Did not our hearts burn within us?

One day a friend of mine came to town. He had a Christian magazine called Miras. I wasn’t interested in Christianity but as I flipped through the pages I noticed something. The articles in the magazine were about the love, compassion and sacrifice of Jesus. Even though I was far from Christianity, these words resonated with me. There was a warmth in those words that I had never felt before.

After everyone went to sleep, I stayed up and quietly read Miras magazine. At first I was just curious but as I continued to read a change took place in me. Those words showed me a completely different side of life. I found answers to the questions that had been circling around in my mind. Jesus’ message touched me deeply. 

Finally, I decided to become a follower of Jesus. Even though this decision was a big break from my roots and my family’s faith, I felt a deep peace in my soul. I did not tell anyone about my new faith. My family was still praying for our prisoners in Syria and trying to rescue them. Telling them that I had become a Christian would have deepened their wounds. So I kept my faith a secret. 

But I could not live this new faith only within myself. Two young people from my town, Hüseyin and Leyla, used to visit me from time to time and we would talk about life. One day, I decided to tell them about Jesus, and how he had touched my life. They were surprised; it was unheard of for someone like me to convert to Christianity. But what I told them touched their hearts too. Sharing with them everything I had learned made them feel the same peace. 

Telling Hüseyin and Leyla about Jesus gave me so much hope! They asked me questions and together we searched for the answers. Now, we pray together. Sometimes we read passages from the pages of Miras magazine, sometimes we just sit quietly and open our hearts to God. This has made me feel that I am not alone. Sharing my faith has made it grow deeper in me.