Toryalai’s Baptism Testimony
Toryalai from Afghanistan attends St John's Hoxton and was recently baptised. Here, he gives his amazing testimony, shared at his baptism:
Toryalai just before his baptism
"My name is Toryalai, and I am from Afghanistan. In my country, religion is mandatory, not a choice. You cannot speak about your true beliefs because of the risk of punishment. I had to leave my home to find a place where I could live in peace and be free to choose my own path. That is how I came to London and found St John’s.”
"When I arrived here, I met new friends who talked about Jesus. At first, I was nervous because of my past experiences with religion, but one day I decided to join them at the church. I was surprised to see people worshiping with such joy and by their own choice. There was no force, only peace and love. When we shared the 'Peace be with you,' I felt a deep sense of calm. This led me to the Alpha course, where I truly discovered who Jesus is.”
"I believe that when the followers of a faith live in such peace and kindness, it shows that their leader, Jesus Christ, is the truth. I thank God for this opportunity to start a completely new life today. I have finally found the freedom and the peace I was looking for. Thank you.”
Since Toryalai's baptism, he shared these moving words:
"Before my baptism, whenever I came to the church and experienced such warmth, I would ask myself, “How can these people be so kind to me when I have done nothing for them?” That kindness moved me deeply, and I often felt shy, or even a little overwhelmed by it.
But since my baptism, something has changed in a beautiful way. I no longer feel shy when I receive kindness from...the congregation. Instead, I feel like I am part of a family. It is a sense of belonging I have never experienced before.
Even when I am just walking towards Shoreditch Park and pass by the church, I feel a special kind of peace. Simply walking alongside the church brings me a calm feeling I have never felt anywhere else. It makes me feel like I have finally found my home."