Amie will never forget the moment she realized Jesus loves her. As a former Muslim in an Islamic nation, Amie grew up abused and unloved. She walked in bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness. When a friend told her Jesus loves her, it blew her mind. On the spot, she believed and accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. Then God did incredible things. Radically transformed from the inside out, God used Amie to share the love of Christ with her abusive earthly father. Turns out, he'd been feeling unworthy and unloved too. Today Amie is living a bold, joyful life in Christ in North America. Listening to Amie’s story will have you pondering the first time you realized Jesus loves you, and remembering that He is with you always.
Amie will never forget the moment she realized Jesus loves her. As a former Muslim in an Islamic nation, Amie grew up abused and unloved. She walked in bitterness, anger, and unforgiveness. When a friend told her Jesus loves her, it blew her mind. On the spot, she believed and accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. Then God did incredible things. Radically transformed from the inside out, God used Amie to share the love of Christ with her abusive earthly father. Turns out, he'd been feeling unworthy and unloved too.
Today Amie is living a bold, joyful life in Christ in North America. Listening to her story will have you thinking about the first time you realized Jesus loves you, and remembering that He is with you always.
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Karen
Hello folks. I'm here together with my friend Amy, and she is from a country somewhere in Asia, and now that's not her real name and I'm not going to tell you where she's from, but, we have some wonderful stories to share with her today. And so I just want to start with something fun. My friend Amy, tell me about when you were growing up in your country, what was one of your favorite recipes that you love that you try to recreate for your family here?
Amy
it was actually stuffed cabbage. I know. in different places, it's a common, dish. I know that the Greeks have that. And in our part of the world, we have stuffed cabbage, which is, worth in the beginning to get right, ingredients because everything tastes different, but it's like rice with meat with fried onions and tomatoes and stuffed in the cabbage with tomato sauce, all kinds of spices and herbs.
Karen
I love it! so when I was growing up as a girl, there were two spices that my mom used all the time. It was salt and pepper. What were two spices that your family used all the time?
Amy
so we always use three, not two but three all the time. It's salt pepper and cumin, all the recipes go through with three ingredients. salt, pepper, and cumin.
Karen
I love it! So here's a great question for you. I would love to know how you came to find and follow Jesus in your home country. Tell us the story about that
Amy
Thank you for this opportunity to share my testimony. So I grow up in a Muslim family with but when I was growing up in a culture where I would see that not only in my family but in the life of my relatives and friends and neighbors, I would see that people would not be expressing their life or affirmation towards each other. So I grew up not hearing my parents expressed their love towards us or us expressing our love towards our parents. And also I grew up in a family where there was a lot of abuse going on. My father, was very abusive, emotionally verbally, and physically. And, I grow up by seeing how my mom struggled in her relationship with my father. And I would not understand why she does not just give up her marriage and get divorced, but she would always tell I have three daughters and for your future marriage, I have to stay in this relationship, because there is not a lot of possibilities for you get married when the father is not present in the family. So basically my mom, sacrificed herself for the security of our future. And also my parents, would have friends who come hang out with the kids and we would go, I'm not talking about one family. It would be like five, six families gathering together and always hanging out. And one of the families at the time accepted Jesus. And whenever they would come to the gatherings like that, they would always come with Jesus and they would always share about Jesus and the other families they would get frustrated with that. And they would say, Hey, you know, if you want to continue coming and having a relationship with us, you should put Jesus at your home and come just yourself. And basically, after a little time passed, they stop hanging out with friends and they would stop coming to the meetings because they were not welcomed. So growing up in the family, we saw abusive relationship, and seeing my mom's struggle in the family, I would see myself having a lot of bitterness inside me and that bitterness would bring to the angriness. And that angriness brought me to the place where I hate my father. I would not openly show it to my father, but I would struggle a lot inside because I would not know how to approach or how to be nice to my father, seeing him not be good to us, to his kids, and to my mom and that family who accepted Jesus the time passed and after eight years, they came to visit our family. At the time it was me and my sister at home. My parents were visiting relatives. They came, I was surprised to see them because I think eight or seven years passed by. And they came, we, welcomed them. We put tea, we put sweets, we had tea and while we had tea, they start sharing about God. They start sharing about, Jesus. And the most thing touched my heart. It's the verse from Romans, which says, but God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners., knowing that Jesus died because he loved me. It was something incredible because I think growing up as a child, I always was the hunger for love from my parents, other people. And when she shared this verse, it's just blew my mind and I wanted to know He loves me really? Am I even worthy? is there someone who interested in me? Is there someone who really loves me and that thing, drove me towards Jesus? And I accepted him that day as my Lord and Savior. And after that, God did the incredible thing that he healed my heart from bitterness and anger and unforgiveness towards my father. I looked at my father and I couldn't recognize my feelings inside because they were totally transformed from the inside out. I remember when I started walking with Jesus, right? Jesus told me, go to father and tell him how much I love him. And it was an awkward moment because it's not a cultural thing to do as I shared in the beginning. But I said, if you tell me, so I'll do that. I came to my father and I looked into his eyes and I said, father, do you know that I accepted Jesus? And you know how much he loves me, but I want to share with you how much he loves you and my father started crying. I never saw my father crying in front of us, never, but that was the moment when I believe that God touched his heart and he looked at me and he said, thank you, daughter. I want you to go and grow wherever you going. It's a good place. I want you to go and grow in that because I see a lot of change in you. That's my story.
