ASIF'S TESTIMONY

Hi I'm Asif:

I was born into the home of Hamza and Bibi Hassan in Albouystown, Guyana. My parents were both Muslim, and had separated when I was just 5 years of age. I was raised by my mother and her family.

When I was 9, my brother and I moved to Toronto, Canada. I was home-schooled for 4 years by my uncle and aunt, and then later enrolled in Robert Service Junior High. That was when the problems began with racism. It wasn't long after that that my bitterness developed into a lifestyle of retaliation. Due to gang activities and associations, I was in and out of court and jail for the next 4 to 5 years.

At the tender age of seventeen I had already reached lowest point of my life. I had already destroyed everything of value in my life. I had destroyed my mother's hope and my family's confidence in me, by making bad choices after bad choices. I had broken down every wall of love and affection that surrounded me with my crude behaviour and outburst causes by drinking alcohol. I had destroyed my reputation, lost my chance to graduate from High School and on several occasion I felt I had no reason to continue living.

While on probation, I fled to the United States. I ended up staying with my uncle in Brooklyn, New York. He was an Assemblies of God Pastor. While in his home he constantly witnessed to me and introduced Jesus Christ as Saviour. He asked me if I wanted to accept Christ as my Saviour. I said, "No, I'm a Muslim. Jesus is just a prophet." One day my Aunt asked me If I would listen to a tape entitled "A Divine Revelation of Hell." I agreed and listened. I wasn't moved by it at the time. I just listened to the tape to appease my Aunt.

I soon decided to go back to Toronto. I could not take anymore of that Christian talk about peace, love and joy. My uncle drove me to meet my ride. He asked me again, "Do you want to accept Christ?" "No way" I replied. "I'm a Muslim, I don't need Jesus. I have a life to live." With that he said, "I've just about given up on you. You'll never amount to anything with this type of lifestyle. Let's pray and let you go on your way."

While he prayed, I bowed my head and closed my eyes out of respect to him. During his prayer a vision appeared to me as clear as day, almost touchable. I could see myself in a spiral, going downwards from prison to prison. At the bottom was a pit with bars and darkness. I saw myself crying out,"Whoever you are out there, help me! Suddenly a large bright hand reached down and lifted me out through the bars. The very moment the hand touched me I knew it was the hand of Jesus. I had never felt such a touch of mercy and love before.

At that moment my uncle stopped and said, "The Holy Spirit has led me to ask you onemore time, do you want to receive Jesus as your Saviour?" Looking up at him with tears running down my face, I said, "Yes!" Peace began to fill my heart, and I was instantaneously assured of my salvation.

Friend, you can also have forgiveness for your sins, and be filled with peace and love. All you need to do is say, "Yes" to Jesus!