Face to Face with Jesus

A Former Muslim’s Extraordinary Journey to Heaven and Encounter with the God of Love

by: Samaa Habib, Bodie Thoene

 

Samaa's story reads like a chapter of the Book of Acts in the New Testament.

What she has to say, what her testimony cries out, is a wake-up call for Christians. God is alive- He is very active in our lives. He is loving, powerful and wants a super-natural lifestyle for His children.

I was enthralled and challenged by this book.  Wake-up call indeed.

Growing up a devout muslim in a 3rd world Islamic country, Samaa wanted desperately to have a relationship with Allah. He wouldn't answer. In the midst of a civil war, near starvation, where just waiting for bread in the breadline could mean a chilling death, and going from wealth to poverty began to disillusion her. Muslim against muslim, doing unspeakable violence to each other, and as she battled to survive each day amidst the danger and fear, God intervened. He used a missionary living among the muslims of her country, teaching Tae Kwon Do classes for free to the public. An amazingly courageous man, he spoke openly about Jesus and shared the gospel at every class. He had a worship and prayer time, for which any muslim in that country could have killed him with the approval of the community. He gave Samaa a children's Bible, and then Jesus came to her in a dream. He loves the muslim people! And she reminds us of this.

Her life, completely, simply, profoundly given over to Christ, is an adventure. She survived persecution, even from her own family, who by the way did come to Christ. She never stopped sharing the gospel no matter the cost, which was frequently high.

She survived death.

Terrorists bombed her church. She was standing right next to a bomb that detonated and killed and injured many. She had a death experience, saw Jesus face to face, and came back to continue to share the gospel and encourage the church. Her recovery was long and painful, and she experienced persecution even from the muslim doctors and nurses while she lay near death. Still, she lovingly shared the gospel with them. Prayed for them. Such a contrast between her actions and what mine might be. Getting to know Samaa through the pages of her extremely well-written story has changed me.

The fact that my favorite author, Bodie Theone was the American writer who helped tell the tale is the cherry on top. I love this woman's writing and have had my faith increased over and over in her own books.

I don't want to give the story away here, there's too much to tell anyway, it's a book you read on the edge of your seat, turning page after page, long after you should be doing something else or sleeping.

Face To Face With Jesus is an education in the muslim culture, and in a simple, profound faith that walks in obedience. Seeing what it looks like close-up. Being refined by persecution and poverty is a blessing in disguise sometimes. This powerful testimony caused me to reevaluate everything. To a person who likes her comfort a tad too much, that could be hard. Except it wasn't. I am so excited to read about the reality of God's work in the present day that I find myself longing and praying for more Jesus. More of the Holy Spirit and so, so much less of me. I have read chapters of this book over and over.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an unbiased written review.

 

About

It starts as a story ripped from the headlines of the war-torn Middle East. An extremist faction of Islam bombs a church during a service. The one door in the back isn't big enough for five hundred people trying to escape.

Some are killed.

But after the chaos and fire and smoke, one young woman comes back to life.

In this thrilling true tale, death does not have the final word. From the first time Samaa heard the Lord Jesus calling her out of Islam into faith in Him, till she met Him face to face in heaven, her life is marked by God's supernatural love and power. Full of hope and encouragement, and overflowing with Jesus' love, her riveting account reveals the power of God to break through any circumstance--and is a moving reminder that, in a place beyond what we can imagine, we have a Savior waiting to welcome us face to face.