What a freedom Friday story!  Ruth a Muslim background believer in Jesus joins the team to share her journey from Islam to Jesus.  Ruth was born and raised Muslim in Central Asia and heard the gospel for the first time as a teenager from a Christian neighbor.  She was offended that this neighbor claimed that Jesus is the only way to God.  So she set out to prove her Christian neighbor wrong.  First she read the Quran, the Muslim holy book, and with over 90 mentions of Jesus in the Quran a great hunger grew in her to find out more about Jesus.  So she went to the bible, but wrestled with the flaws of the Old Testament prophets.  She thought, “Surely this book must be corrupt if the prophets were so sinful.”  She wrestled, firing her questions and even anger at her Christian neighbor, but her neighbor kept loving her, sharing the gospel with her, answering her questions. 

Finally after three years Ruth was convinced:  “Jesus you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!”  She began sharing her faith with her Muslim family, friends and classmates and was rejected.  She thought maybe she was being punished by Allah for following a false religion.  But two things made all the difference:  The peace that Jesus had brought to her heart and meeting another Christian in college and being mentored in the faith.  Then we move from Ruth’s story and have her share how you and I can reach the Muslims who may be in our lives.  Then Ruth shares about Bridges International, www.bridgesinternational.com, the ministry she’s works that shares the good news with international students that come to Grand Valley State U.  What does her ministry look like?  Here’s a snapshot:  Ruth shares about leading Julie, an atheist student to Jesus after Ruth herself had a dream that prompted her to share the gospel with Julie.  And finally Ruth shares how you can be part of reaching international students with the love of Jesus right here in West Michigan.  If you’d like to support Ruth in her ministry or volunteer to reach International students, text us!  800.968.8930.  Jesus is on the move!