Events // Culture // MISSION FOLLOW THE FLOW AT CHAMPION FOREST SPRING 201 6

MAGAZINE

Overcoming Racial Injustice GROWING UP AS A BLACK GIRL IN THE SOUTH Victory over Anxiety A CANDID ACCOUNT OF FINDING GRACE IN TIMES OF NEED TEACHER GIVES AWAY BOOKS A MISSION TO EDUCATE IMPOVERISHED ESCAPING AFRICAN STUDENTS IRAN A JOURNEY OF FAITH & FREEDOM ESCAPANDO DE IRÁN MILAGRO EN EL METRO en Español conductor de bus salva la vida de un pasajero + CURRENTMAGAZINE 1 CONTENT CURRENT MAGAZINE SPRING 2016

OVERCOMING RACIAL INJUSTICE : Growing up as a black girl in the south 2

VIETNAMESE LIFE GROUP: Faith and Friendship Among Houston’s Vietnamese Community 5

VICTORY OVER ANXIETY - A Candid Account of Finding Grace in Times of Need 8

ESCAPING IRAN - A Journey of Faith and Freedom 12

EASTER RESURRECTION ROLLS - A Creative Way to Explain Christ’s Resurrection to Children 19

LOCAL TEACHER COLLECTS BOOKS FOR IMPOVERISHED AFRICAN STUDENTS 20

METRO BUS DRIVER TASKED WITH SAVING A PASSENGER’S LIFE 24

ESCAPANDO DE IRÁN: Un Viaje de fe y Libertad 26

MILAGRO EN EL METRO - Conductor de bus salva la vida de un pasajero 32 en Español

CURRENT MAGAZINE is produced by the Communications Department of Champion Forest Baptist Church.

ESCAPING IRAN A JOURNEY OF FAITH AND FREEDOM

PAGE 12 GREETINGS FROM Pastor David & Beverly Fleming

MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST

Thank you for picking up this latest edition of Current Magazine. Beverly and I hope you enjoy the exciting and ongoing story of God’s activity in and through his people at Champion Forest Baptist Church. After you have read this, perhaps you can pass it along to a friend who might be interested in learning more about our Lord and his church. God is doing an amazing work at Champion Forest, and we are excited to share it with you.

We are a multicultural and multigenerational church helping all kinds of people make sense out of life through Christ-centered living. We all live in a troubled world, so many of us live with troubled lives. When we put Jesus first, and order our life’s priorities around him, life begins to make sense. I can assure you, Jesus can make sense out of your life as well.

It begins with a relationship with God through Jesus. We turn from sin and self, and to Jesus, and are born into his family by faith. That’s when we begin to live a new life in Christ. We nurture our relationship with Christ every day through prayer and devotion, and we connect to our church family every week in dynamic worship. We go deeper in Life Groups where we gather around God’s Word, pray for and support one another, and build authentic relationships.

We are a mission-minded church, making a difference within our city, across our nation, and around the world. There are so many opportunities to get involved in the ministry of Champion Forest and to make a difference in your world. So, we invite YOU to join us on the journey.

With You in His Certain Victory, PASTOR DAVID & BEVERLY FLEMING

CURRENTMAGAZINE 1 OVERCOMING RACIAL INJUSTICE . . . Growing up as a black girl in the south

Separate but equal. lacking: money to provide for one’s family invitation to pray at the altar. But it was and mercy amid racial hatred. Society’s like something pushed me out of my chair, Even as a small child, Carolyn Bailey knew segregation laws required that she use and I went forward anyway!” This moment it wasn’t fair, but public policy didn’t stop separate restrooms and water fountains of receiving God’s love and forgiveness her and a fun-loving group of little kids— from that of white people and attend would prove instrumental for the rest of white and black—from playing together. “colored-only” schools. Textbooks were her life. Day after day under the Florida sun, she tattered, discarded materials from white and her friends would build club houses schools, and there was no school bus Carolyn has vivid memories of life and play hide-and-go-seek. But as the sun service provided for black students. She in Pensacola—some sweet, others would set, she and the black children went also went to school without a lunch or terrifying. She loved her father’s humor home to their neighborhood, and the white money to buy one. and remembers being doubled over with kids to another. Carolyn’s house sat facing laughter at his jokes. He earned about $35 an all-white street, the racial division far In the midst of ongoing lack and a week doing manual labor in the Navy wider and more abrasive than the cement discrimination, Carolyn felt the Lord tug yard, but managed to keep his family road between them. on her heart. While sitting in church at the smiling. She also recalls walking the long age of nine, she heard the Gospel. In her distance to and from school, sometimes Growing up as a black girl in the south own words, “I felt so compelled to accept in the bitter cold, and becoming afraid during the Great Depression, it seemed Christ as my Savior, but I was hesitant to as white students on school buses would to Carolyn there were two things always get out of my seat and respond to the name call and throw things at her.

2 CURRENTMAGAZINE Despite ongoing racial oppression, Carolyn that he stop. Spotting the restroom, was always an honor roll student, and Carolyn asked the store owner if she could by the time she was in high school, she please use his facilities, at which point he had made up her mind that she wanted grabbed his rifle, aimed it at her head and to graduate from college and become a threatened to shoot her if she dared to use “I’m a forgiving teacher. Her parents had never owned the toilet. Trembling and with no access to their own home, and she had a burning a restroom, Carolyn’s only option was to person. I love people desire to purchase one for them once settle for the side of the road. employed. Sure enough, Carolyn attended and always want to a junior college in Pensacola where she Carolyn found an escape from mankind’s see the best in them was president of the math club and voted cruelty in God’s love and truth. She “Miss Junior College.” After graduating taught children’s Sunday School lessons instead of what is with honors, she attended Florida A&M at church, which required that she study where she was a member of the Kappa her Bible. As a result, she grew in her wrong or evil. Even Delta Pi National Honor Society and voted understanding of God’s acceptance and “Miss Junior Class.” As a senior, she won goodness and looked to the Lord to help if they have treated “Miss ROTC,” and as part of the celebration, her get through college. was featured in the Orange Bowl Classic me badly, I take parade and football halftime show. Sure enough, in 1961, Carolyn graduated thirteenth in her class with a bachelor’s the opportunity to Unfortunately, on the bus ride back from degree in Elementary Education—the first the parade in Miami, Carolyn had one of in her family to earn a college degree. Soon tell them I forgive the most terrifying experiences of her life. she spotted an ad in the newspaper for teachers to travel and teach overseas, and them. I don’t harbor OVERCOMING She had a desperate need to use the she aced the phone interview. However, the restroom and asked the bus driver to job required that she complete paperwork bitterness”. please pull over at a gas station. Aware in New Orleans, and Carolyn had no car to of the danger, he ignored her at first, get there. As a huge answer to prayer, a RACIAL INJUSTICE . . . but the students eventually demanded young white female seeking the same

Carolyn Bailey — pursuing her passion for Elementary Education.

CURRENTMAGAZINE 3 they bought homes in an all-white neighborhood. In addition to having their house fire-bombed, one neighbor was so incensed that he built a seven-foot fence “The problem between them, then moved. But through all the pain, God has given Carolyn the of racism is not grace to continually forgive those who’ve hurt her and embrace all who are willing confined to one to be a friend, no matter their skin color. In Carolyn’s own words: people group—

I’m a forgiving person. I love people it’s a human and always want to see the best in problem. A sin them instead of what is wrong or evil. Even if they have treated me problem. And Carolyn Bailey — Past. badly, I take the opportunity to tell them I forgive them. I don’t harbor I choose love bitterness. Sometimes when I think employment opportunity contacted back on the hurtful moments, I get and forgiveness Carolyn and asked if she’d accompany her sad, but then I think about how to New Orleans. Carolyn was thrilled to much Christ loves me—how I can over bitterness, have transportation but became overcome crawl up in His arms when life gets with fear while they drove through hard and He will hold me. Knowing knowing God Mississippi, a state notorious for terrorizing His Word and the great sacrifice that loves all people and even murdering black people. When He paid for us—how he forgives me they stopped for gas, Carolyn asked the every second for my sinful deeds and is willing and young lady, “Should I sit in the backseat and thoughts—that’s why I’m able and pretend to be your maid?” She feared to forgive and love those who have ready to forgive being seen in the front seat next to a treated me cruelly. white woman. “You just stay right there,” and bless all the courageous young lady said. And once As Hank and Carolyn have witnessed their again, the Lord kept Carolyn safe. church, Champion Forest Baptist, pursue who will ask diversity and become increasingly colorful Carolyn was blessed to teach in Germany over the years, they rejoice! “This is what and receive.” and Okinawa, Japan, and traveled all over Heaven is going to look like,” Carolyn says, the world to places such as Egypt and smiling. “The problem of racism is not the Holy Land. She was well-received confined to one people group—it’s a human and loved everywhere she went—a stark problem. A sin problem. And I choose love contrast from the prejudices of home. It and forgiveness over bitterness, knowing was during this time that she met and fell in God loves all people and is willing and love with U.S. Air Force officer Hank Bailey, ready to forgive and bless all who will ask and on August 16, 1969, they became and receive.” husband and wife. Carolyn went on to earn a master’s degree from Southern Illinois Carolyn was honored to be an extension University, and despite having completed of God’s blessing when, after securing a an additional 100 college-credit hours, she job as a teacher shortly after graduating chose to forgo completing her doctorate from college, she was able to provide her degree in order to fully devote her time to mother and father with a home. It was a raising her two sons—a decision she has defining moment she’ll never forget—a never regretted. tangible experience that proves we are who God says we are, and we can In the years that followed, Carolyn accomplish all that He says we can, no and her family continued to endure matter the opposition. racial discrimination, especially when Carolyn & Hank Bailey

