Changing who to submit to

Born in Kazakhstan, Islam was brought up in a traditional Muslim family. It is a testimony to their devotion to Allah that they named their youngest son after the word meaning "Submission". Islam prayed his prayers, studied the Koran and practiced the pillars as well as he could, but as he grew older, he began to get increasingly less satisfied with the religion he practiced.

Islam was 17 when a famine gripped his native country, and his family, like so many others, moved to Ukraine to search for work. Impressed with the Ukrainian's passion for God, Islam had many questions for them about their faith. Islam intentionally sought out answers from local believers, but Islam’s questions were so complex, they couldn't satisfy him. They instead invited Islam to church. He agreed to come.

They church building they met in wasn't a huge ornate cathedral, like the Orthodox used. It was a clean, modest Baptist church. The pastor had been working with Bible League International to provide Bibles and Bible study material in the area. It was making an impact in the community as, slowly but surely, people began to respond to the Gospel message.

The smiles of those who greeted Islam at the church entrance couldn't hide the trepidation they felt at having a Muslim at their service. He himself understood their anxiety when he saw there were only women praying there.

As he sat through the service, Islam saw how the Christians worshipped differently. He didn't understand everything, but he knew that he wanted to come back. He did return a second time, and a third, and of the message of Salvation in Jesus Christ was reaching through to him. Islam knew that this was what he had been searching for.

Islam attended the services regularly, without telling his parents. His strict Muslim father would regard it as nothing short of an outrage. His mother, however, seemed to Islam to be more receptive to the message of the Christians. Quietly, Islam invited his mother to church, and to his surprise, she accepted the invitation.

All was well, until an idle word leaked their plans to Islam's father. He waited until his wife and son were at the Baptist church, then he took a Russian PK machine gun and marched to confront them.

The small congregation was understandably upset when the angry Muslim showed up at their church, waving his machine gun and shouting for Islam. "I know you're here! Come out, and lead out everyone who brought you here! Today I will kill them." It was easier for Islam's father to believe that his son was being forced to attend the church, than to believe his youngest son would become an apostate to the Islamic faith. That would mean a death sentence for the young man.
Trembling, Islam faced his father at the entrance to the church. "No one forced me," he confessed to his father. "I've come here of my own free will. This was my choice."
Gripping the stock of the machine gun, Islam's father grimaced in anger and sadness. He mustered up enough self control from somewhere to keep from squeezing the trigger on the weapon. He tried to argue that the Bible was full of errors and that Christians worshipped three Gods, but Islam courageously and respectfully stood his ground. "They are hypnotizing you!" his father exclaimed in disgust.

Finally, Islam's father uttered a warning. "You have a week to reconsider this decision you have made; otherwise you are dead to me." Islam spent that entire week in the sanctuary of the church, fasting and praying for God's protection. His brothers had found out, and Islam was sure they would come to drag him from the church and shoot him.
At the end of the week, Islam decided to leave the church, for their own protection. For the next 13 years, Islam travelled throughout Ukraine, staying out of reach of his brothers and father.

He relied on the kindness and generosity of the Christian churches where ever he went; since the day he left his family, Islam had received not a cent in support. Islam is now the music minister at a large Baptist church in Kiev, where he also lives. When asked, “Islam, why didn't you change your name when you became a Christian?" he responds with a smile. "I want Muslims to see God's irony. Even though I was named Islam, I want people to know I follow Jesus Christ."