A woman who had never heard of Jesus became a Christian in a country where believers are persecuted.
Venus (pictured above) grew up in the Philippines, where she shunned invitations to church because “there was a lot of rituals and worship of saints”.
A life of “drinking and smoking” and being “very rebellious” changed when her father died aged only 58, when she went to work as a nurse in Saudi Arabia.
In the Muslim country, she had to cover her body, head and face when she went outside and struggled with loneliness.
But, despite widespread persecution in Saudi Arabia, which Open Doors ranked last year as the 13th worst in the world for Christians, Venus was approached by a believer.
“A co-worker at the hospital told me about Jesus Christ. I said I had never heard of Jesus,” Venus told eternitynews.com.au. “They were doing a Bible study, and asked me to come. I was very hesitant, and I made excuses.”
But her Christian colleague persisted.
“My co-worker gave me a Bible, and that was the moment.
“I had never read the Bible before. I was browsing through it. I came across John 14:6: ‘Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”’ I couldn’t control myself. I started to cry.
“I knelt on the floor, and I asked Jesus for forgiveness of all my sins. All those years were wasted. I realised Jesus is the only way to God!”
She was filled with a spiritual hunger.
“It changed my whole life. Every day, I had a hunger to know Jesus. I read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The emptiness inside me went away, and my heart was filled with peace.”
Following her faith where she was based presented problems.
“There was no church in Saudi Arabia, and Christian gatherings were prohibited.
“But we went to house fellowship in secret. We would meet in a small room, and put empty egg trays on the walls so that no one could hear us. And the Lord allowed us to worship.”
Venus met her husband at the hospital where she worked and, after telling him she was a Christian, he also accepted Jesus. They were both baptised in the Red Sea.
They moved back to the Philippines, with their two children.
“I have never looked back on my old life,” said Venus. “Every year the words of God and my faith grow stronger. I love to share about salvation through Jesus to my friends and family and co-workers. Some of my siblings and my mum have since come to Jesus.
“I want to tell everyone that they can call on Jesus and receive forgiveness.”
