Written by Dr. Pat

Marcel grew up in a strict Islamic family in Africa. His devoted father would escort him and his siblings to school where the imam or teacher would tell the children stories from the Quran.

When Marcel was 7 years old, the imam told the story of Jesus or Isa (JESUS’ name in Arabic). Marcel sensing Jesus must be someone special asked the imam if Jesus was the Son of God. Out of either nervousness, anger or both, the imam asked him why he would raise such a question.

The imam confronted Marcel’s father, thinking he was the one responsible for telling his child Jesus was the Son of God. At this point Marcel’s interest in Jesus was solidified, but he dared not speak of it again. His father angrily warned him not talk about it anymore, as this was the talk of a blasphemer.

In 1986, when Marcel was 17-years-old, an older brother, an atheist studying philosophy at a university tried to convince him that God does not exist. During that time, Marcel became involved with a very radical Islamic group who began to groom him for a leadership role within their organization. All their meetings were secret as was the school they sent him to for training. The group was successful in their effort and Marcel was given responsibility over three other groups.

Ironically, it was through Marcel’s experience with this radical Islamic group that he came to recognize Jesus as his personal savior, and to give his life over to Him. Marcel was always asking some of the group’s leaders about the story of Jesus. So much so that one of the leaders gave him the address of a school that would answer all his questions. So for the next 5 years Marcel corresponded with a Christian school while helping lead a radical Islamic organization.

During 1993, Marcel left this organization and started to pray asking God to lead him to the truth. Marcel continued his research, and in 1994 the day came when he laid everything he had learned out on the table and made his decision to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, the One, leaving behind everything in Islam and finding everything in Christianity. After a year, Marcel met a man, an American Christian, who taught him many things over the next 4 years.

Being a new MBB (Muslim Background Believer), Marcel knew well enough to keep his change of faith to himself. In the beginning, he did not tell his family anything. Marcel was soon married and starting a ministry. His wife became a Christian after their first year of marriage.

Please pray for Marcel, his family and the ministry God has put him into, to spread His Word.

A Ministry to Persecuted Christians