From God’s Enemy To A Friend
Gebah remembered the man in his dream vividly and was still shaken the next morning while leading other Muslim inmates in prayers at a detention facility in Liberia. He had been visited in the dream by a man who took the Quran from which he was teaching a class of children and replaced it with a Bible.
After the prayer time, he told his Muslim friends about the dream. They dismissed it, telling him to forget about it. But two nights later, the same man appeared again in a dream and said, “I am the Light of the world. I want your friendship.” Gebah had devoted his life to studying the Quran and teaching others about Islam. In his community, he had been a Muslim leader who sought to refute the teachings of Christianity and encouraged others to do the same. “I hated Christianity and I hated Christians,” he said.
Yet he knew deep inside the person in his dreams was Jesus Christ—and He couldn’t be ignored.
Gebah’s heart was softening toward the Lord and the Gospel. He decided that he wanted to learn more about God and the Bible. He told his Muslim friends: “I am leaving everything that I know. I am no longer Muslim.”
Family and friends disowned him. Other inmates threatened his life, and he was eventually transferred to another prison in an effort to keep him safe. Gebah didn’t know it at the time, but the Lord was already at work preparing the next step in his discipleship journey.
Gebah became a Christian while in prison. Once a teacher of the Quran, he now searches the Scriptures for himself.
A NEW HOPE
After relocating to the new facility, Gebah met Samaritan’s Purse staff who are partnering with local Christian pastors to lead discipleship classes for prison staff and inmates. Samaritan’s Purse is offering the discipleship program in several prisons across Liberia, and nearly 400 students have graduated.
The local pastors were excited to welcome Gebah to the Bible classes, where he developed new friendships and began learning how to live for the Lord.
“The discipleship program is transforming lives. It taught us who Christ is and how to be His follower.
Jesus is the only way to salvation,” he said.
Gebah’s life changed as He began hiding God’s Word in his heart. “I’m experiencing grace, peace, and joy,” he said. In addition to the discipleship classes, Samaritan’s Purse is working with local churches to provide clean water systems, food assistance, and vocational training for inmates. Gebah learned the practical skills needed to help maintain the water well our team installed at the prison. When he was released from prison, he used these skills to get a job helping maintain community water systems.
Samaritan’s Purse supports former inmates like Gebah as they start over and seek to build new lives. We provided housing, food, and healthcare for several months after he finished his prison sentence.
Inmates help maintain the water systems that Samaritans Purse Installs.
A NEW PURPOSE
Looking back, Gebah sees God’s hand on his life—even during imprisonment. “This was not a punishment,” he said. “God brought me here to gain my senses. God Himself arrested me.” Gebah now sees that God can redeem all things for His glory and purpose. “The Lord had a special plan for me,” he said. He has continued to faithfully follow the Saviour since being released from prison. He is serving with one of our partner churches and has returned to the prison to celebrate the graduation of other discipleship students.
We praise God for the inmates who are seeking to bring Him glory.
Although he once hated Christians, he now describes them as the “best people to be with.”
His transformation from Muslim leader to Christian evangelist means that he is uniquely equipped to reach Muslim communities because he has studied both the Quran and the Bible.
He considers it his God-given calling to share the Gospel, especially among the Muslims he once taught. He still endures rejection in his Muslim-majority community, even from family. But he has no regrets about placing his faith and trust in Jesus Christ. “I’m dwelling in peace now,” he said.
Experiencing reconciliation with God and others has been worth it all. “I have 100 percent belief that my salvation is sure with Christ,” Gebah said. “I’m on the right path.”
Will you join us in lifting up the following prayer requests?
• That Gebah will continue growing in his relationship with Jesus Christ and sharing the eternal hope of the Gospel.
• That the men and women in our discipleship program in Liberia would open their hearts to the truth of God’s Word.
• For our church partners in Liberia as they disciple and encourage new believers like Gebah.
“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
Romans 5:10, ESV
