10/16/2023 Southeast Asia (International Christian Concern) – I am Maja, 23 years old, from a city with an almost 100% Muslim population. I come from a broken home; my father remarried my stepmother. I accepted the Lord Jesus as Lord and Savior not because I was evangelized, not because I was lured by money and possessions, but because I experienced the visit of the Lord Jesus himself.  

Initially, in 2019, I called my aunt; when the phone had not been picked up, I heard a dial tone with a singing voice like a Christian song. At that time, I heard the chorus, “This time, Lord, I want to accompany God to carry your Cross with a million hopes that my world will leave the world; I will forget that I want to come with you, Lord.” I was surprised because my aunt put a dial tone like this. When the phone connected, I spoke. I said this is a Christian song. Why is there a song like this? My aunt was surprised even though she never put on a dial tone. I then tried listening to Christian songs on YouTube. I felt peace in my heart hearing Christian spiritual songs even though, at that time, I was still a Muslim.  

In November 2020, I dreamed of meeting the Lord Jesus. I wrote on my Instagram Story, “I just woke up, and why can I dream of meeting Jesus even though I was born Muslim?” A few minutes later, I got responses from various parties.  

That night, my mother called me, cursed me with dirty words, and threatened to kill me. The next day, my father called me; he asked, “I heard that you have changed your faith?”  

I replied, “I didn’t change my faith,” but told about the dream of meeting Isa Messiah. Isa Messiah is in the Koran. Why should I be ashamed to tell about Him? 

Then he got angry, saying, “Why post posts like that on social media? There is no Jesus Christ in the Koran. Even if you dream, don’t post it on social media.” 

One day, I watched YouTube the testimony of a repentant believer in Jesus. I saw a WhatsApp counseling phone number on their video. I immediately called the number and told them about the testimony of my encounter with the Lord Jesus. After that, they found a spiritual leader around my city to guide me.  

After I hung up, I got a call from my spiritual leader. He guides me by sharing God’s Word every morning and night. I was baptized on April 28, 2021. 

In April 2023, there was a family event at my father’s house. I was told to come by them.  

There were two Muslim leaders who wanted to talk to me. At first, I was asked about my faith, and then they both insulted me about my Christian faith. The goal was that I would be ashamed and not become a Christian, and wanted to re-convert to Islam.  

At the end of the conversation, they tried to persuade me by saying, “Do you want to return to Islam again?” I said, “No, I still want to be a Christian.”  

My father and stepmother tried to get me to return to Islam. Someone from my family persuaded my father to put me in a boarding school and locked me up until I converted to Islam and got to know Islam more deeply.  

I left the house and didn’t want to return because I knew that if I went home, I would be sent to an Islamic boarding school.  

The group leader told me about ICC, and I wanted to ask for help renting a house so I could live independently and be separated from my family. 

Thanks to ICC, who helped me by providing funds to rent a house for one year. God bless you. 

*Name and location changed for security

 For interviews, please contact: press@persecution.org.