Fatuma was born into a Muslim-Somali family. The 23-year-old woman has 22 brothers and sisters. Her mother was the second of her father’s four wives, but she died when Fatuma was only 13.
Fatuma’s family practiced heavily syncretistic folk Islam, and it was her mother’s responsibility to make offerings on behalf of the family to the ancestors by slaughtering red goats. When she died, it was assumed that Fatuma would take over this responsibility. But she had other interests. She wanted to graduate from school and live her own life.
Following her mother’s death, Fatuma enrolled to study Accounting at University. One day, a Christian friend on campus told her about Jesus and His healing power and invited Fatuma to attend church with her. Because of some intense health issues she had been recently experiencing, she agreed to go. After the visit, Fatuma saw remarkable improvement in her health, but didn’t make a decision to follow Christ.
Several weeks later, she went to church again, and made a decision for Christ. Fatuma experienced not only spiritual freedom, but received physical healing. She joined the church, and began attending all the services...
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the individual involved.