Peace and blessings to you in Christ. My name is Muhammad U____, and I come from a village. I want to share how the living God called me out of darkness and brought me into His marvelous light.
I used to love listening to ghazals (Arabic poetry that often speaks of spiritual or romantic love). One day, I went to a shop to have some ghazals loaded onto my memory card. But by mistake, the shopkeeper gave me some Christian songs instead. At first, I became angry because that was not what I had asked for. But as I listened, two or three of those songs touched my heart deeply. I eventually had those songs removed and instead took a movie about Jesus Christ. I became so interested in it that I began memorizing the lines from the movie. Later, I went to Lahore in search of work. At the place where I was working, I found a book. I have always loved reading, and the title of that book was “How Can We Find God?”
During the holidays, I returned to my village, and there I found another book called “A Summary of the Holy Bible.” What I read fascinated me so much that I began memorizing passages so that I could use them in my everyday life. One passage that deeply touched me was: “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”— Luke 1:46–47 And another passage said: “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah… to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” — Luke 1:17 . The more I read, the more my hunger for God grew.
When I returned to Lahore, I found a job in a hospital canteen. But after some time, I became distracted by worldly things and began losing the spiritual interest that had been growing inside me. Then one day, I went to have my shoes polished. The man polishing my shoes was a Christian. He began telling me his testimony—how God had delivered him from prison. Then he told me another testimony about a man who had believed in Christ. His relatives strongly opposed his faith and beat him so badly that he had to be taken to the hospital. Even there, his family tried to kill him by giving him a poisonous injection. But, by God’s mercy, the poison came out through his fingernails, and he survived. These testimonies deeply affected me. I asked him, “I want to know more about Christianity. Can you help me?” He gave me the address of a pastor, so I went there and told the pastor, “I want to learn about the Word of God.” The pastor asked me, “Which course do you want to take? A course for preaching at funerals, or a course for performing marriages?” It was very strange to me, and because of that experience, I never went back to him.
However, the man who polished my shoes had also told me about a Bible meeting. So I began attending those meetings. When we worshiped and sang songs, I would often begin to cry. When I listened to the Word of God, I experienced a peace and comfort that I had never known before. There was something different there. So I continued going every week. During my third week, I was traveling in a vehicle when I overheard two men talking. They were discussing how there would be peace and security when Jesus Christ returns. I began talking to them and asked, “How can I learn more about Jesus Christ?” They told
me that they were Christians and that they attended a Bible class. I took their phone number. But when I called them, they did not answer. I became angry and said to God: “If You are real, then let them call me themselves. I will not call them again.” A few days later, that young man actually called me. He told me that for several days he had been seeing me in his dreams, but my face was unclear. Then, when my face became clear in the dream, he decided to call me.
I began attending the Bible class with them. I learned the Lord’s Prayer, and I developed a deep desire to understand the Holy Scriptures—not merely by reading them, but by studying them with explanation and understanding. I also began attending an OTS course, where I learned many things about Christian family life and the teachings of Scripture. I studied many books, and through those friends I also began learning about God’s vision and purpose. Among the most important questions I began to study were:
– Why are we Christians?
– When will the Kingdom of God come?
– What is God’s purpose for our lives?
But while I was growing in my faith, great opposition was rising inside my family. When my family discovered that I was reading Christian books, my father asked me, “What are you studying?” I told him, “I am simply comparing some books.” But eventually they understood what was happening. They told me: “Take your books and leave this house.” I began secretly reading the Bible and praying. One day, my parents confronted me again, and I finally told them the truth: “I may be able to leave you, but I cannot leave Christ.” Because of this, they threw me out of the house. I spent one night outside. The next day, I returned home and apologized, but I did not stop reading. I did not stop learning. And I did not stop seeking Christ.
Eventually, I also began going with my friends to share the Gospel. By that time, I had begun to understand the urgency of God’s Kingdom. Jesus said: «“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” — Matthew 24:14» I realized that the Gospel had to be proclaimed. My friends gave me a new name, Peter (Patras). We traveled to different places to preach the Gospel. On one occasion, the army stopped us and began questioning us. When they asked my name, I told them Peter, while my national identity card said Muhammad U____. The officer became angry and began insulting me, asking, “Why did you lie about your name?” I told him: “I am not lying. I used to take drugs. I used to do sinful things. I used to steal. I watched filthy movies. But then I read the Gospel—and Gospel means Good News. That Good News changed my life. That is why, whenever someone asks me who I am, I tell them what Christ has done for me. I also give them the Gospel. And through that Gospel, I received the name Peter.” Praise God, our conversation created curiosity in their hearts as well. Eventually, they released us without saying anything further.
