From son of a noble to son of the King

By Sue Sprenkle

Black hair slicked back, wearing the latest clothes and a leather necklace tight around his neck--by all appearances you would never know that this teen is from noble descent, that future service to his people is not a question, but totally expected of him.

This teen, Agoumoulou, belongs to a group of people who roam across the Sahara Desert in camel caravans, a people known as the Tuareg. In the old days, these people, wrapped in indigo turbans, transported everything from salt to slaves. But due to drought and hard times, the Tuareg have moved from their desert dwellings closer to the villages in order to find food and work.

Agoumoulou's family is no different. At one time they owned slaves to do the manual labor; now they do it themselves in the privacy of a courtyard--so no one will see. Agoumoulou comes from a long line of marabouts, Muslim holy men who delve into spiritism and provide traditional healing methods such as amulets with verses from the Quran for protection or healing.

Agoumoulou is expected to take his father's place of honor and service when he grows up, but this teen has chosen a different path . the path that leads to Jesus.

"From the moment I visited with someone about the Bible, I saw that it was the truth," the former Muslim teen said. "I was drawn to it day after day and fell into the love of the Lord. I'm still in it right now."

Choosing to follow Jesus is a tough decision for any Muslim. Disowned by his older brothers, Agoumoulou has no one to take care of him or his younger sister. His father died when he was 10 years old. His brothers have left the care of his mother to Agoumoulou in an effort to prove that Christianity is not profitable and cannot be good for anyone.

Even his friends have abandoned him. They think he is crazy for not following in his father's or brothers' footsteps. His future was practically written and would have always been profitable. Now, Agoumoulou scrapes by with little food and little support.

"The suffering--it doesn't bother me much," he says. "I have chosen the way to follow and I am sticking with it.

"Jesus loved us so much that He suffered for people," Agoumoulou says. "I will suffer as much as I need to because I want all of my people to know the gospel."

Pray for youth around the world who take a stand for Christ.