Azamat

Azamat, whose name has been changed for security reasons, lives in a large, Muslim city in Central Asia. As a young boy, his parents divorced and his mother left the family to work in another country. His grandparents took on the responsibility of raising Azamat and his seven siblings. While he had the companionship of his brothers and sisters and never lacked basic necessities, the absence of his parents was very upsetting for him. Azamat would say his childhood was a mixture of both “goodness and sadness.” He craved purposeful focus and found himself longing for something more.

As a teenager, life began to hold more meaning when he was invited and became involved in the local Young Life ministry. He began to feel a sense of direction as he found community attending camps and clubs. One night, there was a stirring in his heart when he attended a worship event. Azamat shares, that evening, “God touched me, and I decided to give my life to Him.” Despite his family's strong misunderstanding of his beliefs, he follows Jesus and remains “faithful to see what God” has in store. Currently, he finds great purpose as he leads local teens and kids through Young Life and at church.

As a Developing Global Leader, Azamat is pursuing a degree in Christian theology to support the Christian church's growth and help his local Young Life ministry. With a heart for youth, his goal is “to get to know God more and convey the Gospel to the children in simple language.” After completing his education, he hopes to earn a doctorate and continue sharing the Gospel.