Zainab's Story of God's Orchestration of Christian Influence

Zainab* immigrated to the United States from Baghdad, Iraq, at age 23. Fourteen years later, following a failed marriage to an American Muslim, she became curious about Christianity. Her only prior exposure was attending Catholic Mass with friends a few times.

Four months before we met, Zainab came to a crisis in her life. God was faithful to put followers of Jesus in her path to influence her with their witness: a Christian boyfriend and a best friend in Austria who had just committed her life to Jesus. Two months before Easter of this year, she found herself parked at a Waffle House late at night, calling out in desperation for the true God in heaven to give her a sign that He was real. Moments later, as rain drizzled on her windshield, a gentle tap was heard on her driver's side window. She opened the door to a man inquiring about her welfare. He said that God had sent him to tell her about Jesus. He shared his testimony of brokenness and a saving, healing encounter with Jesus. Her heart was assured by this sign that God heard her prayer and was warmed by God's Spirit as she listened intently.

Thereafter, Zainab became even more interested in the Christian faith and began reading a Gospel of Matthew scripture excerpt. On Easter morning, at a traffic intersection, she spied the same man and arranged to meet him at a nearby park for further conversation. She began to read more and search for answers to her heart's need. 

A month later, I was introduced to Zainab through her business mentor, who is one of my ministry partners. My wife, Valarie, and I met Zainab at a Panera Bread restaurant and listened to her tell the story of her spiritual journey from a pain-filled, oppressive upbringing in Islam to that day. I asked her about her understanding of the gospel and the claims of Jesus and what her remaining questions were. Then, I checked her spiritual readiness. She wanted to become a Christian now; she just didn't know how. I shared 1 John 1:9, John 1:12, and Revelation 3:20 with her. Then I led her to repeat the Sinner's Prayer after me. 

After the prayer, I asked if she meant what she said to God in prayer. She said, "Yes." For assurance, I shared 2 Corinthians 5:17, which says, "Anyone in Christ is a new creation: the old is gone, the new has come." What happened next was one of the most beautiful real-time visual transformations we had ever witnessed in soul-winning. When I welcomed her into the family of God, she asked sheepishly, "Can I call myself a Christian now?" Val and I both nodded and said in unison an emphatic "YES!" A sunburst of glory flashed on her face. The joy was unspeakable. Then, as realization settled on her, she began to weep tears of joy. Waves of glory and tears swept over her for the next 10 minutes as we affirmed her forgiveness of sins, adoption into God's family, and new spiritual birth. 

Three months later, she participates in our neighborhood Bible study, reading from a full Arabic New Testament. Through various trials and struggles at work, her joy has not faded, and her new life of grace has been strengthened. She is a winsome witness and a ready, obedient follower of Jesus. We have scheduled her baptism by immersion to be witnessed by friends, co-workers, and her new church family. 

What a joy it is to play a small part in God's orchestration of Christian influences in the story of new followers of Jesus!

All glory to God!

Dr. Mark Montgomery

*name changed for security