4 CURRENTMAGAZINE VIETNAMESE LIFE GROUP: Faith and friendship among Houston’s Vietnamese community

Peter Duong was a teenager when he learn more about Christianity or pursue Join Peter and the rest of the and his family emigrated from Vietnam a relationship as a believer in Christ, Life Vietnamese Life Group at to Canada. Adapting to an entirely new Group members rally around them, fully culture was challenging, but the transition aware of the challenges and pressures 11:00am on Sundays at Champion was made easier when a Vietnamese they face, particularly from family, as Forest Baptist Church, room 306 Christian church reached out and began they seek to turn from practices such helping in every way that they could. While as Buddhism and Ancestral worship. at the Cypress Creek Campus. Peter’s family was without transportation Peter also recognizes that among the for three months, church members drove Vietnamese community, there is a major them to and from church despite it being need to strengthen marriages, and he and Peter and his a one-hour drive each way. They also the group are committed to providing wife Annalysa donated furniture and household items, guidance and support for couples. meeting practical needs in addition to providing invaluable spiritual and As part of the long-term vision, Peter hopes relational support. to establish programs and resources to do more to help immigrants from Vietnam. In Now that Peter has a family of his own and the meantime, all are welcome to attend lives in Houston, Texas, he is passionate and are encouraged to help spread the about providing the same kind of Gospel word about this thriving Christ-centered outreach and care to Vietnamese people Vietnamese faith community! throughout Northwest Houston. As members of Champion Forest Baptist Church, Peter and his wife Annalysa recently teamed up with another couple, Minh and Thuong, to launch a Sunday morning Vietnamese Life Group at the Cypress Creek Campus. It’s a small group where Vietnamese-speaking people gather to pray, study the Bible, and build relationships. According to Peter, it’s more than a Bible study; group members are living life together in a Christ-centered community.

In addition to Sunday morning gatherings, members of the Vietnamese Life Group regularly host home fellowships where they build friendships and welcome non- Christian friends. For those seeking to

CURRENTMAGAZINE 5 KIDS EVENTS STUDENT EVENTS

JUN 6-9 JUN 6-10 JUL 13-17 Fifth Grade Mission Trip HIgh School Summer Camp Middle School Summer Camp

JUN 15 JUN 26 - 30 JUL 24-30 The most current information Wacky Wednesdays begin! Middle School Mission Trip High School Mission Trip can be found here:

JUN 20-24 JUN 26 - 30 Aug 31 www.championforest.org/students VBS (K-4) & VBX (Grade 5) High School Local Mission Trip King of the Beach Sand Volleyball Tournament JUL 17-20 Preteen Summer Camp 3rd -5th CONTACT INFO: Kids Events - [email protected] • Student Events - [email protected]

VICTORY OVER ANXIETY A candid account of finding grace in times of need

My twenties proved to be a destructive I wanted the very same thing but had no roller coaster of numerous unstable, idea how to get it. unhealthy relationships, including a painful divorce. Alcohol continued to be my go- I didn’t know at the time that Rod was to method of coping, combined with a pastor—and it’s a good thing I wasn’t by anti-anxiety medication. Through it all, I aware. I struggled with such intense managed to achieve a lucrative career as a feelings of shame and guilt that I became Liz Van Steenhouse mortgage banker in Dallas, Texas, earning overwhelmed at the thought of being a six-figure income. Then in 2004, at the around church people, much less a pastor. age of 31, I gave up my job in order to move It gave me anxiety—rapid breathing, racing to Houston to be with my fiancé, Jim, and pulse, and all. But there was none of that It may not seem possible that a person can prepare for marriage. around Rod because I knew him only as a be born and raised in America and have no fitness instructor. idea what the Gospel is; but I can honestly Once again, I failed in the area of say that for the first 32 years of my life, relationships. In a matter of months, we After a couple of months of attending his I knew absolutely nothing about Jesus or broke off our engagement, and I moved workouts, Rod started asking me, “Do you the Bible. I have memories of attending back to Dallas. know if you would go to heaven if you church on occasion as a little girl, but it died?” His question struck me as awkward was just another place I visited, like any SPIRITUAL BOOT CAMP and made me uncomfortable, but I other building. By my teen years, I became I was hurting, unemployed, and feeling lost attempted to downplay my uneasiness. convinced that a person like me didn’t in life when my friend Tierny reached out “Of course,” I said. “I know I’m going to belong in church. to me and invited me to attend a fitness heaven because I’m a good person.” boot camp led by former NFL player Rod I grew up in the small Texas town of Jones and his wife Simone. I wasn’t sure I now understand that’s the most common Ganado, and my childhood was marred what to expect, but from day one, I was not answer people give to that question. I also by my parents’ divorce. As a small child, only inspired by Rod and Simone’s physical know now that it’s a response rooted in I remember feeling overwhelmed by fitness and strength, but their strength of deception. loneliness, shame, rejection, and fear, but character—the joy and zeal they had for as a teenager, I found temporary escapes life. In the weeks that followed, I observed At another boot camp session, Rod had from oppressive emotions. I fell in love the way they interacted as a loving married written out John 3:16 on a piece of paper— with the numbing effects of alcohol, and couple and also as parents with their three “For God so loved the world that he as part of my busy social life, often binge children. It was obvious their family life gave his one and only Son, that whoever drank on the weekends. was thriving and fulfilling. believes in him shall not perish but have

8 CURRENTMAGAZINE As a small child, I remember feeling overwhelmed by loneliness, shame, rejection, and fear, but as a teenager, I found temporary escapes from oppressive emotions. I fell in love with the numbing effects of alcohol...

eternal life.” In the middle of doing lunges reached out to my ex-fiancé Jim and after no matter how I tried and prayed, the Lord and other strenuous exercises, my friend telling him about my new commitment to seemed distant. I was still binge drinking Tierny turned to me and said, “You know Christ, I learned that he too was a believer on the weekends and dependent on anti- Jesus actually came to the earth and but had not been living according to his anxiety medications, as were some of my walked among us, and He came to save us, Christian convictions. It became clear to friends. Despite longstanding hesitations, right?” From there, she and Rod explained both of us that we were to be together for I started attending church on Sundays but how Jesus had died for my sins so that life, only this time we’d put God first in our still felt out of place. I could be forgiven and made right with relationship. God—not by covering or justifying my sin Finally I worked up the courage to go in an attempt to be a good person but by I was overjoyed when, on August 3, 2005, to a church Bible study. I made an effort repenting and turning to Christ. Jim and I became husband and wife. I to learn and mature in my faith, but the was sure we would experience abundant nagging void in my soul persisted. I As I got into my car and considered all blessings and my relationship with God remember lying next to my husband one they’d told me—the Gospel message—I would grow and soar. What a shock it was night and sharing with him, “I no longer suddenly had an unfamiliar but wonderful in the weeks and years that followed when feel God. It’s like He is gone. I need to find change of heart. The only way I know to my God-given elation steadily dwindled, Him.” I knew something was very wrong describe it is to say that God opened my then disappeared entirely. in my soul but did not know how to fix eyes, and I went from spiritual darkness to myself. light. Right then and there, I gave my life BROKEN to Jesus Christ with complete sincerity. Four years into my marriage, in 2009, I On Valentine’s weekend 2010, I’d had had three adorable children, a beautiful all I could stand of the oppression and In the weeks that followed, I was on a home, and lots of valuable possessions. I discontentment. I dropped to my knees spiritual high, elated to have newfound had everything I’d ever worked for, yet on and begged God to help me. “Lord,” I hope and joy. It was a stark contrast from the inside, I felt bankrupt. I longed to feel prayed, “I’m miserable. I can’t go another the darkness that had often plagued me. I God-given hope again as I once had, but day like this. Surely you made me for more than what I’m living now. Please show me how to get to you!” That day, I had reached the end of myself. Feeling empty and broken, I was ready like never before to learn how to live God’s Way.

