Hiba comes from a non-Christian background. She is a Syrian lady who was forced to leave Syria due to her country’s severe war crisis. She came to Lebanon to get her visa and leave to the UK. But obstacles hindered her departure. She applied for the visa over and over, only to be continuously rejected. In the meantime, she met a disciple who reached out to her and embraced her like a daughter. The lives of the disciples preached more loudly than their lips. Gradually Hiba understood Jesus’ love from her experience at church with the disciples. So she studied the Bible and got baptized.
But still her visa was rejected once more after her baptism. Though it was hard to understand God’s plan, that shut door offered an opportunity to build her conviction and help her grow spirituality. Converting to Christianity has a penalty of death in her country based on her religion. Still Hiba made a visit to her parents in Syria and declared her faith. She even offered her brother a Bible and shared with him her love to Jesus and the miracles He did in her life. Hiba also shared her faith with her Tunisian friend, Rasha, who was visiting Lebanon. Rasha is also from a non-Christian background. Hiba studied the bible with her with the help of other sisters and Rasha is now a disciple, too! She is all alone in Tunisia now.
Hiba stands out as a woman who loves Jesus wholeheartedly. Her faith and trust in God made her challenge the lack of faith around her. When she least expected it, the embassy called and approved her visa without any added papers from her behalf. Truly the world does not consist of 100 percent Christians and 100 percent non-Christians. There are many who are slowly ceasing to be Christians but who still call themselves by that name. There are other people, like Hiba, who are slowly becoming Christians and revealing extraordinary faith.
