Source: Operation Mobilization, May 9, 2019
Yaro was an Islamic teacher who was very well versed in the Qur’an. Over time he found himself drawn to Jesus over Mohammed and wondered: Why are we not teaching about Jesus in the mosque if the Qur’an mentions him so much and with so much virtue? When he went to his leaders, they told him not to ask such questions.
One teacher did answer him, however. He said: “This is a secret; if we started to teach about Jesus in our mosques then we might as well open churches.” That comment stayed with Yaro, and when he heard the gospel, he committed his life to Jesus.
When word of Yaro coming to faith reached the other Islamic leaders and teachers, they confronted Yaro, beating and interrogating him. Despite the pain, Yaro stood by his decision to follow Christ and would not deny his new faith.
Because Yaro was an Islamic teacher, everything he owned had been provided by the mosque. By deciding to follow Christ, Yaro lost a stable income as well as his home and everything in it.
During this hard time Saida, Yaro’s wife, decided that if her husband was a follower of Jesus, she needed to be one as well and gave her life to Christ. Together with their two children they were stranded, without a home or food and with just the clothes on their back. Family and friends turned them away, saying that as long as Yaro and Saida were Christians, they could not help them.
» Full story shares how OM came alongside this couple, who continue to grow and share their faith.
» Readers might also be interested in the testimony of a pastor from Ethiopia, once part of a child-sponsorship program, who shares how God intervened in his life and transformed him (Compassion International).