Jim and Liz A TIME OF CLEANSING More clearly than I had ever heard the Lord Van Steenhouse speak to my heart and ever have since, He said, “Meditate on my Word day and on their wedding night, and you will succeed.” Interestingly, the one scripture I had jotted down on a day in 2005 an index card at Bible study was Joshua 1:8—“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

CURRENTMAGAZINE 9 I began reading my Bible as frequently I’d never heard of fasting—going without Lord performed the miraculous before as I could and contemplated God’s food for a time of prayerful devotion to my eyes, dramatically changing my life in commandments and promises. Before the Lord—but I sensed I needed to go an instant. long, He began revealing specific things on a media fast. I committed to go 60 that I needed to purge from my life, habits days without TV and also avoid tabloid The day was March 30, 2010. Although and hobbies that were working against magazines, alcohol—all the vices the Lord I was enjoying my newfound peace with my desire to know and please Him. There had exposed in my life. It felt harsh at God, I questioned if it would last the rest were TV shows and magazines that I was the time and was extremely difficult, but of my life. I found myself getting antsy to give up, all of which I was reluctant to I learned to focus my time and attention and wanted to see what was going on in surrender, but then came the one that on talking to God and reading His Word. the world, so despite my commitment to pained me the most. No more alcohol. Steadily, feelings of emptiness and dread forego media, I powered on the television. were replaced by peace, security, and joy. I instantly saw an image on the big I confided in my Christian friend over the screen that took my breath away, only it phone and told her there was no way I Within two weeks, I no longer needed wasn’t a scene from a TV broadcast. It could do any of this without major help—a my anxiety medication and knew I would was a vision—a picture on display that recovery program and lots of counseling, never take it again. I fell in love with God’s I knew, with every fiber of my being, perhaps. But she felt led to give me a peace, and His presence became like an was from God. different perspective: “Liz,” she said, anchor for my soul. I became addicted to “I truly believe you need to do this with His peace! Having never experienced anything even just you and God, relying totally on Him, remotely like that, I was scared at first and and it will take you to a new level of trust A VISION OF HOPE double checked to be sure that my TV was with Him.” She proceeded to pray for me One day toward the conclusion of my working right. It was, yet the divine image while I sobbed, but by the time we hung media fast, as I was still seeking to know remained, vivid across the screen—a man, up, I’d made up my mind to follow through. and experience God in a greater way, the full of care and compassion, seated next to a woman in need, and the word “believe” emanating at the bottom of the picture.

There was no doubt in my mind, this man was Jesus.

I was so awestruck and overcome by what felt like a tidal wave of God’s presence that I fell to the floor and began to weep. Then it hit me all at once—how wrong my thinking had been concerning God. He was not a far-off, harsh judge who viewed me through a lens of disappointment. He is near to me—to all of us—and invites us to draw close to Jesus, even in our weaknesses and shortcomings.

I soon found a scriptural explanation that shed light on the vision. According to Hebrews 4:15-16, Jesus is our great I began reading my Bible as frequently High Priest—the mediator between God and man—and He empathizes with our as I could and contemplated God’s struggles because He too faced the temptation to sin. However, because commandments and promises. Before He overcame every single time, He now long, He began revealing specific things admonishes us to come boldly to God in our moments of weakness to receive that I needed to purge from my life... mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need—grace being God’s ability in place of our inability. For the first time in my life, I truly grasped As of today, I live with a sense of purpose and believed that God was my loving and passion to serve God and carry out His Father, and that Jesus looks upon us with Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). I great mercy. He is King and Priest, yet He still find it challenging at times to follow is close and caring enough to be here for Christ, but it is incredibly satisfying to live us in our time of need. We have victory for Him. My family and I attend Champion over life’s strongholds because of His Forest Baptist Church, and I now lead a sacrifice on the cross. Bible study in my home for women who are reluctant to go to church. (Sound In the life season following that experience, familiar?) Knowing God and inviting others God used this vision to begin healing me of to know Him is the greatest joy of my life! pain and memories that I had suppressed most of my life, freeing me from the very Circumstances have been especially wounds that caused me to over indulge in difficult the past few months because alcohol and other self-destructive habits my husband was in a serious hunting in the first place. accident. I’ve spent many sleepless nights battling fears that he may not recover, After I wrote down a detailed description but once again, God has brought me of what I saw in the vision, God instructed through. I credit Him with keeping me me to have the image recreated in stable and calming my fears while also a painting, then led me to a gifted artist healing my husband. who was eager to get the picture on canvas. First, however, she wanted me to Ever since the Lord’s peace replaced my write out my life testimony so those who need for anxiety mediations, I’ve kept one Jim and Liz saw the painting would understand the of my empty pill bottles in my purse as a message behind it. That stopped me in my tangible reminder that prayer is far more Van Steenhouse tracks because I’m not much of a writer. effective than panic. But wouldn’t you know it, the Lord took with their three care of that too, connecting me with a None of us have to be alone in our writer to help tell my story. The very words struggles. We are all invited to come children. you’re now reading are the tangible answer to our Great High Priest so that we may to that prayer, and soon, the painting receive mercy and find grace in our time will be created. of need.

LORD GOD,

Since I have a Great High Priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus Your Son, help me hold firmly to the faith I profess. For I do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with my weaknesses, but I have one who has been tempted in every way, just as I am, yet without sin. Help me then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that I may receive mercy and find grace to help me in the time of need. Hebrews 4:14:14-16 ESCAPING IRAN A Journey of Faith and Freedom

by Nazanin Hebel

Iran wasn’t always marred by violence and religious oppression.

As a child born into a Muslim Iranian family in the 1960s, my classmates and I were free to practice the religion of our choice. For one hour each school week, my Jewish friends went next door to the synagogue, my Christian friends traveled across the street to a church, and my Muslim friends and I remained at our Arminian private school to learn about Islam.

Students in fashionable attire study outside at the University of Tehran in 1971 ( before the ‘79 revolution ).

12 CURRENTMAGAZINE President Jimmy Carter ( Left ) • Ayatollah Khomeini returns from exile. ( Top ) Iranian women protesting against the Hijab law in Tehran in 1979. ( Bottom )

“For your own protection,” authorities began telling us, “young women must cover themselves.”

When the hour was up, we all went back to Ohio. They warned us that they’d heard for Islamic regimes to rise up and unite, socializing and studying together. President Carter say Iran would soon enforcing Islam through brainwashing and suffer political and social turmoil, but my acts of terror. I also grew up hearing the heroic accounts father, a colonel in the Iranian police force of Persian women whose bravery and at the time, insisted it wasn’t true. Stories broke daily about young women intelligence shaped history. Among my being doused in corrosive acid by favorites was Artemis, the noble beauty Sure enough, days later, a heinous act of terrorists. “For your own protection,” who once served as Commander of the terrorism was committed in Abadan, Iran. authorities began telling us, “young Persian Navy. I believed I was no less Hundreds of people were burned to death women must cover themselves.” Gradually, capable or worthy of achieving greatness in a movie theater set on fire. as instructed, I went from wearing loose than she. scarves around my neck to covering We returned home to Iran, but it no longer nearly my entire head in fabric, then my The summer before I started high school, felt like home. The revolution was in full body. My female classmates and I were in 1978, my family and I traveled to swing. What began with Russia’s attempt lovingly encouraged to shroud ourselves the United States to visit my uncles in to overtake Iran steadily paved the way if we wanted to get a good grade in

CURRENTMAGAZINE 13 Demonstrations around Shahyad Tower during the Iranian (Islamic) revolution, Tehran 1979.

“One day my high school classmates and I were divided based on political views...”

citizenship. The shame associated with being shown pictures of Muslim young being uncovered eventually became so men who’d been killed, and our teachers ingrained in us that we began to believe told us communist supporters and other that, even at home, a girl should cover political groups were to blame. Naturally herself while studying. we began to grow in resentment toward those unwilling to confirm to the Islamic We failed to recognize the true agenda at agenda. work, how our rights as women were being stripped away, along with our self-worth. But eventually I came to realize that my understanding of Islam was skewed, My parents were determined to evacuate intentionally misrepresented by the school Iran, so one-by-one, my mother, little administration. I knew it only as a peaceful brother and I obtained U.S. Visas. The day religion with an emphasis on caring for my father was due to get his—November, the poor and doing good. The passages 4, 1979—news broke that an angry mob of of the Koran that advocate aggression young Islamic revolutionaries had overrun and destruction of non-Muslims—known the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking more as infidels—were never disclosed. It wasn’t than 60 Americans hostage. Soon known until I read the Koran for myself, around as the Iranian Hostage Crisis, all U.S. Visas age 17, that I began to understand the were revoked, ours included. harsh realities. A group of Iranian students belonging to the We had no choice but to stay in Iran for As a result of the revolution, my Muslim four more years. classmates and I saw the true spirit of Muslim Student Followers Islam at work, and we wanted nothing to of the Imam’s Line, One day my high school classmates and do with it. I were divided based on political views storm the U.S. Embassy and forced to attend separate schools. I As a police officer, my father often had in Tehran. and the other compliant students went to to deal with riots and acts of terrorism, one campus while the communist “trouble but soon I began witnessing violence at makers” attended another. Soon we were my school. A young girl holding a sign

