I never doubted the existence of God. As a child, it made sense that the world was made by a Creator, and being raised in a family that prayed to “our Heavenly Father,” it made sense to me that this God was my Father too. But one day, when I was in primary school, I eavesdropped on my mother as she shared the gospel with her friend. Her words brought me to the shocking realization that I was born a sinner, not a saint, and I deserved eternal judgement from the holy God. Mental images of my own sinfulness flooded into my mind and I realized I needed God’s help if I were to be His child, so I knelt in prayer and asked God to forgive me. 

The Lord saved me at a young age, but I grew in my faith and a proper understanding of Scripture only after joining university, meeting the Middle East Student Fellowship (MESF) and being introduced to a healthy church. 

MESF helped me find friends that wrestled with Biblical truths and applied it to their lives. I used to think that evangelism was something only special Christians did, if God specifically called them to it. But as I started meeting one-to-one with a MESF staff, she helped me understand the urgency of sharing the gospel on my campus. We read the Bible every week and it was evident that the Great Commission was for every believer. I realized that if I wanted my friends to know Jesus, I needed to share his saving news with them. So, I began meeting with girls to read the Bible with them and I facilitated group Bible studies at university. Through all this, the Lord worked in my heart and my friends’ hearts. He brought students to a saving knowledge of himself and he grew my heart for the lost. 

In my final year of university, my MESF staff asked me to join the MESF team. It was a difficult decision to make. If I said yes, my family would be upset and disappointed that I was letting go of a successful career to serve Christ on campuses. But then, I heard stories of missionaries that sacrificed everything to spread the gospel and realized my sacrifice was nothing in comparison. Moreover, by sharing the gospel with students in this diverse region, I could be reaching unreached people that come here for a short time to study. Perhaps they would become Christians, then return home and shine as lights there, leading more to God’s Kingdom. The work I could do with MESF would be of eternal value, incomparable with any worldly career.

For several years now, I have had the privilege of sowing gospel seeds and seeing fruit. The Lord has brought many to him. They are now serving him in churches and witnessing to their families. I pray God continues to work in students’ hearts and uses them to reach many more, for his glory.