Lausanne World Pulse – From Muslim to Christian: Finding Life in Kenya
By David Munyere
Muhammed Omar as told to David Munyere
Editors Note: Muhammed Omar is a chaplain to the Somali people in Kijabe Hospital, Kenya. He also reaches out to his native Somalians in areas like Eastleigh and the North Eastern province. In Nairobi, about fifteen born again Somalis meet every month for prayer and encouragement. As Muhammed continues to reach the Somalis in Kijabe Hospital, he reports, “More and more are warming up to the gospel of Jesus Christ” and he hopes God will save them and bring them into his kingdom. The following is Muhammed’s testimony, as told to David Munyere.
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Muhammed Omar |
“You mean you have become a kafiri?” several Somali men asked me. “How would you dare betray us and our religion? We are going to kill you unless you denounce your Christian faith!”
I was born in 1956 and raised in a rich family and clan in the republic of Somalia. My father, an educated Muslim merchant, took me to school in Mogadishu. I spent four years in primary, four years in intermediate and four years in secondary. After my secondary school I went to university for one year where I specialized in physics and mathematics. I got a sponsor and later went to study general science in Russia. Due to poor relations between my country and Russia, I had to go back home. Later I had the chance to study electronics in the City Ann Guilds, Dublin, Ireland. I graduated with a diploma in electronics after three years.
After returning to Mogadishu I got a job with the ministry of posts and telecommunications. I also taught telecommunications at the National Institute for Telecommunication in Mogadishu and was soon promoted to deputy director of the same institute.
Between 1991 and 1992 war broke out in Somalia. In the streets of Mogadishu a wayward bullet penetrated through the door and struck my relative in the head. We had no specialist doctors and our hospitals could not give him the necessary treatment. He became paralyzed for over a year. By God’s grace he later got a medical sponsor through the United Nations (UN). We took him to Nairobi for treatment.
Meeting Christ in Kenya
While in Nairobi I lived with my relatives who had settled in Eastleigh, Nairobi. As a public officer in the Somali government, I planned to go back and continue with my work. Unfortunately, clashes in Somalia became so bad that I feared for my life. I opted to not go back to Somalia and instead settled in Eastleigh.
I chewed miraa (khat) and drank beer almost every day. My family back in Mogadishu and relatives in Eastleigh assisted me financially. This, plus my savings, gave me a lot of money. I also assisted people in buying such things as spare parts, medicine and so forth on commission basis.
One day, I saw two Somali men from Mogadishu reading a Bible and other Christian literature. “Why are you reading Christian stuff?” I asked them. “We are learning Christian theology,” they replied, “so we can know what they believe.”
“I cannot read Christian stuff,” I told them. “Christians are bad people and Muslims have nothing to do with them. Nevertheless, if you are reading to know how bad Christians are, then that is fine.” From my background I only knew of Catholic Christians. I never trusted them. I thought they worshipped idols or statues in their churches.
One day my two Somali friends asked me to accompany them to the church. Although I feared going, I agreed and entered my first church in Kenya. I wanted to know what Christians believed so I could challenge those I met in my neighborhood.
“Where are the statues?” I asked my two Somali friends. Unlike the church in Somalia, there were no statues.
“Why are the people facing the pulpit?” I asked. “Are they facing Jerusalem?”
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David Munyere is a pastor, assistant editor and counselor in Kijabe, Kenya. |