14 CURRENTMAGAZINE promoting the communist party was to Germany so we could get to the U.S. attacked by fanatical girls and viciously Consulate. Boarding the plane, stark murdered before my eyes. On another silence filled the cabin as we and fellow More than sixty American occasion, a group of students rushing their Iranians feared being caught. Even after injured friend toward an ambulance was taking off, we all remained on edge. It diplomats and citizens were ambushed by Muslim kids, and a young wasn’t until sometime later, when the woman was slammed to the ground. captain announced that we were about held hostage for 444 days She hit her head and died not far away to cross the border, that tensions began (November 4, 1979, from me. to ease. Several women lined up at the restroom, and my mom and I weren’t sure to January 20, 1981). I became increasingly terrified. why. Minutes later, we understood. One by one, ladies exited the restroom free of Finally in 1983, as Iran’s war with Iraq their head coverings—known as hijabs— then Naples, Italy, where my uncles had intensified, the borders were opened, with their hair down and styled in the made arrangements to help us get our and my father called upon some former latest Western World fashions. U.S. Visas. I handled conversations with colleagues in the passport office to get the consulate, navigated the way to and our passports expedited. Having just It was our first taste of freedom in years. from our hotels, and led my family through graduated from high school, I registered However, my mother and I could only airports. to attend college in Iran in the fall, but it bring ourselves to slip our hijabs off of was only for appearance sake. My mother, our heads; they remained encircled on our Finally, one month after leaving home, we elementary-aged brother, and I planned necks. It would take time for the paralyzing boarded a plane to America. to immigrate to the U.S., and providing fear and brainwashing to subside. we were permitted to get there, my father The day after arriving in Houston, Texas, would sell all of our possessions and join Whereas I had always been shy and often where one of my uncles lived, I took a us in America. soft-spoken, I now had to speak up and college placement test, and by January communicate on behalf of my family since 1984, I was a student at the University of In mid-August 1983, my mother, brother, I was the only one of us who spoke English. Houston—and a huge fan of the legendary and I mustered the courage to leave our In a matter of days, my maturity level Phi Slama Jama basketball team with homeland—for good. Since there was reached new heights. I took the lead as Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon! no U.S. embassy in Iran, we had to fly we made our way to Stuttgart, Germany, Since I was not yet a U.S. citizen, my dad

CURRENTMAGAZINE 15 Stuttgart GERMANY

Naples Houston ITALY TEXAS Tehran IRAN

“Finally, one month after leaving home, we boarded a plane to America. The day after arriving in Houston, Texas... I took a college placement test, and by January 1984, I was a student at the University of Houston.”

had to pay large sums for my education, After getting married on New Year’s Eve, Meagan would bring home, and everything so he used our family savings to put me 1998, I attended a Christmas production at I saw and read looked good. Eventually I through school. Champion Forest Baptist Church with my agreed to start picking her up from church in-laws, James and Diane Hebel. I was still on Wednesday nights, and for a while, I Meanwhile, life in the U.S. took some getting leery of religion, but I came away from the waited each week in my car. Then I started used to. For one, I was so accustomed to experience feeling comforted and slightly sitting in the church foyer and happened the sound of bombs and artillery rounds more open to the concept of faith. By to overhear the sermons on a TV monitor. that the silence at night was deafening the time my daughter Meagan was born Drawn to the biblical teaching, I eventually and uncomfortable. And even though I and progressing through her childhood, made my way to the back row of the was free to express myself as a woman, it I longed for her to learn about God but weekly church services. Before I knew it, was an adjustment reclaiming feelings of felt totally ill-equipped to teach her. I was in the front row next to my in-laws, equality. As for religion, I’d had my fill of it So, I reached out to Jim and Diane and following along with my Bible! At times I and wrote it off entirely. they were eager to take her with them would repeat a prayer, as prompted by the to church every Sunday morning and pastor, to accept Christ into my heart, but A NEW KIND OF FAITH Wednesday night. I never truly meant it.

While in college dental school, I met an Meagan loved it! Little did I know, when Until one day when I sincerely did. attractive young man named Bill, and we the kids were asked to share their prayer began dating. He had been raised in a requests, my daughter would say, “Please I’d been jogging on a treadmill at the Christian home but wasn’t one to attend pray for mom and dad to come to church.” church’s Family Life Center and reading a church. Ten years after we met, Bill and I began looking over the Bible lessons book on biblical prophecy when everything I became engaged to get married, and strictly as a means of getting to know one another better, we exchanged books. I gave him a Koran, and he gave me a Bible—the first copy I’d ever seen, even having lived in the U.S. for a decade. I started reading at the beginning, in the book of Genesis, but soon gave up when the stories and historical descriptions became confusing and seemingly irrelevant.

Nazanin and her husband Bill with their daughter Meagan.

16 CURRENTMAGAZINE understand biblical truths. I find that they are hungry to understand the mysteries of the Bible, and while Christ has already Nazanin and Meagan given them peace in their hearts, they flourish when they also have His wisdom were baptized together and understanding in their minds. I love it! at Champion Forest. I understand that some may feel leery to approach Muslims living in the United States, but it’s essential that we show I’d learned about Jesus seemed to bubble Lord to do a work in my husband’s heart them that we, as Christians, are not up in my heart, stirring the desire in me so that he would attend church too, and what they have been told. We are kind, to make Him my Lord and Savior. For real sure enough, one day he began coming welcoming, and patient despite our this time. I wanted to be with God in and volunteered to play in the church opposing religious views. They don’t need eternity, and I knew now that Christ was orchestra. Soon he was also assisting us to lecture or debate religion; they need the only way. in the Bible Literacy Class as a media us to be trustworthy friends who pray for coordinator. He wasn’t just staying busy them, show them the love of Christ, and I called my husband and told him, “I’m in the church; his passion for the Head of when the timing is right, share the hope doing this. I’m becoming a Christian.” Then the Church—Jesus Christ—was rekindled, we have in Jesus. I shut myself in my car in the church parking along with his desire to connect with lot, and in the silence, prayed a genuine fellow church members. I recently invited a Muslim lady to a prayer from my heart. Immediately it felt musical at my church, and afterwards, she like a huge weight had been lifted off of As a former Muslim who is now a Christian, smiled and told me, “When I met you in me, and I knew I’d made the right decision. I have many opportunities to shine Christ’s class, I didn’t know your secret, but now In the days that followed, I wasn’t worried light in Middle Easterners’ lives—both here that I’ve been to your church, I do.” about what my family would say; my in the U.S. and in my homeland of Iran. As parents were not going to disown me a professor of microbiology and anatomy She experienced the presence of God— like many Muslim families do when a and physiology at Houston Community Jesus Christ—and that is what every relative becomes a Christian. Instead, College, my students see my cross human heart needs, no matter his or I was worried that I’d fail, that I’d be a necklace and sometimes approach me her gender, nationality, or religious lousy Christian and misrepresent Christ. after class, curious to know how a woman background. The biblical concept of grace—relying on of Iranian descent could be a Christian. God to empower me to live the Christian This has opened the door on numerous life—was foreign to me. As a result of my occasions to meet with many students “Everyone who calls on the name of the childhood religion, I related to God strictly off campus and share my faith, offering Lord will be saved.” – Romans 10:13 from a performance-based mentality, them the same hope that set me free from void of grace and unwavering love from performance-based religion. My in-laws my Creator. provided me with Bibles written in Farsi, and I give them out regularly. As I prayed about my struggles, the In addition to English, Champion Forest Baptist Lord gave me a vivid dream one night While I am restricted from preaching the offers Sunday morning worship and/or Life Groups to communicate to me that Jesus now Gospel in Iran and have never gone back, in the following languages at the Cypress Creek lives in me, and therefore, I do not have I make a point to post Bible passages in Campus… to fear God’s judgment for my sins and Farsi on my Facebook page for my friends mistakes—Jesus took all punishment for and family in Iran to see. Like I once was, •Español Worship – me! I realized I was free now to love God many of them are hardened toward the 9:30am, Chapel & 10:55am, Worship Center and be loved, allowing Him to steadily notion of religion, professing atheists •Español Life Groups – make me more like Christ, one day at a even, but as I pray for them and boldly 9:30am (various room locations) time. It was incredibly liberating! share God’s Word, I am confident the Lord •American Sign Language Worship is working on their hearts. 10:55am, WC.140 (Orchestra Room) From then on, I couldn’t get enough of •Farsi Life Group – 10:00am, AE.109 Jesus (and still can’t!). I rearranged my I also lead a Farsi Life Group (Sunday •Portuguese Life Group – 10:55am, FL.111 work schedule so that I could be at church School) class at my church on Sundays at •Vietnamese Life Group – 11:00am, 306 every week, and by 2011, I was singing in 10:00am where I translate lessons and help the church choir. I kept praying for the former Muslims who’ve become Christians More info: Jeff Skipper, [email protected] at CHAMPION FOREST

Experience Easter at Champion Forest • MARCH 23-27

HOLY WEEK SERVICES EASTER SUNDAY SERVICES ( No Life Groups Meeting ) MID-WEEK SERVICE – MARCH 23 CYPRESS CREEK CAMPUS – MARCH 27 6:45pm, Cypress Creek Campus 8:00am (English) Family Life Worship Center • English Service Worship Center Chapel • Servicio en Español 9:30am (English) Worship Center

HOLY THURSDAY LORD’S SUPPER – MARCH 24 10:00am (Portuguese) FL.100 7:00pm, Cypress Creek Campus 11:15am (English) Family Life Worship Center • English Service Family Life Worship Center 11:15am (Deaf Worship Service) WC.125

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE – MARCH 25 11:30am (Servicio en Español) Worship Center 12:00pm, Cypress Creek Campus • English & habrá traducción al español Family Life Worship Center NORTH CAMPUS – MARCH 27 8:30am, 9:45am, 11:00am

FOR LOCATION INFO & MAPS, SEE THE BACK CONROE CAMPUS – MARCH 27 COVER OF CURRENT MAGAZINE. 9:30am (Servicio en Inglés) 11:15am (Servicio en Español) 1:30pm (Servicio en Español)

www.champoinforest.org/easter 10 CURRENTMAGAZINE EASTER Resurrection Rolls A Creative Way to Explain Christ’s Resurrection to Children Brought to you by the Kids Ministry team at Champion Forest Baptist Church

Most children are aware of traditional Easter festivities involving Easter bunnies, baskets, and colored eggs. Certainly the media and retail stores go INGREDIENTS: all out to reinforce these symbols of Easter. 2 cans of crescent rolls

As parents, if we want our children to understand and appreciate the true meaning of 16 large marshmallows Easter—Christ’s Resurrection—we also must make an intentional effort to explain it to them. ½ cup melted butter This is especially relevant at Easter but is certainly worth discussing year-round. ¼ cup granulated sugar 2 TBSP cinnamon Baking Resurrection rolls with kids is a great way to communicate the biblical story of Easter in a way that young minds can understand!

