I was born and raised in a family with a legalistic background, and I grew up in a conservative religious community. For a long time, I thought I was a believer and put my confidence in a prayer I prayed and following all the rules set up by my community. I felt confident that I was a stronger believer if I kept doing those deeds. At the age of 16, it was evident that my deeds couldn’t save me, as I grew deeper and deeper in my sin. I cried and prayed, each time believing that my repentance was good enough to keep me from going back into my sin, but soon enough I fell right back into it. 

In my third year (Junior year) at university, I was invited to a Bible discussion on campus which is part of MESF at my university. I immediately got involved and regularly met with Christians over meals and Chai. The more I studied the Bible, I was convicted that I was not saved. Toward the end of the academic year, I was invited to a week-long MESF conference, where we studied the book of Mark. For the first time, I began to understand Jesus and His authority, and my need for Him. 

The Gospel of Jesus made sense to me, I understood that I’m a sinner before God deserving judgment. I turned to Christ, who died on the cross and took the judgment of God on my behalf and gave me eternal life with Him in his kingdom. My life was truly transformed when I was back on campus. For the first time, I couldn’t take sin lightly and felt the conviction and urge to fight my sin with His power and not on my own strength. And finally, I was filled with the hope that Christ will finish the work He started in my life and carry me to glory beyond this life on earth. 

Along with fighting sin, I was also filled with zeal to share the Gospel with my friends. My heart was filled with a new love and concern for them that they did not know the true and living God. So, I started inviting my friends to the discussions that my friend and I led. It was truly an honor and privilege to serve God on campus reaching the lost from the region. May many put their trust in Christ!