During one of the lunch breaks between classes, I spoke with one of the students named Murad, asking him what education means to him and to tell me his story.
”If it weren't for Jesus, I don't think I'd be alive today! And I never imagined I would one day attend theological school,” says Murad with a smile.
”To be able to study theology is like receiving a gift from God! I really like the teaching, which gives me a very clear and deep understanding of the Bible in our culture.
I am a pastoral candidate in my church, and I have a desire to become a pastor. I use my theological education in my ministry when I preach in church. The education equips me for pastoral ministry, so I will be better able to build up people spiritually through sound and good biblical teaching and to better explain the scripture within our cultural context.
”Regarding my life, I had a difficult childhood. I never knew my father, and my stepfather was an alcoholic and often violent. My mother also became dependent on alcohol.
”As a boy, I once overheard a conversation between my mother and stepfather, where my mother said:
”I am ashamed of my life, and our relatives are ashamed of us, because we drink and do not go to the mosque. Is God a God who can forgive?".
My stepfather tried to kill my mother and me – and committed suicide
”When I was 15 years old, a tragic event occurred. My mother was nearly stabbed to death by my stepfather. He also tried to attack me, but I managed to escape and call for an ambulance and the police. When they arrived, he was dead – he had committed suicide.
”My mother survived, and three months later she was discharged from the hospital, but she could no longer work due to the severe stab wounds, and she started drinking again.
”Before the attack on my mother, she and my stepfather had taken out a loan for our apartment. But because my stepfather died and my mother couldn't work and continued to drink, our home was taken from us.
A convert Christian became a salvation for the family
”When our situation looked most hopeless, a convert Christian woman helped us, telling us about Jesus and that there was a Christian center for addicts that could help. This became our salvation!”
”We moved into the center, and soon we grew fond of the place, which had a completely different atmosphere than what we were used to, with a care and acceptance we had never encountered before.”.
”A month later, my mother and I went to Jesus, and both of us experienced the touch of the Holy Spirit, but I did not experience a transformation in my life in the same way as my mother. I believe it was because I did not accept Jesus in the same sincere way as she did.
”We lived at the center for addicts for almost a year, and since then my mother has been free from alcohol addiction and attends a church. Today she has a great love for Jesus.
”When I was 18, I started living in the world and made friends who had a bad influence on me and were criminals, and after a few years, I ended up in prison.
”For three and a half years, I was in prison, far from my hometown. But towards the end of my sentence, I realized I needed God, but how could God possibly forgive me?.
”Then I remembered my mother's words when I was a boy: ”Is God a God who can forgive?'".
”After my release, I asked her, and she replied:
”Yes, God can forgive you, my son. But I only got to experience God's grace and forgiveness when I accepted Jesus with all my heart, and you must do the same!".
”Then I took her to church, and there I gave my life to Jesus. Since then I've been going to church, and today I'm involved in the church's charity work for the socially vulnerable, and am also a leader in home groups, and am part of the church's leadership team, and a pastor aspirant in the church.
”My mother and I have truly experienced hope in Jesus. Jesus became our salvation, and I want to tell others about that hope,” Murad smiles.