DIRECTIONS AND DISCUSSION:

Allow kids to handle some marshmallows while Complete the process for all 16 triangles explaining: Jesus is God’s son who was sent to and marshmallows, then place in the oven earth to pay the price for our sin. He never sinned. and bake according to crescent roll package The white of these marshmallow represents the directions. purity and sin-free nature of Christ. Allow rolls to cool. Explain: After 3 days, his After Jesus died his body was prepared for friends went to visit the tomb but the rock was burial. After he was buried, his friends prepared rolled away and two angels said, “Why are you him to be buried with oil and spices. Dip the looking for the living among the dead?” marshmallow in butter, then in sugar and cinnamon. Reveal that when you cut open a roll or take a bite, the marshmallow has disappeared, leaving Jesus was wrapped in linen and placed in a an empty “tomb.” tomb with a large rock rolled in front. Wrap the marshmallow in one triangle of dough covering it Remind children that the rolls are sweet just like completely like a ball (rock). the love God has for us.

Follow-up by reading the Easter story together from the Bible so that children know that it is true and that Jesus died for them and wants to be their savior. To reinforce the Easter story, go to YouTube and search “Beginners Bible for Kids Easter.” As a family, watch the cartoon biblical depiction of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.

Pray with children, thanking God for the gift of Jesus!

CURRENTMAGAZINE 19 Ms. Bea with students. Local Teacher “As teachers, our greatest hope is to COLLECTS BOOKS make a difference in a child’s life. for Impoverished For me, that includes African Students children beyond my Champion Forest Baptist Church member supplies or books. While schools have classroom. It can be Beatrice Muyah-Mbai, also known as recently been upgraded to have electricity, any child in any part Ms. Bea, has a love for education that made possible through a donation is impacting students locally as well as program, lunch is still not provided for of the world. I hope around the world. She’s a former teacher students. Sadly, many go without eating who currently works as a clinic assistant all day. that through this book in Klein ISD, but to children in the African village of Nduriri, she’s an answer to their Beatrice wanted desperately to help but donation mission, prayers. wasn’t sure how, especially being so far children’s lives will away. Then one day, she happened to Having grown up in Kenya, Beatrice see someone disposing of books into a be better, and perhaps is familiar with the challenges many recycling bin. At the risk of being accused African students face as a result of of dumpster diving, she retrieved the they too will strive inadequate school facilities and supplies. materials and saw that they were in good However, when her father returned to his condition. She mailed the books to Nduriri, someday to change others’ childhood village of Nduriri a few years and grateful teachers reported back that, ago and reported back concerning the upon receiving them, the children were lives for the better.” disheartening state of the schools, Ms. overjoyed and filled with hope! Bea was heartbroken. In addition to the fact that students must walk for miles to Since 2012, Ms. Bea, along with her - Ms. Bea school—sometimes in cold and rain—with husband and two children, have made it worn shoes or no shoes at all, Beatrice was their mission to collect books to donate informed that the children had no school to the children of Nduriri. With the help

20 CURRENTMAGAZINE Books being packed to ship. of Principal Ellen LeBlanc at Redd School Beatrice also collects and sends school HOW TO GET INVOVLED… and the generosity of parents and the supplies such as pencils, pens, erasers, students who attend there, Beatrice has rulers, crayons, markers, notebooks, and The most pressing need is financial recently collected over 3,000 books as ruled paper. donations to cover the cost of shipping. well as school supplies! T.F. Hudgins has Beatrice and her volunteer team also pray graciously donated storage space and also Concerning the impact this mission has to find a sea freight shipping company that crates the books for transport; the wood on local children who’ve rallied around is willing to help take up the cause. used for the crates is being salvaged to be donating, Beatrice says: repurposed as book shelves. In addition, Donations of books and learning materials Mr. Will LeBlanc has worked tirelessly on I believe in teaching children about suitable for children in Kindergarten fundraising efforts to pay for shipping. giving. We live in an era of entitlement, through eighth grade are always needed, unfortunately, where giving must be as well as school supplies. “As my father always puts it,” Beatrice taught. Teaching kids to give causes says, “education is one thing no one can them to become grateful for what Donations of Bibles are needed. The goal take away from you. With this in mind, they have and realize that there are is to supply each student with his or her own Bible. the donated books enable these children children just like them who do not to earn a better education, which reduces have all that they do. As children Volunteers are needed at times to help the dropout rate, increases their chances become aware of others who are in pack materials for shipment. of getting jobs, and hence, empowers need, they develop compassion and them to create a better life for themselves. learn to be caring toward others. When funds allow, Beatrice would like to Hopefully this will eventually stop the send teachers to Nduriri to train and equip cycle of poverty in their village.” school teachers there. There are teachers in our community who have already Beatrice collects new and gently-used volunteered to go when finances books year-round, then ships them in the are in place. summer. There are currently three schools in Nduriri that receive books for students Last but not least, Beatrice would love in kindergarten through eighth grade. for the children to have their own library someday.

To inquire about donating or volunteering: email [email protected]. Donations may be dropped off during the work week at Redd School 4820 Strack Road, Houston, 77069 • 281.440.1106. INFO: Amy Tomberlin [email protected] • 281.586.9797

CURRENTMAGAZINE 21 (FLC) FAMILY LIFE SPORTS AND FITNESS CENTER

Promoting health and strength—spirit, soul, and body

Looking to get in shape? Late Spring & Summer 2016 The Family Life Center is a cutting-edge sports and fitness facility where Activities at the FLC . . .

families can learn, play, and get in shape in a fun, positive environment. Girls Volleyball (Grades 5-8) Located at the Champion Forest Baptist Church Cypress Creek Campus, Cost: $75 Register through March 14 the FLC offers ongoing leagues, classes, and fitness challenges. Games on Friday nights Membership is open to the community, and all are welcome to come beginning April 15

take a tour! Triumph Summer Sports Camps (Ages 5-12) Cost: $95 before June 1; then $115 June through August Amenities include: Dodgeball, Basketball, Flag Football Camps (half-day or full-day) • State-of-the-Art Weight Room • Table Games (Ping-Pong, Pool) • Circuit Training Equipment • Two Full-Sized Wood-Floor Boot Camp (Adults) • 1/8-Mile Indoor Jogging Track Basketball Courts Cost: $60 • Mornings, 5:30-6:30am, April 4-15, • Elliptical Trainers • Two Racquetball Courts Monday, Wednesday, Friday • Stair Steppers • Aerobics and Fitness Classes • Evenings - 6:45-7:45pm, • Recumbent and Stationary Bikes • Personal Trainers April 18-28, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday • Childcare (9:00am-noon, Monday-Thursday) • Nutrition and Wellness Classes • Cardio Theater CFBC Basketball Camps • Locker Rooms and Towel Service (Completed Grades 1-6) June 6-9, 9:00am-noon Early registration $95 before May 2; $105 through May 30 HOURS OF OPERATION or July 25-28, 9:00am-noon Early registration $95 by June, Monday – Thursday Saturday • 8:00am-3:00pm 5:00am-10:00pm late registration $105 by July 18 Sunday • Closed Friday • 5:00am-9:00pm Tae Kwon Do Camps (Ages 7 and up) June 27-30, July 18-21, August 8-11, 12:30-3:30 pm For more information about all FLC events or to register for a particular league $95; meets in room FL.215 or course, visit championforest.org/sports, or contact Amy Tomberlin, [email protected], 281.586.9797.

22 CURRENTMAGAZINE CURRENTMAGAZINE 23 METRO Bus Driver TASKED WITH SAVING A PASSENGER’S LIFE

On Saturday, April 16, 2014, Oscar Juracan a refresher course in CPR at the Red Cross compressions while on-looking passengers— spent the morning volunteering as a rodeo and knew he first needed to check for a around 25 people—watched in shocked judge for Spring ISD and decided he pulse. He pressed the man’s wrist but felt silence. Again and again, Oscar repeated would call his employer, METRO, and have no movement and also noticed that his the steps. After approximately eight another driver cover his bus route that face was changing from white to purple. minutes, the man coughed, but still had afternoon so he could attend a volunteer Oscar placed his hand over the man’s heart, no pulse. luncheon. But around noon, Oscar had a confirming that he was not just incoherent, change of heart and decided to change but dead. By the time Oscar had been doing into his uniform and report to work. compressions for 10 minutes, he was He hurried back to his driver’s seat physically exhausted. He noticed a Beginning at 2:00pm, he drove and retrieved his resuscitation mask, passenger wearing medical scrubs and passengers back and forth from highway determined to perform CPR in an attempt asked for help, but the guy stayed glued 249 and 1960 to downtown until around to get oxygen to the brain until paramedics to his seat. Oscar kept going, and after 9:00pm, when he was confronted with an could get there and perhaps revive him. several more minutes, was overcome emergency. A frantic woman called out to After asking a passenger to call 9-1-1 and by both fatigue and heavy emotions. He Oscar from the back of the bus, begging positioning the man on his back in the uttered a tearful prayer to the Lord: “Jesus, for help. After making his way to her, aisle, Oscar checked a second time for a in your name . . . I will do this in Your name.” Oscar saw that a passenger who looked pulse and put his ear to the man’s nose. to be in his mid-thirties appeared lifeless. Then unexpectedly, after 18 agonizing “He passed away!” the woman cried. Still no sign of life. minutes, the man suddenly came back to life! He began coughing, gasping, Just three weeks prior, Oscar had attended Oscar began air resuscitation and chest and calling out to his wife. She dropped

