A Mother’s Testimony
Nur* is one of our local partners who has been heavily involved with reaching out to believers in a particular country in Southeast Asia. She runs an “underground church” for those of similar background as her. This is a story of her journey as a mother through the struggle of being a Christ follower in her home country.
I accepted Christ as my saviour when I had to journey with my husband who was a new Muslim convert at the time and he was learning about Islam. Somehow through that journey, God led me to Him, and my life changed. I felt His peace and comfort wherever I went. I built a relationship with the Almighty. But life has never been easy since.
Living in a country where apostasy is illegal, I was careful in sharing God’s words. I followed His guidance when I do reach out to those who were like me. But eventually the authorities caught up with me and God told me to leave the country.
But I have my girls.
One was 15 years old and the other was 25 years old at the time. I have never been apart from them. They are my babies no matter how old they are. It ripped my heart to leave them.
My daughters have also both accepted Christ, but I have always kept their faith a secret. In this country, the government can take your kids away if you are considered a bad influence on your child and being a Christian is considered to be a bad influence on a child’s life. For my 15-year-old, my ex-husband – a Muslim – may be given full custody if they found out about our faith and how she found Christ through me sharing with her.
Leaving my girls was the hardest thing I had to do.
I cried as they were sending me to the airport. Watching their faces and wondering when I will see them again. But I held on to God’s promise, that He will take care of everything as long as I keep my eyes on Him. True enough, a few years later God have made way for me to be reunited with my girls. I was able to bring both of them to the country where I resided.
Today, I am still actively involved with the ministry in my country. I have brought many of those of similar background to mine to our Lord Jesus Christ. With the help of Open Doors partners, I have been able to carefully move in and out of the country. I will spend a few years in the country I was born in and then leave when I hear God’s calling. My two girls are both deep in their own journey with God, and I pray that they will be the light to our community.
Praise God for Nur and her courage to keep sharing the good news despite the challenges she faces and has faced in her lifetime. Please continue to pray for her and the many other women like her in South East Asia.
Pray
- Pray that Nur’s family will always be under the protection of God.
- Pray for Nur’s church, that it will continue to grow and be fruitful.
- Please continue to pray for other mothers who struggle with the same issues or worse than her. Pray that God would being wisdom and peace upon their lives.
- Pray also for the children who would face persecution and struggles because of their faith.
