Yusuf*, a young Muslim man in Turkey, believed Christianity was false. He believed it was a threat to the true religion—Islam—and from the time he was a young child, he felt a deep hatred toward it.
But that was to be expected of a young boy growing up in a strict Muslim family. When he was old enough for formal education, his parents sent him away to be educated in the rules of Islam, and those principles became the guiding force of his life. He had no reason to believe that what he studied and chose to believe in was anything other than the ultimate Truth.
God, however, had plans for Yusuf, and one day, Truth would set Yusuf free.
The First Whispers of Faith
His journey toward Jesus began with a whisper. A still, small voice that spoke into his heart upon his discovery of an article written with precision and objectivity about Christianity. That article was written by a local ministry, a ministry whose materials have reached hundreds of thousands of people over the past 12 years.
“The question marks inside me would not leave me alone.”
“The article made me question everything I knew about Christianity,” Yusuf said. “The question marks inside me would not leave me alone.”
For the moment, however, he kept his growing curiosity a secret. He knew what life would be like if the other members of his Islamic sect learned of his desire to know more about Christianity. Expulsion at a minimum; possible death at the worst.
“I was deeply moved by Jesus’ message of love, forgiveness, and salvation.”
When he was alone, he read everything about Jesus he could find. He managed to obtain a Bible and began trying on his own to understand the gospels. “In the process, I was deeply moved by Jesus’ message of love, forgiveness, and salvation,” he said.
Choosing to Be Brave
The day came when Yusuf found the courage to visit a local church. He stepped through the doors filled with anxiety but also curiosity. Within moments, he was welcomed by the congregation, and his nerves disappeared. The pastor introduced himself, and over a period of time, he and Yusuf had many deep conversations about Christianity and the true love offered by Jesus.
“This decision radically changed my life.”
At one particular service, Yusuf was filled with a great peace and joy, and he knew the time had come to surrender his life to the Lord. “When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, I found an indescribable peace and happiness inside me,” he said. “This decision radically changed my life.”
Life Moving Forward
As time went on, Yusuf grew more certain that he must tell the other people in his Islamic community of his conversion to Christianity. He knew the risks, but he also knew he couldn’t continue to live with this secret.
“Jesus’ love and guidance gave me strength.”
Explaining his new faith to his family and friends wasn’t easy, but he did it. Their reaction was one of disappointment and anger; his family distanced themselves from him and many of his friends abandoned him. “But Jesus’ love and guidance gave me strength,” he said. “During this difficult time, the new friends I met in church and my faith sustained me.”
“Every day, I strive to tell others about Jesus’ message and love.”
Now, Yusuf walks daily with the Lord, and he lives with great peace and happiness. “Every day, I strive to tell others about Jesus’ message and love,” he said. “I hope to be a hope for people like me, who have different beliefs and who are searching for answers.”
You Can Bring Others Like Yusuf to Jesus
Yusuf’s faith journey began because he stumbled upon a Christian article published by a local ministry. “Both our printed materials and our articles published on online platforms directly share the gospel with hundreds of people every day,” the ministry leader said. “Your support goes to the heart of our ministry.”
Please consider a donation today to help ministries such as this one in their efforts to bring the gospel message to those who might not otherwise engage with it. Pray that seekers of Truth will make their way to the cross and give their lives to Jesus.
*Name changed for security.