24 CURRENTMAGAZINE Oscar Juracan being honored by METRO transit.

down next to him and sobbed while Oscar Through tears, the man continued, “It was and reports, and they all included his managed to turn the man onto his side—a my sister who called to you for help; she is statements about how God gave him maneuver that helps those who have been visiting from out of state, and she thanks the strength. Oscar also received several resuscitated. you. And my wife thanks you, too. She is awards including a Certificate of Merit pregnant, and we are expecting twins. If signed by President Obama. But the The entire bus erupted with applause! I would have died, she would be a widow, most valuable take-away for Oscar has Soon the paramedics and METRO police left alone to raise our two children.” been that he now carries the unwavering arrived, and the man was loaded onto an conviction that nothing is impossible for ambulance and taken to the hospital. Oscar After embracing Oscar, the man dropped the Lord. Absolutely nothing! He also gave his report of events to the police and to his knee and thanked him again, to remains continually aware of how merciful clarified that the man had not just passed which Oscar graciously responded, “Do God is. out. He was dead. He proceeded to explain not thank me, brother. I did what I did in how the Lord gave him the strength to the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. So if Just recently, a lady boarded Oscar’s bus perform CPR. you want to thank someone, thank Him for and tapped him on the shoulder. “Oscar?” the second chance you got tonight.” she said, smiling. “I was there when you Oscar’s supervisor urged him to go home, performed CPR.” TASKED WITH SAVING but he wanted to finish his route. On his Needless to say, the gawking bus full of last run of the night, around 1:00am, a man passengers was not sure what to make Oscar delights in knowing he’s not the stood waiting at a stop sign, peering up at of the exchange until the man shouted, only one who saw and remembers the A PASSENGER’S LIFE the bus. Oscar could hardly believe his eyes. “I died tonight, but this bus driver life-saving miracle the Lord performed It was the man! He flagged Oscar down, performed CPR and saved my life!” that night. then stepped onto the bus. “You saved my life!” he said. “The doctors just released me Then came more applause. from the hospital and said I had a heart attack. They told me if you hadn’t done In the days that followed, Oscar’s story CPR, I would not be alive right now!” was featured in various publications

FAITH... a biblical explanation of what it takes to get to heaven and have eternal life:

is for We all have sinned and need God’s forgiveness F FORGIVENESS (Romans 3:23)

is for God’s forgiveness is available to all, but not automatic A AVAILABLE (John 3:16)

is for According to the Bible, it is impossible to get to heaven I IMPOSSIBLE on our own (Ephesians 2:18)

To be saved, we must repent, which is to turn to Jesus is for Christ and go a different life direction T TURN (Luke 13:3, Romans 10:9-10) is for When we place our faith in Christ, we can be sure we will H HEAVEN go to heaven and have eternal life with God (John 14:3) ESCAPANDO DE IRÁN Un Viaje de fe y Libertad

por Nazanin Hebel

Irán no siempre se vio empañado por la violencia y la opresión religiosa.

Como un niño que nace en una familia iraní musulmana en la década de 1960, mis compañeros y yo éramos libres de practicar la religión que quisiéramos. En cada jornada escolar diaria, durante una hora, mis amigos judíos se iban a la sinagoga del lado, mis amigos cristianos cruzaban la calle para ir a una iglesia y mis amigos musulmanes y yo nos quedamos en nuestra escuela arminiana privada para aprender sobre el Islam.

Estudiantes con su vestuario fuera de la Universidad de Teherán en 1971 (antes de la revolución del ‘79)

26 CURRENTMAGAZINE Presidente Jimmy Carter ( Izquierda ) • Ayatollah Khomeini regresa del exilio. ( Arriba ) Mujer iraní protesta contra la ley Hijab en Teherán en 1979. ( Abajo )

“Para su propia protección”, las autoridades nos dicen, “las mujeres deben cubrirse.”

Cuando esa hora pasaba, todos volvimos a sufriría de inestabilidad política y social; hacer cumplir el Islam con el lavado de socializar y a estudiar juntos. pero mi padre, quien en ese momento era un cerebro y los actos de terror. coronel de la policía iraní, insistió en que eso Además, crecí oyendo los relatos heroicos no era cierto. Todos los días se anunciaban historias de las mujeres persas cuya valentía e sobre mujeres jóvenes a las que los inteligencia había cambiado la historia. Efectivamente, días después, en Abadán terroristas rociaban con ácido corrosivo. Las Entre mis favoritas estaba la bella Artemisa, (Irán) se cometió un atroz acto de terrorismo. autoridades comenzaron a decirnos: “Por su quien una vez sirvió como Comandante de la Cientos de personas murieron quemadas en propia seguridad, las mujeres jóvenes deben Armada Persa. Yo creía que era tan capaz o un teatro al que le prendieron fuego. cubrirse”. Según las instrucciones, poco a digna de alcanzar la grandeza como ella. poco pasé de usar bufandas sueltas alrededor Volvimos a casa a Irán, pero ya no nos de mi cuello a cubrirme casi toda la cabeza El verano de 1978, antes de empezar la sentíamos como en casa. La revolución con tela y luego mi cuerpo. Mis compañeras escuela secundaria, mi familia y yo viajamos estaba en pleno apogeo. Lo que comenzó de clase y yo fuimos sutilmente invitadas a a Estados Unidos para visitar a mis tíos en con un constante intento ruso de rebasar a cubrirnos si queríamos obtener una buena Ohio. Nos advirtieron que habían oído al Irán, allanó el camino para que los regímenes calificación en ciudadanía. Con el tiempo, la presidente Carter decir que Irán pronto islámicos se levantaran y se unieran para vergüenza asociada con estar descubierta

CURRENTMAGAZINE 27 Demostraciones alrededor de la Torre Shahyad durante la revolución iraní (islámica), Teherán 1979.

“Un día mis compañeros de estudio y yo fuimos separados según nuestros puntos de vista políticos...”

llegó a arraigarse tanto en nosotras que fueron enviados a otra. Poco después, empezamos a creer que, incluso en casa, una comenzaron a mostrarnos imágenes de chica debía cubrirse mientras estudiaba. los jóvenes musulmanes que habían sido asesinados y nuestros profesores nos Dejamos de ver lo que verdaderamente aseguraron que los culpables eran los que estaba sucediendo, estábamos siendo apoyaban el comunismo y otros grupos despojadas de nuestros derechos como políticos. Naturalmente, comenzamos a tener mujeres y de nuestra autoestima. resentimiento contra los que no querían apoyar la agenda islámica. Mis padres estaban decididos a irse de Irán y por eso, uno por uno, mi madre, mi hermano Sin embargo, con el tiempo me di cuenta de menor y yo obtuvimos visas para los Estados que mi comprensión del Islam estaba sesgada Unidos. El 4 de noviembre de 1979, cuando e intencionalmente mal representada por mi padre debía obtener la suya, se escuchó mis instructores. Lo conocía sólo como una la noticia de que una turba enfurecida de religión pacífica, enfatizada en el cuidado jóvenes revolucionarios islámicos había de los pobres y en hacer el bien. Los pasajes invadido la embajada estadounidense del Corán que abogan por la agresión en Teherán, tomando más de 60 rehenes y la destrucción de los no musulmanes estadounidenses. Pronto, en lo que se conoce (conocidos como infieles) nunca me fueron como las crisis de rehenes iraníes, todas las revelados. Fue sólo hasta mis 17 años de visas estadounidenses fueron revocadas, edad cuando yo misma leí el Corán y empecé Un grupo de estudiantes incluidas las nuestras. a entender la dura realidad.

iraníes pertenecientes a Muslim No teníamos más remedio que quedarnos en Como resultado de la revolución, mis Student Followers of the Imam’s Irán por cuatro años más. compañeras musulmanas y yo vimos el verdadero espíritu del Islam en acción y no Line, asaltan la Embajada de los Un día mis compañeras de secundaria y queríamos tener nada que ver con eso. yo fuimos divididas con base en opiniones Estados Unidos en Teherán. políticas y obligadas a asistir a diferentes Como oficial de policía, a menudo mi escuelas. Yo, junto con los demás estudiantes padre tenía que lidiar con disturbios y obedientes, fui a una institución específica; actos de terrorismo; pero pronto comencé mientras que los comunistas “alborotadores” a ser testigo de la violencia en mi escuela.

