Lina’s behavior had cost her dearly. Her habitual life of sin had ruined many important relationships with family and potential suitors. In spite of her longing for love and respect, her self defeating behavior actually pushed people away. This caused Lina to descend further into a cycle of self loathing and depression.
“For the last 40 years, my life has been a series of failures,” Lina says. “Other people talk about happiness, but the word meant nothing to me.” Living in a patriarchal society and a culture that often treats women harshly and disrespectfully just added to her pain. Lina decided to abandon herself to despair and welcome oblivion. “I was at a point where I seriously wanted to end my life.”
Nothing to lose, everything to gain
By chance, she heard some women talking about a new Christian church in her village and, with nothing to lose, she went to visit one evening. As she entered one of the larger houses in her village, she saw a group of men and women sitting together on the floor, talking and reading to one another from a book. When they saw Lina, they smiled and welcomed her, and invited her to join them. Lina discovered that the book they were reading from was The Bible. She had heard about the Bible, but had never seen one before. In fact, she had never even met a Christian.
“This church had been started by a woman who worked with Bible League International. She came to our village, and began to hold a series of Bible studies. So many people became believers in Jesus that eventually she had to start a church…the first one in our village.”
Remembering that first encounter with Christians softened Lina’s countenance. “That night was a great night for me,” Lina says. “The Christians were so kind and treated me with gentleness and respect. They shared God’s Word with me, and that night I heard I had a Creator!”
The warmth and care expressed by those believers caused Lina to become a regular part of the Bible study. Before long, she gratefully gave her life to Christ, and her life of sin and despair ended. “For the first time in my life, great joy came and touched my heart. He changed my whole life. Praise God! Thank you, Bible League International. I appreciate your ministry more than you’ll ever know. I am a new creation, and I have spiritual family here in the village and even around the world.”
