My Testimony
A Journey from Ritual
to Relationship
My story is deeply woven into the fabric of the Ahmadi Muslim faith. Born in England in 1989 and raised in Detroit, Michigan, I was surrounded from birth by the practices, rituals, and teachings of a faith that shaped my every memory. Five daily prayers, fasting during Ramadan, and the recitation of the Quran in Arabic were not just habits — they were requirements. And yet, for all their weight, something felt profoundly empty.
I had spent my entire childhood praying, fasting, and following every rule, but I had no relationship with God — only fear of punishment. Faith, I was told, was about obedience, not understanding. There was no room for doubt, no space for personal belief, and no opportunity to question what I had been taught. By the time I reached my teenage years, I felt trapped between two worlds. The expectations placed on me by my family, my community, and my religion were suffocating.
The cracks in my faith grew wider after the events of 9/11, when the discrimination I faced — even from other Muslims who considered Ahmadis to be kafirs — left me in a constant state of isolation. By my early twenties, I had walked away from God entirely. That period marked one of the darkest chapters of my life: a time of searching for identity and purpose without the anchor of faith.
Even in my most distant moments, however, God was planting seeds. A chance encounter with Christians, hearing the Lord's Prayer before high school football games, the curiosity sparked by gospel music — each of these moments began to pull at my heart, even if I didn't recognize it at the time. Then came the night that changed everything.
Watching The Passion of the Christ with my then-friend Shineka, I saw Jesus not as a distant prophet but as a Savior who endured unimaginable suffering out of love for humanity. For the first time, I understood the true meaning of sacrifice. He wasn't just another prophet. He was the Son of God. And He had gone to the cross — for me. I turned to Shineka, my face wet with tears, and whispered: "I need to know more about Jesus."
Today, I am married to Shineka, the woman God used to show me His love in the most tangible way possible. Together, we have stepped out in faith, leaving behind the comfort of our life in Austin, Texas, to follow God's calling across the world. My story is far from over. But I know with absolute certainty: Jesus is worth it all.
Key Moments in the Journey
Born Into Faith
Raised in a devout Ahmadi Muslim family in Detroit, Michigan, with religion as the foundation of every moment.
The Breaking Point
Years of ritual without relationship led to a complete departure from faith in his early twenties.
The Passion of the Christ
A single movie night became a life-altering encounter with the true sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The Word "PEACE"
Homeless and searching, God confirmed His presence through a single, undeniable sign on a stranger's door.
Telling His Parents
The conversation he feared most became one of the greatest testimonies of God's grace in his life.
A Marriage Built on Grace
Shineka — the woman God used to show His love — became his wife and partner in faith.