28 CURRENTMAGAZINE Delante de mis ojos, una joven con un cartel en Irán, para poder llegar a un consulado a favor del partido comunista fue atacada estadounidense, tuvimos que viajar a y brutalmente asesinada por muchachas Alemania. Al abordar el avión, un tremendo fanáticas. En otra ocasión, un grupo de silencio llenaba la cabina; ya que tanto Más de sesenta diplomáticos estudiantes que trataba de llevar a su amigo nosotros como otros compañeros iraníes y ciudadanos norteamericanos herido a una ambulancia fue emboscado por temíamos ser atrapados. Incluso después de niños musulmanes, quienes estrellaron a una despegar, todos seguíamos preocupados. fueron tomados como rehenes joven contra el suelo, ella se golpeó la cabeza Sólo un tiempo después, cuando el capitán y murió a tan solo unos pasos de donde yo anunció que estábamos a punto de cruzar la durante 444 días (Noviembre 4, estaba. frontera, la tensión comenzó a ceder. Varias 1979 a enero 20, 1981). mujeres hicieron fila en el baño. Mi mamá y Cada vez estaba más aterrorizada. yo no estábamos seguras de por qué. Minutos más tarde, lo entendimos: una por una, las Finalmente, en 1983, a medida que la guerra damas salían del baño sin sus cubiertas de por Stuttgart (Alemania) y luego Nápoles entre Irán e Irak se intensificaba, se abrieron cabeza (conocidas como hiyab), con su pelo (Italia), donde mis tíos habían hecho arreglos las fronteras y mi padre llamó a algunos ex suelto y peinado a la última moda del mundo para ayudarnos a conseguir nuestras visas colegas en la oficina de pasaportes para occidental. de Estados Unidos. Manejé conversaciones rápidamente conseguir nuestros pasaportes. con el consulado, tuve manejar de un lugar Habiéndome acabado de graduar de la Esa fue nuestra primera experiencia de a otro y llevar a mi familia a través de los escuela secundaria, me había inscrito para libertad en años. Sin embargo, mi madre y aeropuertos. asistir en el otoño a la universidad en Irán; pero yo sólo dejamos deslizar nuestros hiyab de la eso fue sólo para guardar las apariencias. Mi cabeza hasta el cuello. Se necesitaría tiempo Finalmente, un mes después de salir de casa, madre, mi hermano, que estaba en primaria, para perder el miedo paralizante y el efecto abordamos un avión con destino a Estados y yo planeábamos inmigrar a los Estados del lavado de cerebro. Unidos. Unidos y, si lográbamos llegar allí, mi padre vendería todas nuestras posesiones y se Aunque yo siempre había sido tímida y El día después de llegar a Houston, Texas, uniría a nosotros en América. generalmente de voz suave, ahora tenía que donde vivía uno de mis tíos, tomé un examen hablar y comunicarme por mi familia; ya que, de nivelación universitaria y en enero de A mediados de agosto de 1983, mi madre, era la única de nosotros que hablaba inglés. 1984, era una estudiante de la Universidad mi hermano y yo tuvimos suficiente coraje En cuestión de días, mi nivel de madurez de Houston y una gran fan del equipo de para dejar nuestra patria para siempre. había alcanzado nuevas alturas. Tomé el baloncesto de los legendarios Phi Slama Como no había embajada de Estados Unidos liderazgo mientras nos abríamos camino Jama, con Clyde Drexler y Hakeem Olajuwon.

CURRENTMAGAZINE 29 Stuttgart GERMANY

Naples Houston ITALY TEXAS Tehran IRAN

“Finalmente, un mes después de haber salido de casa, abordamos el avión para América. Al día siguiente de llegar a Houston, Texas, tomé un examen de nivelación y para enero de 1984, ya yo era una estudiante en la Universidad de Houston”

Puesto que aún no era una ciudadana de los Después de casarme, en la víspera de Año que veía y leía parecía bueno. Finalmente, Estados Unidos, mi papá tuvo que pagar Nuevo de 1998, asistí a una producción de acepté empezar a recogerla en la iglesia grandes sumas de dinero por mi educación, Navidad en Champion Forest Baptist Church cada miércoles por la noche y por así que utilizó nuestros ahorros de la familia con mis suegros, James y Diane Hebel. Todavía para pagar mis estudios. estaba recelosa de la religión, pero salí del un tiempo, esperé cada semana en mi evento sintiéndome confortada y un poco auto. Luego, comencé a sentarme en el Mientras tanto, me tomó algún tiempo más abierta al concepto de fe. Después que vestíbulo de la iglesia y de paso a escuchar acostumbrarme a la vida en los Estados nació mi hija Meagan y durante su infancia, yo los sermones en un monitor de televisión. Unidos. Por un lado, estaba tan acostumbrada deseaba que ella aprendiera acerca de Dios, Atraída por la enseñanza bíblica, en algún al sonido de las bombas y las rondas pero me sentía completamente mal equipada momento me dirigí a la última fila de los de artillería que el silencio nocturno era para enseñarle. Así que, me acerqué a Jim y servicios semanales y, antes de darme ensordecedor e incómodo. A pesar de que Diane, quienes estaban ansiosos de llevarla cuenta, ¡ya estaba en primera fila junto a mis era libre de expresarme como mujer, tuve a la iglesia con ellos cada domingo por la suegros, leyendo mi biblia! A veces repetí que acostumbrarme a recuperar mi sentido mañana y los miércoles en la noche. una oración a la que el pastor invitaba para de igualdad. En cuanto a religión, ya había aceptar a Cristo en mi corazón, pero nunca lo tenido más que suficiente y la eliminé por ¡A Meagan le encantaba! Yo no sabía hice verdaderamente. completo. que cuando le pedían a los niños que compartieran sus peticiones de oración, mi Hasta el día en que lo hice sinceramente. UNA NUEVA FE hija decía: “Por favor, oren para que mami y papi vengan a la iglesia”. Yo había estado trotando en una máquina de Mientras estaba en la escuela de odontología, correr en el Family Life Center de la iglesia conocí a un joven atractivo llamado Bill Empecé mirando por encima las lecciones y leyendo un libro sobre profecía bíblica; y empezamos a salir. Él se había criado bíblicas que Meagan traía a casa y todo lo entonces, todo lo que había aprendido en un hogar cristiano, pero no asistía a la iglesia. Diez años después de conocernos, Bill y yo nos comprometimos a casarnos y, únicamente como un medio de llegar a conocernos mejor, intercambiamos libros, yo le di un Corán y él me dio una Biblia, primera copia que veía a pesar de llevar una década viviendo en Estados unidos. Empecé a leer desde el principio, en el libro de Génesis, pero pronto deje de leerla porque las historias y descripciones históricas se volvieron confusas y aparentemente irrelevantes.

Nazanin y su esposo Bill con su hija Meagan.

30 CURRENTMAGAZINE

Entiendo que algunos pueden sentirse recelosos de acercarse a los musulmanes Nazanin y Meagan se que viven en este país, pero es esencial que, como cristianos, les mostremos que no bautizaron juntas en somos lo que les han dicho. Somos amables, acogedores y pacientes a pesar de nuestros Champion Forest. puntos de vista religiosos opuestos. Ellos no necesitan que los sermoneemos o que entremos a debatir sobre religión; acerca de Jesús parecía brotar en mi corazón, supuesto, un día él empezó a ir y se ofreció lo que necesitan es que seamos amigos despertando en mí el deseo de convertirlo en a tocar en la orquesta de la iglesia. Pronto, de confianza que oran por ellos, que les mi Señor y Salvador. Esta vez era de verdad. él también estaba ayudando en el curso de mostremos el amor de Cristo y que, cuando Quería estar con Dios en la eternidad y ahora alfabetización bíblica como un coordinador sea el momento adecuado, compartamos sabía que Cristo era el único camino. de medios de comunicación. Él no sólo con ellos la esperanza que tenemos en estaba tratando de mantenerse ocupado en Jesús. Llamé a mi esposo y le dije: “Me estoy la iglesia; sino que su pasión por el Jefe de convirtiendo en cristiana.” Luego, me metí en la Iglesia (Jesucristo), se reavivó y así mismo Recientemente invité a una señora mi auto y ahí mismo, en el estacionamiento su deseo de conectarse con miembros de la musulmana a un musical en mi iglesia y de la iglesia, en medio del silencio, oré una congregación. después ella sonrió y me dijo: “Cuando te oración genuina nacida de mi corazón. conocí en clase, yo no conocía tu secreto, Inmediatamente sentí como si me hubieran Como una ex musulmana que ahora es pero ahora que he estado en tu iglesia, ya quitado un gran peso y supe que había cristiana, tengo muchas oportunidades lo sé.” tomado la decisión correcta. de brillar la luz de Cristo en la vida de las personas del Oriente Medio, tanto aquí en los Ella experimentó la presencia de Dios – En los días siguientes, no me preocupaba lo Estados Unidos como en mi patria de Irán. Jesucristo -- y eso es lo que necesita que mi familia diría; ya que, mis padres no Como profesora de microbiología, anatomía y cada corazón humano, sin importar me iban a rechazar como muchas familias fisiología en el Houston Community College, su sexo, nacionalidad o antecedentes musulmanas hacen cuando un familiar acepta a veces mis estudiantes ven mi collar con una religiosos. a Cristo. Lo que me preocupaba era fallar, ser cruz y se me acercan después de clase con una pésima cristiana y no representar bien a la curiosidad de saber cómo una mujer de mi Jesús. El concepto bíblico de la gracia y el ascendencia iraní puede ser cristiana. Esto “todo el que invoque el nombre del SEÑOR confiar en que Dios me daría el poder para ha abierto la puerta en numerosas ocasiones será salvo”. – Romanos 10:13 vivir la vida cristiana, era extraño para mí. para reunirme con muchos estudiantes fuera Como resultado de mi religión en la niñez, de la escuela y compartir mi fe, ofreciéndoles me relacionaba con Dios exclusivamente la misma esperanza que me ha librado de con una mentalidad fundamentada en mi la religión basada en el desempeño. Muy a desempeño, carente de gracia y del amor menudo, mis suegros me dan biblias escritas incondicional de mi Creador. en persa, las cuales yo regalo a la gente. Además de los servicios y Grupos de Vida en inglés, los domingos en la mañana en Champion Forest Mientras oraba acerca de mis luchas, una Aunque no puedo predicar el Evangelio en Baptist Church Cypress Creek, se ofrece servicios noche el Señor me dio un vívido sueño para Irán, en mi página de Facebook me gusta y/o grupos de vida en los siguientes idiomas: hacerme saber que Jesús vive en mí y, por lo publicar pasajes de la biblia en persa para tanto, no tengo que temer el juicio de Dios que mis amigos y familiares en Irán los lean. •Servicio en español – por mis pecados y errores, pues ¡Jesús tomó Diariamente oro por ellos y estoy segura que 9:30 a.m., en la Capilla el castigo por mí! Me di cuenta que ahora el Señor está obrando en sus corazones. 10:55 a.m., en el Auditorio Principal era libre de amar a Dios y de ser amada, •Grupos de Vida en español – permitiéndole que, poco a poco, me hiciera Además, los domingos a las 10:00 a.m., cada vez más a semejanza a Él. ¡Eso fue lidero un Grupo Vida (Clase de Escuela 9:30am (en diferentes salones) increíblemente liberador! Dominical) en persa, donde traduzco •Servicio para Sordos en lenguaje de señas lecciones y ayudo a los ex musulmanes que 10:55am, WC.140 (Orchestra Room) A partir de entonces, no podía tener se han convertido en cristianos a entender •Grupo de Vida en Persa – 10:00 a.m., AE.109 suficiente de Jesús (¡y aún no puedo!) las verdades bíblicas. He encontrado •Grupo de Vida en Portugués – 10:55am, FL.111 Organicé mi horario de trabajo para poder que están hambrientos por entender los estar en la iglesia cada semana y, para el misterios de la biblia y aunque Cristo ya Mayor información con: año 2011, ya estaba cantando en el coro de les ha dado paz en su corazón, ellos Jeff Skipper, [email protected] la iglesia. Seguí orando para que el Señor florecen cuando también tienen la hiciera su obra en el corazón de mi esposo sabiduría y el entendimiento en su mente. y que el también asistiera a la iglesia y, por ¡Eso me encanta!

