From Mecca to the Messiah: John Ghanim’s Journey of Transformation

A Devoted Muslim Raised in Radical Islam is Yemen.

John Ghanim’s life took a turn he never expected. At the earliest stage of his life in Yemen, he was a devoted Muslim. His family and community taught him how to pray, fast, and read the Qur’an with deep devotion. From a young age, he was raised to strictly follow Islamic traditions and believe that Islam was the absolute truth.

But along with religious devotion, he was also taught to hate the West and to view non-Muslims as destined for hell. The ideology of radicalism was deeply embedded in the culture around him. He was encouraged to proclaim slogans of extremism:

“Death to America! Death to Israel! Curse the Jews! Victory to Islam! “These words were more than just phrases; they were a mindset, shaping his perception of the world.

Marriage and Religious Dedication

In 2012, John’s life followed the traditional path expected of him. He entered an arranged marriage with his cousin, and together they had two daughters. He embraced his role as a husband and father, continuing to live as a devoted Muslim, fulfilling his religious obligations with sincerity. By 2014, he was a university student, studying Business Administration. Despite his commitment to his faith, he began to experience a deep inner struggle.

A Season of Doubt and Searching

John had always believed that if he followed Islam faithfully—praying, fasting, and obeying Allah’s commands—he would feel close to the Creator. But something was wrong.

Despite his devotion, he felt disconnected from Allah.

“Why do I feel like this?” He asked himself.

He had done everything required of him—he had been a devout Muslim his entire life. Yet, in his prayers, there was no peace, no connection—only silence. It was as if Allah was distant and unreachable. These doubts terrified him. Islam taught that questioning faith was dangerous, but the more he tried to ignore them, the stronger they became. He began to ask:

“Who is the real Creator? Is Allah truly God? Why am I here? What is my purpose in life?”

When he sought answers from Islamic leaders, they only quoted verses from the Qur’an like:

“Do not ask about Islam—it will be bad for you.”

In 2014, desperate for answers, John decided to go to Mecca, the holiest place in Islam. Surelythere he would find peace and a connection with Allah.

The Pilgrimage That Changed Everything

John arrived in Mecca with great anticipation. He believed that by performing the rituals of Hajj and seeking Allah, his doubts would disappear.

However, instead of clarity, he was overwhelmed with more confusion.

As he circled the Kaaba, he looked at the massive crowd. Millions of Muslims in endless prayers, and suddenly, a thought hit him:

“Are we really worshiping the Creator? Or are we worshiping this black stone, which Mecca calls ‘the house of Allah?” This is man made!

He tried to push the thought away, but it wouldn’t leave him. As he performed the rituals, instead of feeling the presence of Allah, he felt emptiness.

By the end of his pilgrimage, he realized:

His faith in Islam was gone.

This revelation shattered everything. His identity, his faith, his family, and his community—everything in his life was built on Islam. And now, it no longer made sense to him.

John returned to Yemen, lost and directionless. Without faith, his life had no meaning, no purpose..

For three years, he lived in secret as an agnostic. These were the hardest years of his life. In Yemen, leaving Islam is forbidden. You are born as Muslim and die as Muslim. There is no freedom of speech or religion. He was forced to pretend he was still a Muslim in front of everyone or face the death penalty.

A Divine Encounter in Greece

In the beginning of 2017, searching for freedom, John left Yemen. He passed through several countries before eventually ending up in Greece by late 2017.

One day, he met a Syrian man with a cross tattooed on his hand. John asked about it, since tattoos were forbidden in Yemen.

The man smiled and said:

“This cross is the sign of the Messiah—Jesus Christ. He is the Saviour of the world. He died for our sins, and on the third day, He rose again. He is alive, and He is the only way to salvation.”

John had heard about Isa in Islam, but he quickly realised that the Isa of Islam is not the Jesus Christ of the Bible.

In Islam:

Isa is just a prophet, a slave of Allah. Isa is not the Son of Yahweh. Isa is not divine.

Isa is not the Savior of the world.

Islam also denies the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ.

However, this Syrian man was speaking of a completely different Jesus—the Jesus of the Bible, who is:

• God in the flesh.

• The Messiah.

• The One who died and rose again.

The Syrian man’s words stirred something in him. Seeing John’s curiosity, he invited him to a Bible study. John accepted the invitation.

At the Bible study, John heard many things about Jesus Christ for the first time. It was overwhelming—so much information, so many things he had never known.

Then, they invited him to church.

