Nearly 24 years ago, I first encountered Jesus Christ through my mother in Iran, a country where the official religion is Islam.
I must honestly say that it was a great shock to me when my mother confessed her faith in Christianity and declared that the only person who truly mattered to her was Jesus Christ. I could clearly see transformation in my mother's thoughts and behaviour. However, I was deeply devoted to my own beliefs and it was completely unacceptable to me even to consider reading the Bible. In my view at the time, doing so would have been an insult to my religion.
In 2004, due to a medical error, I developed a severe liver condition and was hospitalised for three months. My hepatic duct was blocked and my liver had practically stopped functioning. I underwent three surgeries with the last of these being my doctor’s final hope.
The night before my surgery, which coincided with Christmas, my mother spoke to me with remarkable calmness and unwavering confidence. She said, “Tonight, I promise you that you will receive healing. He's keeping you for me”. And indeed, he did.
I must say that, on that Christmas night, God gave me a second chance at life. In 2013, I finally believed in Jesus Christ with all my heart and gave my life to him. As a result, my life changed in many ways. His words transformed my mind and heart just as they did to my mother.
Living with Jesus Christ, I must say that he blesses me every day, but I will mention just a few of his blessings.
He strengthened my marriage. My husband and I, in the presence of our heavenly Father and the priest of our church, renewed our commitment to one another. I promised to stand by my husband's side with the power of the Holy Spirit in every situation. I also committed to raising my children in his path and prayed that they walk with him every day.
God has given me the privilege and opportunity to teach his words for almost 10 years now. Throughout my ministry, I have learned from his words that no matter how close I am in my relationship with him, he never withholds himself from me. His blessings continue to renew my heart, and every time I hear his word it refreshes my thoughts. I pray that God will use me in my daily life for the glory of his name.
To conclude, I would like to share God's own word: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).
I believe that my life has been renewed through my Lord Jesus Christ. I am no longer an enemy of God, but a child and friend of God. Amen.
Farah (not her real name) is a member of an Anglican church in Western Sydney. She gave her testimony at this year’s Western Region Anglican women’s event. The next gathering will be held on March 7, 2026 at MBM Rooty Hill. For more details visit their Facebook page. Photo: Tehran, 2016 on flickr by daniyal62
