Sajid is a brilliant scholar, with a fire-in-his-belly passion for the transformation Jesus can make in the lives of Muslims in his nation.
He has that uncompromising passion that Jesus’ disciples may also have noticed in their leader.
Once Sajid was one of them: a good Muslim boy in a strong Muslim family. However, the difference was that he heard the whispers of Jesus, carefully investigated these, and gradually followed him.
His life has never been the same again. For Sajid has known the truth and the joy of knowing Jesus, while at the same time bearing much suffering, family rejection and shaming.
Undeterred, sometimes Sajid still goes to the mosque when Jesus prompts him, to meet someone indicated by the Spirit. Together they open up and compare the Qur’an and the Bible. And little by little, some have also believed in Jesus.
“He knows he is truly known, accepted and loved by our heavenly Father.”
Over the decades Sajid has become a seminary lecturer, imparting to his students the importance of engaging with Muslims. He perseveres in encouraging his students to do this, because it can be less painful to simply remain in the Christian church paradigm than to engage with the national reality of Islam.
Sajid is also a much-loved student in our Pastoral and Advanced Counsellor Training (PACT). The course focusses on the transformation Jesus promises as he heals and sanctifies us, first experienced personally and then applied in counselling others.
There are many in Sajid’s class with their own unique stories of Jesus’ impact in their lives. And they are now beginning to offer his healing and transformation to others.
Through the Spirit at work in him and his study, Sajid has moved from a place where suffering is seen as normal, even desirable, to a place where one can live a life of abundance.
He knows he is truly known, accepted and loved by our heavenly Father. And so Sajid can share this deeper knowledge of Jesus’ life with those around him. He now seems lighter, more joyful, more energised and more fully equipped to share this message.
“The beauty of this work is that it has been unfolding through God’s hands, crafted over decades in the lives of his people working together.”
The scope of opportunity to share this knowledge is opening up further afield too – something God has been preparing for years…
Interserve Partners Tom and Anna were involved in the same seminary as Sajid in the 80s and 90s: Tom was Dean of Theological Education by Extension (TEE) and Principal; Anna studied counselling.
Now this husband-and-wife team is writing a simplified version of PACT at TEE level, making it accessible to a great number of rural pastors, many of whom only reach grade six. The program offers core elements of biblically and psychologically integrated pastoral counselling in a simple yet profound way.
Once this program is completed, it may become a resource for other nations.
“God is bringing Jesus’ lasting transformation to a great many lives across this Muslim nation.”
Sajid himself will begin teaching PACT as a masters-level pastoral care subject. He is currently working on how to present the material in a culturally appropriate way.
The beauty of this work is that it has been unfolding through God’s hands, crafted over decades in the lives of his people working together: Tom and Anna, years later Sajib, his seminary team and his students, and through TEE students and potentially students further afield.
God is at work through the seen and unseen Body of Christ.
We stand in awe. God is making something beautiful available to his church in one of the poorest countries in Asia. He is bringing Jesus’ lasting transformation to a great many lives across this Muslim nation.
Such work in partnership over the years involves his praying and giving people. Will you join in? There is lots of room!
Sebastian is a Partner serving in Asia.
Names have been changed for security purposes.
