Rita Chaima struggled with suicidal thoughts and depression from an early age. Raised in a Muslim household, the young woman found herself attracted to the violent teachings of the Islamic State. She had all but made up her mind to travel to Syria to fight alongside ISIS, when her mother gave her a pile of free books that included a Bible. In reading scripture, Chaima came to understand Jesus, the power of love, and forgiveness, and she ultimately converted to Christianity.
Chaima’s incredible conversion story is chronicled in a new documentary by The Last Reformation titled “In His Footsteps.” In the film, she candidly explains her miraculous journey from longing to harm herself and others to living and spreading the Gospel message.
Watch a preview below:
https://www.facebook.com/cbnnews/videos/10160071541470393/
“I just saw a cruel world and I didn’t want to be a part of it,” Chaima recalled of her depression. “I was doing drugs, I was smoking, I was smoking anything… I just wanted to destroy myself.”
She found that she “hated people who weren’t Muslim” and “wanted to kill them” and was inspired by gory ISIS videos.
“I loved to see people dying. I loved to see them bleeding. I was seeing videos of decapitation and I loved it,” she said. “I wanted to go to Syria because I hated people who weren’t Muslim. I wanted to kill them.”
But everything changed when she started reading the Bible.
“I started to read the Bible to prove to Christians that they were wrong. I was reading things like ‘pray for your enemies,’ like, love them,” Chaima explained. “Intellectually, I didn’t want to accept Jesus, but my heart… Jesus started to do a work in my heart. He was encouraging me. The Holy Spirit was really there. I felt it. I knew it.”
While she did not have the support of her family, Chaima ultimately decided to convert to Christianity. During her baptism, she believes something supernatural occured. After being dunked in the water, she started flailing and screaming.
“When I got baptized in water a demon manifested, and it wasn’t me at all,” she said.“I don’t remember what I did. I had to see in the video of my baptism. I was completely crazy. The demon was crazy… I kicked Jon. He baptized me. I kicked him.”
In the video of the baptism, the minister can be seen praying over the young woman until she calmed down.
“After the baptism I felt like the heavy weight completely disappeared,” Chaima said. “And I was so excited to go and make disciples.”
While her immediate family has “abandoned” her because of her new faith, Chaima believes she has gained a new family that spans all corners of the earth. According to CBN News, she now travels with gospel minister Peter Ahlman and other Christians to share her testimony.
“My family abandoned me but I have a new family. And this family is all around the world, and it’s my family in Christ. This is the best gift God gave me,” she concluded. “I really want Muslims to come to the truth and really know Jesus because he loves them no matter what they did. No matter what they say. He loves them. And Muslims need Jesus.”
Watch the entire documentary HERE.
(H/T: CBN News)