Because of You They Said Yes

“I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

They grew up in Somalia, a Muslim country, all of their lives being told that Jesus is not God, that He is just a prophet, not the Lord who can change their lives. They heard that it is wrong and punishable for them to even mention the name of Jesus or read the Bible. That family considered the Bible to be the word of men, defiled and errant.

However, when they arrived in Middle Tennessee as a refugee family, they were helped by Pastor Abed and his church, who represent the living Christ. They had never known Christ; they weren’t allowed to even speak His name on their lips. It was not permissible to know the true Christ who loves them and made them in His image. In Middle Tennessee they began to feel something different. They began to experience a love they had never felt before, as the ILC minister and the Body of Christ expressed the kindness, mercy, and goodness that changed and opened their hearts to hear about Jesus. For the first time, they have the opportunity to know the love Jesus has for them, to know that He died to forgive their sins and to give them eternal life. This family, born into Islam, is seeing Christ alive in His followers. They are being given the opportunity for a life full of meaning, purpose and fulfillment in Christ, in hope of ultimately being with Christ in eternity.

And through the ministry of Pastor Abed and his church here in Middle Tennessee, they came to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. This month the entire family was baptized and openly declared their allegiance and love for Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives.

What a beautiful story of the new hope this Muslim family has found, because an international church active here in Middle Tennessee has chosen to demonstrate the love of Christ and represent the true Christ they needed to know and belong to.

Celebrate with me the new life this family has found, and the many families like them from every nation, tribe and language who have found the same destiny in Christ — a destiny they would have been deprived of if the Lord had not afforded them the opportunity to come to America.