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Stories
Saad & Fidaa
Story by Angela Jones
Imagine you have to make a decision for yourself and family to flee your home and town, the community you know so well. Your lives are in danger because you believe in Jesus. Imagine you have to start searching for a new country to welcome you in, but some close their doors on you. You have even travelled by boat to one of these countries only to have the boat start to sink, and you and your daughters are at risk of drowning. One country welcomes you in, but the deal is you can live there but can’t work. How do you provide for your family? How do you plant a home for your children to grow up and succeed? How do you remain a “visitor” rather than a resident, a contributor? Then imagine this, you receive a call and your lives change. The call says you are being welcomed in by a country you have never been to before, by a community you do not know but has agreed to support you in all ways, this place…Canada, the people….the family of First Assembly.
Saad & Fidaa had to make a decision when ISIS came to their town in Iraq to kill those who were Christians and refused to convert to Islam. In a moment they packed what they could and by bus moved to Northern Iraq. They spent 1 week living in a tent in the garden of a church in Northern Iraq. They then were moved to Turkey for 9 months where they tried to move to France, but the door closed. Fidaa remained in Turkey while Saad took his two daughters by boat to Greece, with other refugees who were also searching for freedom. The boat started to sink, and they had to be rescued and were then brought back to Turkey. When back in Turkey the family moved to Jordan but as refugees, meaning they could live there but not work. They lived in Jordan for 2.5 years, serving their church through teaching. The pastors of the church were partners with the PAOC. The PAOC had a program with the UN where they would pair refugee families with churches in Canada. Saad & Fidaa were paired with us, First Assembly Church!
On December 17, 2018 the family flew to Calgary where they were welcomed at the airport by people of FA! This last year we have served them in starting life in Canada. You, First Assembly, have helped them find a place to live, organized furniture, clothes, household items so they could build a beautiful home for their family. You have helped them financially, connected them with healthcare, schools, transit systems, community programs, social services and even helping with their taxes! You have welcomed them with warm hugs and smiles and have prayed for them to feel God’s comfort as they embraced a new country far away from their own families. Pastor Sara even found an Arabic church for them to become connected with and they have faithfully attended this church as well as FA, volunteering, building friendships and community. The girls are doing well in school and have made many new friends and even have teachers who know their language.
“We are grateful. Good things have happened that we never expected to happen. There have been some highs and lows, but we fought to survive, so we are grateful to be here. Language has been difficult to learn, and our mother is still taking time to adjust to this new way of life. But we are so grateful. We have been shown such kindness by all of you, that we now know we are to do the same for those who have moved here from another country. We want to help those who have suffered much, especially to help heal those with psychological effects of war. We want to give because it was given to us!”
Now with the year passing, Saad & Fidaa and the family are set up to be building their lives on their own. They will still have the support of FA through prayer and community and celebration, but they are both working, the children are doing well in school, they are serving in their churches, have community and the best thing…they are dreaming for the future!
On behalf of Saad & Fidaa, thank you First Assembly for welcoming in those that needed a safe place, a haven, a place where they could worship Jesus freely without the fear of being persecuted or even killed! Thank you for loving your neighbor and showing them the kindness of Jesus and walking in His ways.
We celebrate Saad & Fidaa and the family as they are now set up to thrive in all that God has for them!
Kimanther’s Story
video by Juan Rodriguez
to serve or not to serve?
written by Angela Jones
Segun & Kemi have chosen to serve!
They both serve once a month in Kids Ministry and they love it!
Segun & Kemi were born in Nigeria, moved to the United Kingdom in their 20’s and then relocated to Calgary in April 2016; eventually joining FA in October of 2016. They have 3 boys but that did not stop them from wanting to serve in Kids ministry. “There was a need at the time for more hands in Kids church and we decided to help out before going to serve in other departments. We had just completed Growth Track, and we felt blessed and fulfilled with serving in the Kids area.”
They are aware of the impact they are having on the lives of these children. “We find we are studying the Word more and we pray for more understanding so we are better equipped to teach the children in a simple way they would understand and remember. This has given us the ability to answer the numerous questions the beautiful children regularly ask. It is a growth process not just for us but for the children as well.”