Karen
Well, I'm crying right along with your father, as I hear this story and you know what, I can't help, but think how many people here in North American around the world maybe have thought about holding back from sharing their faith? Because people told them, well, we don't want to hear about Jesus here. And the same thing happened to the people who told you about Jesus, but they persevered and came back. And I wonder how they felt when you said, yes, I want to accept the Lord right now, I can only imagine. So at that moment, you went on to lead your dad to Christ, I mean, how did that make you feel?
Amy
When God healed me from unforgiveness and bitterness and anger, right? It was a strange thing for me because I never experienced forgiveness. I never experienced being free from bitterness and anger and looking into my father and have that compassion and have that love and understand that he loved us and he showed his love as best as he could or as best as he knew how to love.. And so there was no judgment towards my father and it made me, you know, I fall in love with Jesus even more, because I remember that moment when, , I think six months past since I accepted Jesus, I brought a videotape to the house. And that videotape was about this story where the brothers sold him through slavery, right? Joseph. And when we watched that movie together as a family, my father was non-stop crying the whole movie. And when we finished watching, I looked at him and I hugged him. And I said, why did you cry so much? Is there anything you want to share with that? Because my father never shared his with us his childhood, but then he told me that he grew up like that. He grew up in a big family where he did not feel loved. He was always the boy who did not get love, did not get even close to his father whenever he wanted to hug or come and sit on the lap of his father. His father would say, no, not you. And he would call his other son to let him sit on his lap. So he always would always grow up with the feeling that he is not worthy and he is not loved. So, yeah. So it brought me to a deep understanding that my father expressed his love towards us, the way he knew the best.
Karen
So, there you were, you had become a follower of Jesus. Your father had too, did you go on to share your faith there with other people?
Amy
Yes, of course, after you accept Jesus it becomes part of your life, because that news, that happiness, that kindness, that compassion, what God shows you, you cannot hide inside, you want to share with others. And, if it's okay, I'll share, after I came to the States, I had an opportunity, God purposely, put, I believe that my neighbor was actually from the neighbor country and we would speak the same language at the time when I came to the States, I would not speak English well. But she would be speaking the same language. So there is no language barrier to share with her right?. She was a very practicing, dedicated Muslim, who goes five prayers and to the mosque and all. And she would come over with her kids and she would see Bible. And she would be very surprised, but I would keep praying, how can I approach her? How can I share with her, Jesus, give me wisdom. And God told me to share my life. Just share your relationship with me to share what, just witness, what miracles I did in your life. And that's what I would do. I would just share with her, with my relationship with God, what she told me or how he healed me, or how miracles he answered my prayer. And the interesting thing is she would come up with the stories like that too when she would come and share with me. But then time passed that lady actually accepted Christ. Now she's a follower of Christ. And after time passed, we get together. And, she told me, you know, at the time when you were sharing with me, all these testimonies and all this, stories from your life, I was so surprised and ashamed that I do not have a that close relationship with Allah. Yeah, she would tell me I just made up all of those stories so my faith in front of your faith would not look like I'm less, or I don't know God.
Karen
What did you think at that moment when she said that to you? What were you thinking?
Amy
I thought that I'm so thankful that I know God and all who want to know him. It's an open relationship that God, so close to his creation, that he's not so far away, he's so close and he wants to have that relationship. And it's so hard to see people that they think that they know God, but they don't know him. They are so far away. And of course, they are prayers and maybe whatever are they studying right? Probably saying that they doing something good towards God, but it's so sad to see that they don't know the truth, to a true way and truth and they don't have that taste. Once you taste that relationship with God, you don't want to go back. You don't want to trade that taste and closeness with God with anything. And, I am so glad that she now has that relationship. And she knows what is it?
Karen
Yes, when you came here to the United States, you faced some hardships and some challenges that people who've lived in the United States, all their life have never faced. What was that like for you to come here and start life anew?
Amy
It was good times and of course, challenging times as well because I came as an international student. I couldn't speak the language. There was a cultural barrier because in our culture we are so open and friendly. We engage with each other so fast, but here in the States, I did not see that. And it was so hard to be connected. Even when we went to church, I try to make friends, but it was so hard to get into a deep relationship, deep level, not only knowing friends, but you want someone whom you really can call a real friend, you know, that's what I was looking for. And it was so hard because I understand the busyness of life and schedule and kids and other things come on our way. But, I think it would be nice if we would not put the barriers or walls in our relationship with people, but approach with love and simpleness and be friendly with one another. That would be helpful.
Karen
Yes! Now since then, your English is lovely. I understand you very well. So I'm just curious, how do you live out sharing the good news about Jesus just in your everyday life now? I know you have little kids and your life is busy and full. Are there even ways that you can be sharing your faith around your life?
