Ayisat

My name is Ayisat, and I live in the Lagos area of Nigeria. We are a warm and welcoming people who live amongst much turmoil. Such disparity is seen in poor healthcare, frequent crime, and costly educational fees. Growing up, my Muslim household did not provide sanctuary from this chaos. Our home was one of conflict and offered little to no peace. While surrounded by a large family, I felt empty and alone. As a child, my saving grace was a secret friendship with a Christian family. They would speak about their joy in church and their comfort in Jesus. It was exactly what my soul craved, so I began to sneak out to attend church with them. I was unburdened and felt wholly loved when I began a relationship with Jesus. Unfortunately, when it was discovered that I converted to Christianity, I was shunned by my family, and my education was taken away. While I was hurt, I was not deterred by my newfound faith. I became active in the Christian church, and when introduced to Young Life, I immediately knew I had found a home in ministry. Currently, I am blessed to be in the role of area director, where I have served for nearly ten years. As a Developing Global Leader, I attend the National Open University in Lagos and will be the first college graduate in my family. I am earning a degree in social science. This degree will aid in mentoring and training others to make more of an impact on the Kingdom of God.