They serve; making themselves available in ministry, so they can contribute to building up the body of Christ. Their invitation to you is to join them in this! “There is a personal fulfillment and satisfaction that comes with serving within the church of Christ in whatever capacity. 1 Peter 4:10-11 encourages us to use our gifts in serving one another that God may be glorified!”
These are good folk who are teaching your kids about the nature of God, but you too can help teach the next leaders of the world!
If you want to join the team, click the link below.
Jasmine’s story
written by Angela Jones
Baptism is a public way of showing those around you that you love Jesus and want to follow Him in your life. It is a moment of celebration that your old life is washed away, and your new life is beginning!
Jasmine attends FA and made the decision to be baptized in front of her family, friends and community on Easter Sunday! So many people were baptized that Sunday, and we wanted to take a moment to share Jasmine’s story with you. If you are wondering if you should take the next step in your faith and be baptized, then do it!
What was life like before you knew Jesus?
Before I knew Jesus, life was a very bumpy, unpredictable rollercoaster to say the least. Life consisted of instability, loneliness, depression, shame, emptiness, anxiety and despair. There was no clear path I was taking, as I had no purpose without Jesus. I felt as though I was living day by day, wondering when I would get to experience a ‘good life’. Life without Jesus was extremely unfulfilling and filled with temporary day to day selfish satisfactions.
What brought you to encounter the Lord and choose Him?
Even though my Grandpa used to read the Bible to me more often than not, I was in and out of my faith throughout my life due to unfortunate circumstances that led me to live with more than a handful of different families from the age of 10. This created instability for my life and my faith, and therefore, I lost touch with my faith. Later on in life, I moved in with a close friend and his wife that I now consider my ‘family’. They brought me to FA sporadically over the past 5 years. They planted the seed, even though I continued to live half in-half out. A few poor life decisions later, led me to severe mental health problems and I was desperate for a solution. No medication or therapy over the past 8 years was sufficient, so I thought the only other choice I had was to fully surrender my life to God. No more half in-half out living. 4 months ago, I booked a trip to Costa Rica on my own, and I decided that this trip would be the beginning of a new life. So, before I left, I said goodbye to all that was no longer serving me. There it began, and there Jesus began to peel back the layers. I went into the hospital the second night I got to Costa Rica for extreme low back pain, and they assumed it was kidney stones, so I stayed for a night with an IV and the next day they released me, but I still had the pain. A friend that I met prayed for me and by the next morning the pain was gone, and I was walking again. I now know that it was God cleansing me and healing me as I never ended up having kidney stones. God used that trip to start to peel back the layers that were ever so hard to peel back but was necessary. Looking back, God was with me during all of my life struggles; He was my saving grace during times where I didn’t think I could go on. Within the first month of being back from Costa Rica, I surrendered my life to God, and I am on my way to being healed of all mental health issues.
Why did you want to get baptized?
I wanted to get baptized to symbolize how serious I am about my relationship with Father God. I wanted to show God and my heavenly brothers and sisters, that I have officially given up my old life of sin, I have chosen Him as Saviour and from here on out, I will walk in obedience until the day I depart from this earth. Baptism to me was the most important day of my life.
What has happened since you were baptized - anything in regard to your spiritual journey?
Since I got baptized and have given my life to God, I have received blessings I would never have thought of. Within one week of baptism day, I received a financial blessing that I have been waiting to be approved on for over 3 years now! I started my dream job as a family support worker, I found a new Christian roommate, AND I was accepted into school for Social Work! It is heart-warming knowing that God knows the desires of each of his daughter’s and son’s hearts and how He makes all things work out for good (Romans 8:28) once you fully surrender and have Faith. I feel grateful, and forever a daughter of God, a feeling I’ve never felt before. Thank-you Heavenly Father!
A beautiful story of God’s love and Jasmine’s obedience! If you would like to the next step in your faith journey and be baptized, click here!
We want to celebrate with you!
