Confronted with the Gospel
Confronted with the Gospel
by our global partner, Paul*
This is Kia*. Kia comes from a very devout Muslim background. She was a faithful adherent to the faith down to wearing conservative Hijab clothing. The particular branch of Islam she came from forbade her to even shake hands with men.
Kia is studious. She vigorously studied the five main schools of thought in Islamic law and philosophy: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali, and Ja’fari. She was particularly interested in the topics about women's inferiority. She believed that the hierarchical difference between men and women in her branch of Islam came from God and was told not to question. She should listen and obey. But when she read the Bible, she found that both men and women are created in God's image and they are equal, having an equal value before God. They are to help each other.
Kia took up reading more of the Bible. She took three years to understand the Gospel message. She has given us a hard time at the church. She would raise discussions based on her Muslim studies and challenge us with her questions. She began to see that the things she was formerly taught were not true. Confronted with the Gospel, she was always surprised by the truth she found in the Bible.
Kia is studious. She vigorously studied the five main schools of thought in Islamic law and philosophy: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali, and Ja’fari. She was particularly interested in the topics about women's inferiority. She believed that the hierarchical difference between men and women in her branch of Islam came from God and was told not to question. She should listen and obey. But when she read the Bible, she found that both men and women are created in God's image and they are equal, having an equal value before God. They are to help each other.
Kia took up reading more of the Bible. She took three years to understand the Gospel message. She has given us a hard time at the church. She would raise discussions based on her Muslim studies and challenge us with her questions. She began to see that the things she was formerly taught were not true. Confronted with the Gospel, she was always surprised by the truth she found in the Bible.
It was a big shock the day Kia accepted Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. She had been questioning for so long.
After coming to faith, she has experienced beatings from her husband. It is recommended in the Quran that a man should strike his wife if she makes a mistake. So when she found that this is not found in the Bible, she softened in her attitude towards Christianity. Finally, she came to meet Christ as her personal Lord and Savior.
After coming to faith, Kia would place back on her Hijab and attend the meetings where she used to study Islamic teachings. These meetings are planned by Muslim leaders to bring women into the mosques and teach them and spread Islam. Zakia would raise questions to the Shaikhs (leaders) there about things she was learning from the Bible. She would bring information from the Islamic triangle of resources (the Quran, Hadith, and Sira). In the Quran, Surah-Nisa verse 34, it says, "men are superior to women.” She would press them on verses like this. The Shaikhs got so furious about it, refusing to answer. They would stop the meetings and then not return.
Kia now actively shares the Gospel with others. Some of Zika’s friends started coming to her home. They have discussions about these issues which lead to sharing the Gospel. Three of these friends have accepted Christ. Others are on their way.
Please pray for Kia and her friends that God will give them more wisdom and the opportunity to share His Word more effectively.
*Name altered for her safety.
After coming to faith, Kia would place back on her Hijab and attend the meetings where she used to study Islamic teachings. These meetings are planned by Muslim leaders to bring women into the mosques and teach them and spread Islam. Zakia would raise questions to the Shaikhs (leaders) there about things she was learning from the Bible. She would bring information from the Islamic triangle of resources (the Quran, Hadith, and Sira). In the Quran, Surah-Nisa verse 34, it says, "men are superior to women.” She would press them on verses like this. The Shaikhs got so furious about it, refusing to answer. They would stop the meetings and then not return.
Kia now actively shares the Gospel with others. Some of Zika’s friends started coming to her home. They have discussions about these issues which lead to sharing the Gospel. Three of these friends have accepted Christ. Others are on their way.
Please pray for Kia and her friends that God will give them more wisdom and the opportunity to share His Word more effectively.
*Name altered for her safety.
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