Naz tells how he found the true God
December 1999
I was born in Uganda (42 years ago), into an Ismaili Muslim faith lead by the Agakhan. When Pam (my wife) and I got together, she was not following any faith, so she joined mine.

For me this was the beginning of the end, the more she was learning about my faith the more I was learning from her about my faith and what it really involved. In Ismailism as in all Muslim Faiths, most prayers are in Arabic, she HAD to learn it all and pass certain tests before she was even allowed into the prayer hall. The more I was questioning my beliefs, as I had never learnt things that Pam HAD to learn, the more I felt we were idol worshipping.

We were one of a very few who had the chance to have our wedding blessed by the Agakhan himself, in front of tens of thousands of people at Earls court in 1994. After that we felt we had to get more involved in the Ismaili faith, but I was still confused within myself.

At the time of my direct search, I held a high position in the Ismaili faith at the Manchester Jamat Khana (Agakhan Centre).
To cut a very long story short, I found myself asking God directly to show me the right path, or confirm the path I was on.

I never thought God would really reply, of course, but what a shock was in store for me. I must clarify that I wasn't looking for a change of faith or anything like that; I just wanted to know that the path I was on did lead to God. During one of my Far-Eastern trips I just kept bumping into Christians, "born again Christians" I didn't even know the true meaning of 'born again' at the time. It had never been explained to me by anyone.
Lots of strange things happened to me at the time, which I now understand was God's way of answering that prayer and preparing me for what was to come.

On returning from one of the trips, I found myself asking God more often to show me the true path, and unexpectedly ending by saying "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit".
One morning I got my answer in a way that would leave no doubts whatsoever.

The True God's path, God's direct path, "I am the way and the only way to the Father". (John 14:6). I had never read this before, nor had I understood the Bible at the time.
I had my baptism of the spirit there and then by WELCOMING GOD into my life.

I remember, even then I did not know that a lot of people have had that experience and that anyone can have it, WOW. How can anyone ever want to live without this precious GIFT from GOD. I wish someone had told me about it sooner and I am going to make sure that anyone who meets me knows what I have and that they can have it too, if they want it. Forgiveness of sin, Eternal Life and God's Peace can be yours by welcoming GOD into your life; that's all it takes. (Besides having Body and Soul, you then have the HOLY SPIRIT within you, Amen).
Religion and GOD don't go very well together, that is my understanding now.

No fears, as fear goes out when LIGHT comes into you, no rituals, no special blessings just for the fortunate few, no confusions, no routines that even you don't understand, just fellowship in GOD for ALL. (God himself says that without Him all our self-righteous deeds are like filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6).

A lot has happened since. It has changed our lives completely, including Pam following me in God's path. She didn't know I was still searching. Once when I told her that we idolise, she took a book out to show me that it must be the way to do it, (after all I did lead her into the religion) but we laugh about it now. We have God in our house, in our work, in our daily lives and we have fellowship in him and pray directly to the LORD.
We have a new family in the body of Christ (the Church). We have the Pastor and his wife who we see as lost friends, found. We now know what awaits us from here on, "The Kingdom of Heaven" through Jesus Christ. Finding the right church wasn't easy; we did not know that all churches are not the same. At one I had to tell the preacher to find God!!! 

But we are now at the best possible fellowship we could wish for.
We are now cleansed and saved by the blood of Jesus, I have also had my baptism of water and we are growing in GOD daily and loving every minute of it. I do go a little strong on some people who we care for, as we can see that they need to make life easy, by simply welcoming God into their lives. But then not everyone welcomed the very SON of GOD at one time, did they? We have helped some people and told many about our journey, (at the time of writing) it has only been nine months and a lot has happened in that short time. Our lives have changed completely, our children's lives have improved beyond imagination, our children pray to the LORD in ways even we ourselves had never thought possible.
To answer many questions that most people fear and ask us about are, how our families and friends took it, have we had threats etc. For our part we say "When The SON Sets You Free, You Are Free Indeed." But we have lost some friends, we have lesser contact with some relatives, we have also been stopped from things like doing a healing prayer for a terminally ill relative by other relatives some very close ones. But we see it as their loss and no one is above the All Mighty. But a lot of them are coming round now and wanting to know more about GOD from us.
When some of them meet us, some can't even look us in the eye, but as they see the Light, the calmness, the peace and all that goes with having the Holy Spirit within you.

