Antoine Thenin

‘What is Allah’s personal name?’

This was a question I asked a BU student a few weeks ago at our Tuesday evening events ‘Curious’. We were having a wonderful conversation about who Jesus is from our respective faiths and we started talking about the character of God. I shared that God in the Christian faith has a personal name, YHWH (Exodus 3) and Jesus uses that name for Himself in John 8 (‘before Abraham was, I AM’). Which then led me to ask him, ‘if Christians and Muslims believe in the same God, what is Allah’s personal name?’ and that is not a question he could answer.

Asking and answering questions is a big part of my ministry among international students and I love it! International students have so many questions in mind regarding life and faith, but find it hard to know a person they can ask. That is why Friends International Dorset helps organise social events, international cafés, link international students with locals and meet students where they are at spiritually and meet them there.

Let me share with you a story from a Chinese student: she was brought up in a country and a home where believing in God was considered stupid! She came to study in the UK and met some Christians, she realised they were not as stupid as she expected and were actually very kind. She asked the Christians she met many questions - ‘why are you a Christian?’ and more questions usually followed. She was impressed to hear the personal stories of the Christians she talked to but still did not believe it to be true. Her time in the UK ended and she went back to China. Then something happened in her country: a virus started to spread… Her family home was really chaotic and even in the middle of a pandemic and lockdown, she fled her home and tried to take her own life. But she heard a voice, a clear, distinct voice; and not just a few words, but a whole monologue!

She knew straight away this was the God of the Bible! She knew it was Him because of the questions she had asked and the answers she had been given. She recognised that that voice was YHWH!

She decided to put her trust in Him and follow Him. She was still in a very difficult situation of course, but she was alive.

This Chinese student is not a student anymore, but is working with Friends International in the UK.

What if no one had answered her questions? I believe she would have still heard God’s voice, but she would be on a quest to figure out who it was instead of living her life to the full right now.

Jesus said in John 10:10b: ‘I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’

Pray international students will come to find a full life in Jesus and bring it home to their friends and family back home.

Antoine Thenin - Friends International Dorset