CURRENTMAGAZINE 31 Milagro en el METRO CONDUCTOR DE BUS SALVA LA VIDA DE UN PASAJERO

El sábado 16 de abril del 2014, Oscar Juracan tomado un curso de actualización en CPR con mientras los demás pasajeros (alrededor invirtió la mañana como juez voluntario la Cruz Roja y sabía que lo primero que tenía de unas 25 personas) lo observaban con del rodeo en el Distrito Escolar de Spring y que hacer era verificar sus latidos. Presionó silenciosa conmoción. Oscar repitió el decidió que llamaría a su empleador, METRO, su muñeca, pero no sintió movimiento y proceso una y otra vez hasta que, después de para que otro conductor cubriera su ruta de notó que su rostro se estaba tornando casi ocho minutos, el hombre tosió aunque bus esa tarde y así poder asistir al almuerzo morado. Oscar puso su mano en el corazón todavía no se sentían sus latidos. para voluntarios. Sin embargo, alrededor del del hombre, confirmando que no solo estaba mediodía, Oscar cambio de idea y decidió inconsciente, sino muerto. Después de casi 10 minutos dándole ponerse su uniforme y presentarse a trabajar. compresiones, Oscar estaba físicamente Corrió al asiento del conductor y sacó exhausto. De repente, se dio cuenta que Llevó pasajeros de ida y vuelta desde el la mascarilla de resucitación con la había un pasajero que usaba uniforme 249 con 1960 hasta el centro de la ciudad, determinación de darle CPR, intentando médico y le pidió ayuda; pero el muchacho comenzando a las 2:00 p.m. hasta alrededor enviar oxígeno a su cerebro hasta que se quedó inmóvil, pegado a su asiento. de las 9:00 p.m., cuando se vio enfrentado llegaran los paramédicos para quizás Oscar siguió ayudando al hombre y después a una emergencia. Una frenética mujer revivirlo. Después de pedirle a la pasajera que de varios minutos tanto el cansancio como llamaba a Oscar desde el asiento trasero del llamara al 9-1-1 y de acostar al hombre boca las emociones fuertes lo vencieron. Entre bus, rogando por ayuda. Después de dirigirse arriba en el corredor del bus, Oscar verificó lágrimas le oró al Señor: “¡Jesús, en tu hacia ella, Oscar vio que un pasajero de unos nuevamente los latidos, puso su oído en la nombre… voy a seguirlo intentando!” treinta y cinco años se veía casi sin vida. La nariz del hombre y encontró que todavía no mujer lloraba: “¡Se murió!” había señales de vida. Luego, inesperadamente, después de 18 agonizantes minutos el hombre Justo tres semanas atrás, Oscar había Oscar comenzó el proceso de reanimación, repentinamente volvió a la vida. Comenzó a

32 CURRENTMAGAZINE Oscar Juracan Siendo reconocido por METRO.

toser, jadear y a llamar a su esposa. Ella se cardíaco, que si no me hubieras dado CPR, Entonces, vinieron más aplausos. arrodilló cerca de él y lloraba mientras Oscar ahorita no estaría vivo!” trataba de poner al hombre de lado, una En los siguientes días, la historia de Oscar maniobra que había aprendido para ayudar Con lágrimas en sus ojos, el hombre continuó fue presentada en varias publicaciones a los que han sido reanimados. diciendo: “Mi hermana fue la que te llamó e informes, todos los cuales hablaban pidiendo ayuda, ella me está visitando del sobre su declaración de cómo Dios le dio ¡Toda la gente del bus aplaudía! Pronto extranjero y me pidió que te diera las gracias, la fortaleza. Además, Oscar recibió varios llegaron los paramédicos y la policía de al igual que mi esposa. Ella está embarazada reconocimientos, incluyendo un Certificado METRO; pusieron al hombre en la ambulancia de gemelos y si me hubiera muerto, hubiera al Mérito firmado por el presidente Obama. y lo llevaron al hospital. Oscar dio su informe quedado viuda criando a nuestros dos hijos Sin embargo, lo más valioso que todo esto le de los eventos a la policía, aclarando que el sola.” deja a Oscar es la convicción inquebrantable hombre no solamente se había desmayado de que ¡nada es imposible para el Señor, sino que había estado literalmente muerto. Después de abrazar a Oscar, el hombre se absolutamente nada! Por otro lado, ahora Luego les explicó cómo el Señor le había arrodilló y le agradeció de nuevo, a lo que es permanentemente consciente de cuán dado la fuerza para continuar dándole CPR. Oscar respondió: “No me des las gracias a mí, misericordioso es Dios. hermano. Lo que hice, lo hice en el nombre El supervisor de Oscar le pidió que se fuera de mi Salvador, Jesucristo. Así que si quieres Hace poco una mujer abordó el bus de Oscar, CONDUCTOR DE BUS SALVA a casa, pero él quería terminar su ruta. En agradecerle a alguien, agradécele a él por la le dio un golpecito en el hombre y sonriendo su último recorrido de la noche, alrededor segunda oportunidad que te ha dado esta le dijo ¿”Oscar?” Yo estaba allí cuando tu LA VIDA DE UN PASAJERO de la 1:00am, había un hombre parado al noche”. diste CPR”. lado de una señal de alto, mirando hacia el autobús. Oscar no podía creer lo que veía: Evidentemente, los pasajeros del autobús Oscar se deleita de saber que él no fue el ¡era el hombre! Este hizo parar el autobús, se estaban atónitos escuchando la conversación único que vio y recuerda el milagro que el subió en él y le dijo a Oscar: “¡Tu salvaste mi hasta que el hombre gritó: “¡Yo morí hoy en Señor hizo esa noche. vida. Los doctores me acaban de dejar salir la noche, pero este conductor de bus me dio del hospital y dijeron que tuve un ataque CPR y me salvó la vida!”

POR FE... una explicación bíblica de lo que tiene que hacer una persona para llegar al cielo y tener vida eterna:

es por No podemos obtener la vida eterna y el cielo sin el perdón de P PERDON Dios. (Romanos 3:23)

es por El perdón de Dios es obtenible y está disponible para todos. O OBTENIBLE (Juan 3:16)

es por Dios repudia el pecado y por lo tanto no permite la entrada R REPUDIA del pecado en el cielo.(1 Juan 4:8b, Santiago 2:13 Romanos 3:23)

es por Frenar significa detenerse. No seguir adelante Detenerse F FRENAR ante algo: El pecado y uno mismo. (Lucas 13:3,Romanos 10:9)

es por Vida eterna es lo que Dios ofrece. (Juan 10:10b, Juan 14:3) E ETERNA