TARAH MARTIN
The Hope Within ONE DAY, LUCKY ASKED ME, “HOW IS IT THAT YOU
but Jesus simply asks you to trust in him alone and receive his
CAN LOOK AT THINGS SO POSITIVELY ALL THE TIME?
forgiveness. This brings me peace because I don’t have to try to
I CANNOT, FOR I AM OFTEN NEGATIVE.”
be good enough, I can just trust him.”
I smiled. That morning I had prayed for God to direct our
“Maybe I should read the Bible,” Lucky said. I was overjoyed at
conversations to spiritual matters, and he did. 1 Peter 3:15 came
her openness to God’s Word, and I gave her a Bangla copy of
to mind: “… always be ready to give a defense to anyone who
the Gospel of John.
asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” I have studied 1 Peter 3:15 before, and longed to live out I gathered my thoughts and told Lucky that I wasn’t always
the “hope within me.” It’s a true testimony to Christ that
so positive or joyful. I explained that I used to be negative and
Lucky noticed my hope, for surely I could not live such a
angry quite often, but when Jesus became my Savior and Lord,
life on my own.
his qualities became a part of me. Only through him can I have happiness and a positive outlook on life, and my focus is on
“Not only was Williams wonderful while I was there, but it also prepared me for life after college” MARISA ROGERS // 2007 GRADUATE
eternity, so trifling matters here on earth do not upset me. Lucky seemed to understand my answer, so I continued. “Have you heard much about Jesus?” I asked her. She said he was a prophet and once she had seen a movie about his crucifixion. I also asked her if she knew why Jesus died on the cross. “To take the punishment for our sins,” she replied.
“I consider my decision to attend Williams Baptist College one of the best I have made.” HOLLYANN NEAL //2010 GRADUATE
Later, I asked her if she had ever considered trusting Jesus with her life. “I trust in Allah,” she said. “Our religions are similar because they expect you to do good things,” she added.
TARAH IS A 2013 WILLIAMS GRADUATE. She spent the fall semester of her junior year ministering to the people of Bangladesh, and she also kept a full academic schedule. Note: “Lucky’s” name has been changed in order to protect her privacy.
I then told her that, “Other religions impose rules for salvation,
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