But after I returned home, the army continued investigating me. They contacted the place where I worked, and eventually I lost my job. I had no choice but to begin working as a laborer. At that time, my sister’s wedding was approaching, and our financial situation was already very difficult. There were two
brothers and two sisters in our family. Because of my faith in Christ, I had already become the “bad person” in the eyes of my parents, brother, and sisters. When I lost my job and became a laborer, the tension and hatred in the family became even greater.
Eventually, because of all these pressures, I stopped contacting almost all of my Christian friends. But one friend called me. He said: “God wants to use you.” I asked him: “Which God?” My heart was broken. I told him: “My family hates me. I have lost my job. The army is following me. I cannot find a decent job, so I have had to become a laborer. There are financial problems in my home. Everything is falling apart.” I was completely crushed by my circumstances. Then a friend played a Punjabi song for me: “Rabba mere haal da mehram, Tu hi andar, ve Tu hi te bahar, ve Tu hi.” It means, in essence: “O God, You alone know my condition. You are within me, and You are all around me.” At that time, all I could do was cry. Then I heard another song about the coming of Jesus, the King. And a question began burning inside my heart: “Where is this King?”
Then, one day, I received a phone call from my brother. He had been extremely angry with me and had not spoken to me for a long time. So when I saw his call, I was actually happy that he was calling me. But what he told me broke my heart. He said: “During Mom’s operation, one of her blood vessels was cut. She needs another operation, but we do not know whether she will survive. Please pray.” At that moment, I cried out to God: “Lord, You have revealed Yourself to me. I have believed in You. I have been baptized. I have come to know the true God. But if my mother dies, will she be with You?” Then I surrendered everything to Him: “Lord, whatever happens, let Your will be done.” By the grace of God, shortly afterward, we received another phone call. The operation had been successful. My mother was completely fine. Praise God!
And this was only the beginning. God began working in my family. My brother’s heart began changing. Questions started arising in his heart. He began comparing books and searching for truth. And through my coming to know Christ, my brother eventually found salvation in Jesus. Even while all these difficulties were happening, God opened a door for me to go outside the country for ministry and preaching.
But when I looked at my family situation, my financial circumstances, and the fact that I carried a Muslim identity, I became discouraged. I did not want to ask anyone for money. In my mind, asking others for financial help was something very difficult. I wanted to pay for everything myself. But I could no longer do it. Yet God provided. Through several churches, God met my financial needs and made a way for me to go. Then another obstacle appeared: I needed permission from my family. I told my family that I wanted to go to another country for studies. As the eldest son and elder brother, my father reminded me of all my responsibilities. But because I was determined, he eventually gave me permission.
My mother, however, was deeply concerned. At that time, she was seriously ill. She took the scarf from her head, placed it at my feet, and pleaded with me to listen to her and change my decision. That
moment broke my heart. I hugged my mother and said: “I am only going to study. I will come back.” By God’s grace, despite every circumstance, He made a way for me to go.
When I arrived in another country, I still had many worries. I worried about my family, finances, learning a new language, my future, marriage, and how everything would work out. I could not see the answers. But God was already working in every area. So I began a special season of fasting and prayer, bringing all these concerns before God.
One day, while I was preaching, I was sharing my testimony with someone. I was telling him how God had changed my life, and he was also sharing his problems with me. At that moment, I sensed God speaking deeply to my heart: “You are worried about only four or five people, but I am standing here with My hands stretched out for the whole world.” That word broke me. I repented before God. I said: “Lord, forgive me. From now on, I will not live consumed by worry about my family. I will live for You.”
And then something amazing happened. Seven months later, I discovered that my brother had been baptized. And my mother, who had been a strong Muslim woman, encountered Jesus through a dream. Through that experience and her journey of faith, she came to believe in Jesus and was baptized. I cannot explain the faithfulness of God in words. The Word of God is true. Every word of Scripture is true.
The Bible says: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” — Acts 16:31. Today, my mother, my father, and my brother have come to Christ. I give all glory, honor, and thanks to the living God! The same God who called me out of darkness is now working in my family. The same God who seemed silent was actually working behind the scenes. The same God who allowed me to walk through rejection, poverty, persecution, loneliness, and uncertainty never abandoned me. He was faithful throughout every season. And I believe with all my heart that the story is not finished. I am praying and believing that my two sisters will also soon come to know the love, grace, and salvation of Jesus Christ.
Please pray for them. Please pray for my family. Please pray that every remaining stronghold, fear, and misunderstanding will be broken and that they will know Jesus Christ personally. And please pray for the millions of people who are still living without knowing the true hope of the Gospel. If God can change my life, He can change any life. If God can reach my family, He can reach your family. If God can make a way when there seems to be no way, He can make a way for you too. My life is living proof that God does not abandon those who seek Him.
To God alone be all the glory!
Amen.
Leave a Reply