Amy
Of course, I always, say Holy Spirit just guides me to the people whom, you know, and whom you already put on my path. Because a lot of people, a lot of time, we make a lot of people but are we taking that calling, approaching people, not putting all this barrier, what they will think, what happens, or if I say something wrong or if it will sound silly or all these thoughts, we need to put aside and just trust God because His name is Emmanuel, which means God is with us. Right? So when we go, we go with God, we don't go by ourselves. We go with Him because we share the gospel, but the results bring God. We can't bring people onto their knees or understanding the Kingdom. It's only God can do that. So we go with Him and we just openly share our lives. Like recently I had an opportunity, one of my friends told me, come over, I'm inviting my friends over and just we'll have dinner. I said, okay. So I took my kids and while I'm driving and it's like 40 minutes drive, I was just praying and God just lead me to the prayer where I was just saying, God, if it's your opportunity, if it's you, please God build that conversation from their mouth to speak about God and spiritual things. And I would love to share if it's the time. So I went there, I met them. I've never seen them before. It was my first time. But while we're sharing a meal and having this conversation, one of the ladies she asked about, spiritual things about from my friend and she answered her. And, then she asked me, what about you? And I said that's what we prayed. And I just start sharing. I did not go through like God and forgiveness or anything like that, just my testimony, what God did in my life. And how deep is it and how beautifully God turned this life into something good into something meaningful into something beautiful. And, it was at the time when I finished the sharing, it was so silent that I know that deep in their minds, they were thinking and reflecting their lives, with mine, and one of the ladies, she even told me that your story reminds me in some ways of my story. And I told her, God loves you. And He wants that relationship, He wants you to be free of anything and just be in a relationship with Him. And she said, oh, thank you for sharing. And it's so nice. Thank you. So I was so thankful for that opportunity.
Karen
Yeah. At that moment, you are an authentic Christian witness declaring his glory to this woman that you just met. Now, I know you have another story about what happened when someone knocked on your door recently, tell us about that one too.
Amy
So there was a knock on the door. I opened the door and there was a young man standing and he worked in a company with pest control. He starts sharing me with about all these deals and promotions, what I can get if I signed with them. And then, my kids came close. I spoke them in a different language and he asked me, what kind of language it's was? and I reply to him. And then we engage in conversations where I understood that his background is a Mormon and, that he moved to the place where I leave like a month ago. So he's in this area. He doesn't know a lot of people. And since I have kids and I had a guest in my house, I couldn't continue talking with him, but I saw that he wanted to continue the conversation. And I basically told him, Hey, if you want to have more conversations, you are welcome to come to our house on Friday because we inviting some friends. And since he told me that he speaks six languages, and one of them is Portuguese. And I remember that friends from Brazil are coming to our house on Friday so I thought it would be a good opportunity to practice for him and have sharing meal and have this fellowship. And if he has any questions, we can answer any questions. So I invited him and he was kind of very, very shocked. He looks at me and he was like, are you sure? you are not going to kill me, right?. I was like, no, no, no, come over. and we'll just have friends over, so let's have conversations. So he came on Friday. He shared his beliefs and we shared our beliefs and I hope and believe that God continues working in his heart. It was a good evening. Good fellowship.
Karen
So, my friend, I love how you are always seeking the Lord for direction and listening and you are still in your heart thinking about your faith journey, what was the process by which you learn to trust the Lord in order to share your faith?
Amy
I have a lot of miracles in my life, to be honest. And every time when you walk with Jesus, of course, we have our ups and downs, right? We have valleys and hills in our lives, but whenever I faced that dark sides of my life, God always showed me that He's with me. I tremendously experienced His presence every time when I shared His truth, His freedom to people. And it was always encouraging that I knew that it's not me. I'm not going by myself. It's not my power or my strength or my skills or my whatever. It's God. It's always challenging to start but once you start and you trust, God, God will give you the words to say, and even if the other person with whom we sharing would ask questions and we do not have answers, it's okay. We don't need to know everything, but we need to be encouraged and know that He is with us wherever we go and talk and do anything and encouraged me and helped me to overcome any fear and struggle, or sometimes I would say, well, I'm so busy, or I have to send that and God, just with me and say, there, is a person you have to approach.
Karen
I love it. Well, you have shared so many wonderful stories, my friend, and just, any last words, anything that you think listeners should know about sharing their faith?
Amy
I pray that everyone who is hearing this broadcast, no matter what, where we are in the dark days of our faith or in the bright side of our faith or in the trouble or in the hills or valleys, it doesn't matter. God is faithful and God is with us. And when we read the Bible, God always reminds us that it's, His strength and not our strength. His words, it's not our words. It's His power and not our power, it's His truth and not our truth. And I wish and pray for everyone who is listening to this, that the time can come, we need to share, we need to stay bold, we need to take this challenge and experience, God, in the new level that he is with us and we don't need to be afraid of anything as it says in Psalm, right? I will not be afraid for you are close beside me, your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. So if we do His, will, He promised that He will be protecting and comforting us and being with us. So knowing that, and especially when God promises He stands through His promises, He never fails. He never fails