When Jesus called my name

*Name changed for security.

Some stories don’t arrive neatly shaped. They come slowly, with pauses, tears, and moments where words almost give way. This is one of those stories. Ail Abduselam grew up in a devoted M home somewhere in Africa. From a young age, faith shaped every part of his life. He studied the Qur’an and Hadith, prayed five times a day, fasted during Ramadan, and made Hajj twice. In his own words, he was “a very restricted M”, committed in practice and in identity. His wider family is well known. His mother and brother live in the Middle East, working within the royal household of the country where they live, and his family has long-standing influence within the M community, including an uncle who is a recognised M leader. This made his decision to follow Christ highly visible and extremely costly.

And yet, in the middle of a personal crisis – a moment when he felt overwhelmed by life, pressure, and despair – Abduselam says he heard a voice that changed everything.

“Come to me… and follow me.”

Abduselam described a season where his import-export business faced what he called “very high taxes” demanded by the government – a figure he said was in the millions. He remembers feeling crushed by it so in desperation, he went to the mosque and cried out to Allah. He remembers praying through tears, feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. He later shared that, in that moment in the mosque, he had decided to kill himself.

And then something happened that he says he had never experienced before.

He heard a voice calling him by name.

The words were clear and unforgettable: “Come follow me. Come to me and follow me. I will give you rest.”

At first, Abduselam resisted. He said he had no experience of hearing a voice like this, and he believed it might be Satan. He rejected it. But the voice came again. And then again.

The third time, he described a joy he could not explain – a love that felt bigger than him, beyond his capacity. In that moment, he bowed down and said yes in his heart.

What followed still feels extraordinary when he tells it. He said the voice guided him step by step – to get into his car, to drive, and to stop at a church. He went in, and at that exact moment, the pastor invited anyone who wanted to accept Jesus Christ for the first time to come forward.

Abduselam walked to the front.

Later, the pastor asked who had brought him. Abduselam’s answer was simple: “I don’t know.”

He also remembers the fear. He was conscious of his background, his name, and the risk that came with it. He left quickly, drove home, and sat with confusion and awe, trying to understand what had just happened.

Back at home, alone in his room, he prayed again. And again, he says the voice spoke – gently but clearly: “I am the truth and the way. I will give you a family. Don’t fear. Follow me.”

What stood out as he shared this was not excitement, but wonder. Again and again he returned to the same thought: Why would God speak to me like this?

For a long time after that, Abduselam followed Jesus quietly. He described living outwardly as a M for a period – still going to the mosque – while inside he was learning what it meant to belong to Christ. For several years, he had little connection with a church community. He spoke honestly about how hard that was. Following Jesus without community was lonely, especially when everyone around him was M and he had no Christian friends to walk closely with him. Still, he spoke of change. Prayer changed. His heart changed. His family witnessed moments of God’s help and healing when he prayed. Slowly, faith took root.

They spent time together working through Come Follow Me in person – talking, praying, and taking the time to wrestle honestly with faith and what it meant to follow Jesus. He completed the course within a year and received a certificate, but for him it was never just about finishing something. When he speaks about Come Follow Me, his words are simple but full of meaning. He said it changed his life – shaping his attitude, his understanding, and the way he approached faith. For someone from a M background, he explained, the course created something he had never really known before: space. Space to slow down, to ask questions honestly, to listen, and to grow through relationship.

Not long after, Tim reached out to him. What started as encouragement quickly became something much deeper. Abduselam shared how Tim has continued to walk alongside him, spending time with him online, listening, guiding, and supporting him as a father would. That steady presence has mattered more than he can easily put into words. In his own words, he add, “Word of Life encourages me, I feel I am not alone.”

Through his ongoing connection with Tim, he was also introduced to Come Follow Me on GROWSPACE. Having access to the digital resources meant he could return to the material again and again and begin sharing it with others he was walking alongside.

Over time, Abduselam didn’t just benefit from the course – he began to give it away. He spoke about how Jesus opened doors for him to meet regularly with native speakers of the country, sitting with them, opening Scripture together, and walking patiently with them as they explored faith. Through this journey, twenty-two Ms chose to follow Jesus and were discipled using Come Follow Me. He talked about the quiet joy of teaching, encouraging, and supporting them as they grew and how moving it has been to see faith take root in real lives. He continues to serve as a Come Follow Me advisor today, walking closely with new believers as they learn what it means to follow Jesus. He also shared that he has started the Joining the Family course, which is still ongoing, and that it has been especially meaningful for him – a reminder that he is not alone.

But Abduselam’s journey has not been without deep cost. As opposition to his faith grew, it turned violent. During this time, his wife and child were killed in their home and burned. When he spoke about this part of his journey, there were very few words. The grief was deep, and the cost of following Jesus became painfully real. And yet, he said something that stayed with us: he forgave those who harmed him – from the bottom of his heart.

Abduselam’s story is not only about coming to Christ. It is about continuing to follow Him – and about how discipleship has helped him stay rooted, grow strong, and help others do the same.

This is why Word of Life exists: to support believers from Muslim backgrounds as they follow Jesus, grow in faith, and find they are not alone. If you would like to support this work, your giving helps make discipleship possible – through resources like Come Follow Me and Joining the Family, through mentoring, and through ongoing care – so that more people like Abduselam can be strengthened and equipped to help others follow Christ too.

Thank you for standing with us.