Paul’s response is startling: “Listen, Brother Bob, when I was nine years old, the Lord Jesus appeared to me in a dream. It took me over twenty years to understand what it meant. I don’t want to waste another day. As long as I live, I want to spread the Good News. I know this path isn’t easy. I might be thrown out of my home, beaten, or even killed. But whatever happens, if my life isn’t serving the expansion of God’s Kingdom, what is the point of it all?”
It is remarkable to see how God had been working in Paul’s life since he was a child—and that one of our mentors had the privilege of helping him find the right path.
Bob Hengelaar’s Perspective:
“I often talk to Muslims in the chat, but it’s rare to find someone seeking the meaning of life as sincerely as Paul. The fact that he was disillusioned with Islam and already had a sense of God’s presence helped. It was a rewarding experience to walk alongside him digitally and watch his faith grow. The highlight for me was when he shared photos of his baptism. For this brother, the goal of moving ‘from the screen to the church’ truly became a reality.”
Please pray for Paul’s safety!
At the time of writing, Bob has not heard from Paul in over a month. “I truly hope and pray that he is safe,” Bob says. Will you join us in praying for Paul’s protection? Please also pray for the safety of all Christians in Bangladesh.