He Answered Me

“I shall give thanks to Thee, for Thou hast answered me; and Thou hast become my salvation.” Psalm 118:21, NASB.

Brenda* came from a Muslim family. Her father was nominal in his religious beliefs; he felt all religions were good. Her mom’s side of the family was devoted; all of them had been on the Hajj to Mecca. As a youth Brenda studied at a Catholic school, where she first heard about Jesus.

A teacher at the school told her a story about a boat floating down the river. The owner of the boat stood on the shore trying to get the boat, but the wind kept blowing the boat out of the owner’s reach. She asked the teacher what the story meant. He explained that mankind is the boat, and Jesus is the owner. While the story confused her, she was intrigued that Jesus had a claim to her and that He was pursuing a relationship with her.

She wanted to know more, but no one in her family could help her understand. She had received a prayer book at school and decided to study it on her own. Brenda was 17 years old at the time. As she read the booklet she decided that if Jesus had power she wanted to know it. So that day she began to pray, “Jesus show me if you have power.”

That same day she went to visit a city near by; the journey involved her riding her bike to a major road, and then picking up a taxi. She got to the road and locked up her bike. As she waited a major car accident happened right in front of her. The wreckage of the vehicles flew all around her, but she walked away without a scratch. Immediately Brenda knew that Jesus had answered her prayer and demonstrated His power by protecting her from the accident.

After that incident Brenda wanted to go to church. Her Grandfather was angry when she shared what she wanted to do and refused to talk to her. However, he did not stop her from going to church. The only thing Grandfather would say to Brenda when she came home from church is, “Are you a Christian?”

After he asked her several times Brenda finally said, “Yes, Grandfather I am a Christian.” Brenda expected him to be angry again, but he didn’t get angry.

He looked into Brenda’s eyes and said, “If you are going to be a Christian, then be a good person.” Brenda saw her Grandfather’s reaction as yet another instance of Jesus showing His power to protect her.

Brenda faithfully attended church and taught Sunday School. Her hunger to know Jesus led her to pursue seminary education, but illness caused her to drop out. When she left seminary she prayed that Jesus would lead her future husband or children to study at seminary. Again Jesus heard and answered her prayer. She married John in 1978, and he went to seminary in 1986. He graduated in 1988 and was commissioned as an evangelist and church planter that same year. They have served on the field from that time until this very day, and Jesus is still showing Brenda His power!

*Names changed for security reasons.

Pray that:

Jesus will show His power to the Muslim peoples with whom John and Brenda are working so that many will be saved.

New believers will have a hunger like Brenda’s to know God and serve Him.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.