The cost of knowing Jesus

Born in Tajikistan, I was raised in a Muslim family. To convert to any other faith, especially Christianity, was extremely dangerous. Although I understood this reality, I surrendered when Jesus called me as a young woman. My family was confused at first but accepting. As my relatives found out, though, they demanded I reject Jesus and return to Islam.

I knew I couldn’t possibly deny Christ. I had found the meaning of life in Him. So I accepted the consequences: being stoned to death by town elders.

I gathered the largest stones I could find. Maybe then I would die quicker and feel little pain. But God reminded me, “I will be with you to the ends of the earth.”

He intervened and spared my life as I woke early the next morning and escaped to Kyrgyzstan. For years, I lost contact with my family until they decided to attend my wedding, an unexpected blessing. Each day, I pray for my family to accept Jesus as their personal Savior.

*Ulugai completed her ILI leadership training earlier this year and serves alongside her husband who pastors a local church and organizes ILI training events to equip men and women to spread the Gospel in Kyrgyzstan.

CAN ONE SCHOLARSHIP REALLY CHANGE A LIFE?

The Train a Leader Scholarship Campaign continues! How can one scholarship change a life forever? Meet Ingrida...

Watch Ingrida’s Testimony.

Ingridga’s father was not a Christian, and although a Christian herself, Ingridga never had the courage to speak to her father about her faith in God. That all changed when she attended the Lithuania History Makers. The ILI Core Value of Family Priority motivated her to go back and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with her father.

“I couldn’t have imagined how History Makers would change my life… after that, amazing things started to happen, not only in our relationship, but I also began to see others come alongside him to explain and show the love of God to him.”

To Ingrida's surprise, her father's heart softened and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Ingrida credits the support system she gained at the History Makers Journey for giving her the courage and motivation to boldly live out her faith and help spread the Gospel to her own family.

More leaders like Ingrida are waiting to be equipped to accelerate the spread of the Gospel. Will you consider providing a scholarship or a gift of any size? You can also become a fundraiser and help raise awareness for the Train a Leader campaign.

VELMA'S LIFE-CHANGING STORY

ILI’s Annual Train a Leader Scholarship Campaign is going strong! The value of just one scholarship can mean countless lives impacted for eternity. Velma Tim’s life and ministry all changed when she experienced History Makers* for the first time.

“After that, everything about me was changed… The material was transformational. History Makers brings together leaders to learn, grow, and challenge one another. In West Africa, most people do not have the resources to go to school or gain an education. When we present the ILI materials and the Eight Core Values to the participants at a conference … it is like handing them treasure.”

Velma has now been a part of more than 25 ILI and History Makers training events.

WE WANT TO HELP YOU SPREAD THE GOSPEL