They recognise something has really happened. We soon put them at ease and explain the part of GOD in us, our journey.
Many have accepted the LORD or rejected, because the choice is up to the individual. A lot want to accept the LORD but have fear about what others will say or do, I would refer them to my earlier comment and explain that fear goes, when Light comes into you. As I am sure our pastor would preach from God's word, "be a Free Eagle, not a captive chicken, nor a caged eagle".
GOD Bless.
Naz

A PAKISTANI MUSLIM COMES FACE TO FACE WITH JESUS CHRIST
Khalid Mansoor Soomro is from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. He was an ardent follower of Mohammed until the results of a challenge he laid out before some Christian students. Please read this powerful testimony of how this man was converted to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior! And He said unto them: "Go into the world, and preach the gospel to every Creature." (Mark 16:15)

When I was 14 years old I was studying in a convent school at Saddar Karachi Pakistan. I belong to a Muslim family.

My parents forced me to learn the Qur'an by heart when I was seven and so I did. I had a lot of Christian fellows (or acquaintances) at school.
I was surprised to see them studying while I always found Christians of low profile in the society. I discussed and argued a lot with them about the accuracy of Qur'an and rejection of Bible by Allah in Holy Qur'an. I always forced them to accept Islam. Often my Christian teacher told me not to do so. He said, "God may choose you as he chose the Apostle Paulus." I asked them who is Paulus, I know Muhammad only.
One day during our discussion I challenged them to burn the Holy Books of each other. They should burn the Qur'an and I should do the same with the Bible. We agreed: "The book which would burn, would be false. The book, which would not burn, has the Truth in it. God Himself would save His Word." Unfortunately they were not ready to do this because they were frightened. Living in an Islamic Country and doing such a thing could lead them to face the law and meet its consequences. I told them I could do this by myself.

First I set the Qur'an on fire and it got burnt before our eyes. Then I tried to do the same with the Bible. As soon as I tried it, the Bible struck my chest and I fell on the ground. There was smoke all around my body. I was burning, but from a spiritual fire.
Suddenly I saw a man with golden hair, wrapped in light on my side. He placed his hand on my head and said to me "You are my son and from now on you will preach the Gospel in your nation. Go! Your Lord is with you."

Then I saw the stone on the grave, which was removed. Mariam Magdalene spoke to the gardener who probably took the body of my Lord. The gardener was Jesus Himself. He kissed the hand of Mariam and I woke up. I felt very strong as if when someone would strike me, I could not be hurt.

I went home and I told my parents about all what happened. But they did not believe it. They thought that the Christians got me under magic, but I told them that all this happened before my very own eyes and that many people were watching this. They still did not believe and they turned me out of my home and refused to accept me as their family member.
I went to a Church close to my home; I told the Father there all about what happened. I asked him to show me the Bible. He gave me one and I read about the event of Mariam Magdalene and I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior on 02-17-85.

My Family refused to accept me. I went to various churches and got more knowledge about the Word of God. I also followed many Bible Courses and then I got a ministry.
Now after 17 years, I have seen many people come to the Lord and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Thanks to the Lord, I am now married and have a Christian family. Me and my wife Khalida are involved in the work of the Lord and able to share the miracles God has been doing in our lives.

Even though it is not easy and we face many hardships, we feel like Paul who went through hardships and suffering for the Glory of His Savior, who went Himself through suffering during His walk on earth and on the cross.
We thank God the Father for sending His Son to this earth and giving us free life through Him.
We thank God for His Spirit who encourages us day by day to live for Him.
kminasia@msn.com