Lausanne World Pulse – From Muslim to Christian: Finding Life in Kenya
By David Munyere
Muslims face Mecca when praying. I could not understand why Christians faced the pulpit. Deep within my heart I felt guilty and uneasy. “Let’s get out of here,” I told my two Somali friends.
“Let’s stay on and learn how the kafiri worship,” they encouraged me. They handed me a Bible, but I was reluctant to open it. I considered going to church as a big sin and believed that opening the Bible would make me lose my sight. Nevertheless, my two friends had not lost their eyesight so I decided to open the Bible.
After the church fellowship I asked my friends many questions concerning Christianity. They were well-versed with the scriptures and began comparing and contrasting the teachings of the Bible with those of the Qur’an. Their encouragement made me want to learn more about the Bible and to visit the church again. Other Christians came and talked to me. They were very friendly. I expected them to start arguing with me about religion, but they were calm and quite understanding. They did not attack the Muslim faith. I realized my attitude toward Christians was very wrong. I had thought alcohol, prostitution and all sorts of evils were highly practiced by Christians. I soon realized my two Somali friends were also Christians and did not do these things. They started to witness to me.
As I continued to learn the Christian faith and the Bible, I asked myself many questions. In Islam there is no assurance of salvation. Every child born by Muslim parents is automatically a Muslim. Muslims believe there are two angels, each standing above a person’s shoulders. Every day they record a person’s deeds. One angel records the good deeds; the other records the evil deeds. When a person dies, he or she faces the judgment. His or her deeds are put on a balance. If the good deeds override the bad deeds that person goes to heaven. If not, the person goes to hell. Sometimes, when a dead person is in a bad mood and meets the angel, the angel can refuse entrance to heaven. This teaching tormented me day and night. It made my life hopeless and uncertain.
When I thought about Somalia I wondered why my fellow Muslims were fighting and killing each other. I could not understand why there was trouble all over. In my search I found the answer in the Bible. We are sinners by nature. Although Muslims believe in the fall of humanity, we have no one to pay our penalty.
John 3:16 convicted me of my sins and in December 1997 I repented and asked the Lord to be my Savior for the rest of my life. Later I shared my desire to be baptized with my Somali Christian friends. I was soon baptized.
Attacked and Disowned
Yet I had problems leaving my sinful ways. I struggled to stop chewing miraa and drinking beer. There were also other things. Doubt reigned in my heart. I feared rejection from my Muslim relatives. I talked with my fellow non-Christian Somalis and told them about my conversion to Christianity. They became mad at me and some threatened to kill me. They asked me many questions I could not answer, for I did not know the Bible well at that point.
One day several Somalis attacked me as I entered my house. They hit me in the back of my neck and slashed the top of my face with a panga. Blood oozed out of my face and I had to get first aid. I shared this horrible experience with my pastor. He empathized with me and feared for my life. He advised me not to go back to Eastleigh and insisted I stay in the church compound. Later I joined a Bible school and pursued pastoral training.
I went to Kakuma refugee camp where two other Somalis and I registered as refugees. We stayed at an evangelical church in Ethiopia for a year. We soon started Bible studies.
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David Munyere is a pastor, assistant editor and counselor in Kijabe, Kenya. |
