In Their Own Words
{conversations with Central Asians}
“I always believed there was a God, but it was something huge and unknowable.” –Agidel
Russian Federation from the archive, 2002
Agidel: A Bashkort woman's search for God
Agidel is a Bashkort Christian who had searched for God for more than 10 years. She even quizzed Bahai believers at a gathering once. "I didn't find God there. I don't know why I felt such an urge to know God. I always believed there was a God, but it was something huge and unknowable."
Agidel* said that though she may have not known God, that did not stop her from praying.
"God tells us that he knew us while we were still in the womb of our mothers. For me that verse is important because there was a time when I prayed to something I didn't know much about, but he still knew me and was changing me."
Such changes gained momentum in her life when she became friends with a Christian at her school. Agidel accepted an invitation to visit the friend's Russian-speaking church. Soon after her visit, Agidel experienced a simple but life-changing dream.
"In the dream, I was visiting the home of my Christian friend. We were just sitting together praying to Jesus with our eyes closed," she recalled. "I then saw Jesus appear out of a cloud. He was dressed in clothes that were white and red.
"I don't remember many more details, but when I woke up I felt as if I were flying. I began to tell people about this experience because it was more than a dream."
About two weeks later, Agidel, who speaks English, was asked to help interpret for a Western visitor at her friend's church. "When I was at the service, I realized that I had changed. I knew who God was and at that service I accepted Christ as my savior. For me, that dream showed me that Christ was our Lord."
Agidel began partnering with other Christianss to reach out to the Bashkorts.
"Sometimes there are those who say they like what I am saying about God, but they can't believe it because they are Bashkort," Agidel said. "When I hear this, I tell myself that this is not a struggle about culture and new ideas. This is a battle with the powers of darkness. This is where my prayers are directed."
Her prayers have helped change her family. Agidel's mother, father, brother, sister and brother-in-law have all become Christians.
This change that swept through Agidel's family was particularly striking for her brother-in-law. His conversion came after working for years in his village mosque. "He was a strong Muslim before he came to know the Lord," she said. "It has not been easy for him and my sister. They have had to move their family out of their village because of persecution from neighbors."
*Names changed to protect believers. Photos do not represent the people in the story.