By Jeanine Schmidt
Who would have thought that a young Fulani, rooted in Islam, trained in Qur’anic school and drawn into violence, would become a passionate witness to the Gospel among his own people? The story of Woury* is one of a sudden and unexpected turnaround. A path marked by fractures, hunger, solitude… and grace.
Woury was born in Burkina Faso, in a village close to the Mali border and into a Fulani Muslim family. He was one of nine children. There were no Christians around him, and no path other than the one mapped out for him: Islam, the Qur’anic school, tradition.
When he was seven, his father died. His widowed mother decided to leave everything behind and return to her native region on the other side of the country, near Niger. There, Woury joined a new school… which he soon left. He already knew what was being taught. With his family’s agreement, he started an apprenticeship as a car mechanic. But the garage owner closed up shop, and the young boy found himself idle.
In secret, Woury gave his life to Jesus.
So he slipped. Slowly. He fell into bad company and plunged into violence, taking part in brawls, some of them deadly. Woury’s frightened mother reacted by sending him to live with his older brother in the capital.
This brother, a painter by trade, hid a secret: in Ouagadougou, he had become a Christian. But he had kept his faith secret to avoid being rejected by his family.
One day, while he and Woury were working together doing some painting, they were listening to the radio. An imam known throughout the country came on and started talking about the final judgement and the condemnation that awaited infidels.
The words shook Woury to the core. He’d heard them before in the Qur’anic school, of course. But now… it was as if a blade was piercing his heart. The fear of divine punishment prompted a question he had never dared ask: what if he wasn’t ready?
Incredibly, it was the preaching of an imam that sparked off Woury’s spiritual quest, leading him to discover the God of the Bible!
His brother saw the inner turmoil and plucked up the courage to break the silence. He told Woury about Jesus; about a just God; about a saviour; about forgiveness and peace; about the cross. Woury listened, troubled. He had never heard about Jesus before. He wanted to understand, so he went to church.
After going to just three services and three meetings, it all clicked: in secret, Woury gave his life to Jesus.
The pastor was cautious and advised him not to tell his family. When Woury returned to his clan, he prayed in silence, sitting among the men during Islamic prayers. But very soon, his double life became unbearable. He stopped going to the mosque. Then people started to look at him differently.
Please pray
- For Woury and Maria to continue their walk with God and be a beacon of Christian hope for the Fulani people
- For reconciliation between Woury and his community and that they would come to understand why he has decided to follow Jesus
- For God to raise up more gospel workers from among the Fulani
You might also like
In a Yao village in Malawi, new followers of Jesus are choosing faith over fear. Despite rejection and persecution, believers like Saidi*, Patuma*, and Ami...
What began with famine and a few men hearing the good news in the city has grown into a flourishing Fulani church. Today, more than 200 households are livi...
AB, a young Fulani Christian, draws strength from his father's unwavering faith in Jesus despite community opposition. Discover how discipleship and pastor...
Imagine being the only Christian you know, not just in your family, but in your entire region. For many Fulani people across West and Central Africa, this ...
In Benin, a gospel-centered ministry is transforming the lives of Fulani talibé street boys—offering food, care, and the love of Christ. Discover how th...
Hambula Musa, a young Fulani man studying veterinary medicine in West Africa, lives in tension between two worlds—his Fulani heritage and his Christian f...
Yakubu Balewa has a deep love for the Fulani people – a love borne of a profound understanding of Jesus’s command to make disciples of all nations.
Christine shares her journey of love, language, and friendship with Fulani women, revealing how God uses relationships to open hearts to His truth.
Spread across 24 countries, the Fulani remain one of the least-reached peoples with the gospel. This October, we share stories of how God is at work among ...
What began with famine and a few men hearing the good news in the city has grown into a flourishing Fulani church. Today, more than 200 households are livi...
Explore Fulani culture through Jon’s insights on their nomadic lifestyle, values, and the challenges and joys of gospel ministry among this distinct peop...
Obed, a Fulani man deeply committed to Islam, embarked on a journey to deepen his faith. After months of searching, he encountered a village chief who chal...