Page 23 - News Autumn_Winter 2024_Print

ON THE THURSDAY

OF THE SECOND
WEEK OF MY

HOLIDAY, I HAD

ONE OF THE WORST
DAYS EVER.

I tried to be a good Muslim. In the fourth year of On the Thursday of the second week of my holiday, I had
Secondary School, I sat seven O’ levels and I was made one of the worst days ever. We had to pair up for dancing
School Vice-Captain. A teacher approached me in but, of course, no girl wanted to dance with me. I lay on my
the playground one day and asked if I would mind if bed, absolutely broken-hearted. But, in the middle of the
he contacted the local newspaper about what I had night I woke up and I found myself in the presence of the
achieved. He felt it would be good for me to share and Living God! As I realised with tears in my eyes what an idiot
good for the school. and a sinner I was, I wished the ground would open and
swallow me to hide me from His presence. He said, “Riaz
Well, when the story appeared, everything went mad! come follow me” and that night I said a prayer I had never
Dozens of people came to my door wanting to speak to been taught. I said, “Come into my heart Lord Jesus” and
me; I was interviewed for television and radio and soon that night I became a Christian.
the story spread to other countries. Not long afterwards,
I received a letter from my grandfather (who was I knew nothing about theology, I didn't know anything
about Catholicism or Baptists or Methodists or whatever,
a very well-educated person). He told me he had but I knew Jesus was for me. I was told by Jesus to read
been listening to his radio and suddenly he heard his the Bible – but why would I read a Bible? I didn’t have one
grandson speaking. He told me how proud he was of me but then I remembered that the Gideons (now known as
which brought tears to my eyes. My grandfather passed GOOD NEWS for Everyone!) had come to my school three
away very soon after. years previously and had offered a free book. Now, when
We were quite poor and couldn’t afford any holidays. you are brought up in Glasgow, you're not going to refuse
You can imagine then my surprise when my mother told a free book! For three years I hadn’t read it but, when I did,
me I was going on a two-week holiday at a high school I read for hours and hours.
in the northeast of Scotland because of all I had I still have the Testament, in its pages I found Jesus Christ
achieved at school! and I continue to find him when I read the Scriptures.
While I was there, I met a young man who was a former I will always be grateful that a New Testament was given to
pupil of the school. He had given up his own time and me - a book that did indeed change my life and made me
money to help at the school holiday. I asked him why know I was accepted.”
he had chosen to do that and told me it was what God Riaz studied hard and became a surgeon; however, at
had told him to do. I watched this young man, and I the pinnacle of his career and when he had just started a
noticed something I'd never seen before; he walked family of his own, he developed a liver infection and found
with God and God walked with him. I noticed that he himself starting his life anew. His autobiography, "What's
loved people, he cared for everyone and - to my utter Up, Doc? A Surgeon's Story" which is available on Amazon,
surprise - he loved me and cared for me as well. When explores the importance of his faith and how it has carried
he left at the end of the week, he told me he would be him through all the challenges he has come up against.
praying for me. I was curious as to why as he didn’t owe We were blessed that he shared some of his testimony at
me anything. Connexions 2024.

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News Autumn_Winter 2024.indd 23 18/09/2024 12:23