Meet Mayada

A mother of five, Mayada’s husband had left her, and she was struggling to care for her kids. She thought life had nothing left to offer, but when she came to Horizons looking for food, she found Jesus and saw how He provided, protected, and loved her.

Full Transcript

I come from an Alawite background from Jabal Mohsen (Tripoli), and I’m the mother of five children. My father married me off to a man I had never seen or known. He just gave me away. Life with him was full of misery and very difficult.

We had a family together, but he stopped providing for the children. I took any job I could find, cleaning homes, doing whatever was needed, just to support my family. I used to chase after any news of NGOs giving help; if anyone was distributing food, I would go.

But our life was miserable. I would arrive home from work emotionally and physically exhausted, with no food and not enough money to pay rent. My family had abandoned me; I had no one. Any extra money I earned only went to rent. We were living in despair.

One day, a friend of mine told me about an organization called Horizons in Mejdalya, Tripoli. She told me that if you come to their meetings, they would give you food. So I went, just to feed my children. I went the first time, then the second, only for the food.

I wasn’t seeking anything else in life. But I heard them talking about the Lord Jesus. I had heard of Jesus before, but not as Lord; I knew Him only as a prophet. That’s how I had been taught. I stayed for a while, not to believe or follow Jesus, but simply hoping for food.

Later, I told Tania, Director of the North Lebanon Center, that schools had started, and all the children were enrolled except my daughter, Alia, who was crying: “If you don’t register me, I’ll leave the house.” Tania told me, “You need to trust. Ask the Lord Jesus. He will make a way for her to be registered. He will help you. Don’t worry.”

I thought to myself, “Fine, I’ll try what she said.” I went out to the balcony and prayed. With all my heart, full of faith, I prayed: “Oh Lord Jesus, I trust in You. Help me register my daughter so she doesn’t miss school.”

Not even 30 minutes later, after I gave my problem to Jesus, my phone rang. It was my daughter, Alia, crying: “Did you pray for me?” “Yes,” I said, “why?” She answered: “The school principal called me. Someone came and paid my registration in full.”

That’s when I knew Jesus was in control of everything. Truly, He is the one and only God; there’s no other Lord in this world. No one else should be worshiped, only Jesus Christ. He is the living God, the one who redeemed us. I came to realize that He was crucified and tortured so that my sins could be taken away.

Before, I didn’t know where I would go after death. As kids, when we asked our parents, “Where will we go when we die?” They would say, “We don’t know. Wherever we go, you’ll go.” But now I understand the Lord Jesus Christ bore our sins, He redeemed us, He was crucified, and He suffered. No one deserves to be called God or Lord except Him.

I pray that all my children will follow Him and belong to Jesus, just like me, their sister, and their brother. In Jesus’ name, nothing is impossible.

No one deserves to be called a loving father in this world except Him. My father hurt me. My ex-husband hurt me. He was supposed to be the father of my children. I never experienced compassion, except from the Lord Jesus. He is the true Father, my gentle friend; we have no one in this world but Him. I will keep asking Him.

And you know what else has changed? Before, I used to leave my house in fear. Now I go out with peace—I don’t worry. I return to find my home safe, my children fed, and everything ready. We lack nothing, and no one dares harm my daughters.

Now I’m being discipled by Horizons and attending a church in Aba. I’ve been there about six months with Pastor Elie Wardan, and I’m so happy. I thank the Lord for introducing me to all the brothers and sisters. I’m glad the Lord took me from where I was and placed me in the church and a loving community with Tania, Nada, and the others. I thank the Lord for introducing me to all the brothers and sisters.

The Lord Jesus wants everyone to be His, but each person’s faith is up to them. Whoever believes, trusts, seeks, and asks with faith.

But, oh Lord Jesus, don’t leave anyone behind. Each person’s faith in you is what matters. As for me, I believed, I trusted. There is no other Lord or God. He’s not just a prophet—He is the only Lord, God in the flesh. We have no one but Him in this world.

Also, at the beginning of my faith journey, I was persecuted and mocked. Today, my husband has nothing to do with us. Many issues arose after we divorced, even with legal papers. I tried to get my daughters’ legal papers from him after we left 13 years ago. I turned to the government. Nothing happened. I asked people with influence. Nothing worked.

But when I prayed to the Lord Jesus, He sent someone to my house, and that person gave me the papers for my girls. Cursed is the one who depends on human strength. I know that it was the Lord Jesus who sent someone to my home and gave me their papers.

So many miracles have happened in my life. I thank the Lord for my daughter Alia, who is now a grounded believer in Christ. Please pray for my [other] children, that one day they will come to know our only Father, the Lord Jesus.