I
was privileged to read Rifqa Bary’s excellent book Hiding in the Light – Why I
Risked Everything to Leave Islam and Follow Jesus. I find it fascinating to hear the stories of
people raised in Islam who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior;
people who have become Christians in spite of the great risk to their
life.
Rifqa’s
story is unique; she became a Christian when she was 12 years old and managed
to keep it a secret from her family for four years. At the age of 16, she faced a very real threat
to her life when her parents found out that she was a Christian. That night Rifqa had a life changing decision
to make; should she stay and risk death at the hands of her very angry father, or
face the possibility of being sent back to Sri Lanka against her will or should
she leave and abandon it all for Christ.
Through
the courageous help of friends and strangers Rifqa found safe haven. But her new found peace was not to last for
long. A battle ensued; Rifqa’s parents
wanted her back home, but her new found friends and allies were willing to risk
much to help her find the freedom she wanted to worship God in safety.
This
book is riveting and Rifqa is open and transparent and reveals what was
happening with her mind, will and emotions as she struggled to live out her
faith and how her family responded when they discovered she was no longer a
Muslim. I was shocked to hear of Rifqa’s
experiences with the juvenile detention system, child protective services and
foster care. But the Lord always seemed
to bring someone across Rifqa’s path to sow hope and encouragement into her turbulent
life. I was heartened to learn of those
who are gifted and called to help children in crisis.
After
reading Hiding in the Light, I have a better appreciation for what it
takes for someone to make the courageous choice to believe in Jesus Christ and
openly choose to live for Him when coming from a Muslim background.
I
highly recommend Rifqa Bary’s new book Hiding in the Light.
I
would like to thank the people at Blogging
for Books and Water Brook Publishers
for the opportunity to read Hiding in the Light in exchange for
an honest review. I was under no
obligation to give a favorable review.
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