John had never been to a church in his life. In Yemen, Christianity and churches are forbidden. There is no freedom of speech or religion.

On Sunday morning, he walked into a church for the first time in his life.

“Wow, I’ve never seen this before!” He thought.

At first, he wondered if these people were crazy. But as he kept watching, something unexpected happened—he felt jealous.

“How can they worship like this? With such confidence, with such joy?”

Deep inside, he felt as if a secret power, a divine presence, was filling the place—something he had never experienced before.

As the worship ended, the pastor came forward. Seeing that there were new people in the congregation who were not Christians, he began to preach the Gospel:

“We are all sinners. We have inherited sin from Adam and Eve. Sin is like a disease in our hearts. It has separated us from our Creator. And this is why we need a Savior. This is why Jesus Christ came all the way from heaven to rescue us. He died on the cross for our sins, and on the third day, He rose again. He is the Messiah, the Savior. If you want to be saved, accept Him as your Lord and Savior in your heart and in your life.”

At the end of the service, John received a New Testament in Arabic.

He was so curious to read about the Messiah that he wanted to discover the truth for himself.

When John started reading the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament, he began from the very first chapter. As he continued, he reached chapter 3, where he read about the baptism of Jesus Christ. When he came to verses 16 and 17, he was struck by the words:

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment, heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:16-17,

In this moment, John saw the truth—here was the Father speaking from heaven, the Son, Jesus Christ, on earth, and the Holy Spirit descending like a dove. This was the Trinity revealed before his eyes. He was amazed and thought, “Wow! God is speaking from heaven!” The seed of faith was planted in his heart.

John continued reading, moving on to the sermon on the mount in chapters 5 to 7. For the first time, he felt a real connection with the Creator. Previously, he had been spiritually disconnected, lost in doubt, but now he felt that Yahweh, the God of the universe, was speaking directly to his heart through the words of Jesus. It was as if living water had flooded his spirit, reviving his soul. He now understood that Jesus Christ had died for him, risen again, and was calling him to Himself through the Scriptures.

Filled with excitement, John knew in his heart: “This is the God I have been searching for. This is the God I want to follow. This is the God I want to give my life to!”Eager to return, John went back to church the following Sunday. This time, he did not stay at the back—he sat at the front, hungry for more. At the end of the service, the pastor called out, “Who wants to give their life to Jesus Christ?” Without hesitation, John raised his hand.

The pastor led him in a prayer, and John repeated after him:

“I am a sinner, and I believe that Jesus Christ came all the way from heaven to rescue me. He died on the cross, and on the third day, He rose again. Islam is behind me, atheism is behind me, agnosticism is behind me—Jesus is before me! He is my Lord, my God, and my Savior forever!”

As John said. Amen and opened his eyes, everything around him seemed different. It was as if he was seeing the world in new colours—brighter, clearer, full of life. Joy filled his heart because now, for the first time, he knew the God of love.

Overcome with excitement and hunger for the truth, John asked for a Bible so he could read from Genesis to Revelation. He was determined to know God’s Word in its entirety. Over the next year, he studied deeply with an American missionary in Greece.

At the end of 2018, after finishing the Bible, John knew he needed to take the next step—to be baptized. He wanted to declare publicly that he belonged to Jesus Christ. He also chose to leave behind his old name, Mohammed, and take a new name, John—, a new life, and a new beginning in Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings.

That Sunday, when he stood before the congregation, singing I have decided to follow Jesus no turning back, the pastor looked at him and said:

“John, upon your confession of faith, I baptise you in the name of the Father, and the Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.”

The pastor brought John down into the water, and as he came up, something powerful happened. John felt the voice of Jesus Christ speaking to him:

“You are going to share Me with the nations.”

In that moment, John knew his life had changed forever. His mission had begun.

After his baptism, John felt a profound passion to share his faith with everyone, especially his own people. He searched social media for Yemeni Christians with whom he could connect but found none. This absence fuelled his desire to share his faith publicly, inspired by Jesus Christ’s words in Matthew 10:32: “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.”  Jesus also warned that one’s relatives might turn against them, stating in Matthew 10:37: “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”  

Persecuted but Unstoppable: John’s Bold Stand for Christ

John understood the cost. He had counted it, but the fire of the Gospel burned within him, and he could not stay silent.

“If I don’t share my faith, shame on me.”

“My people deserve to know about the God of salvation.”

“They must hear about Jesus Christ, the God of glory!”

Determined, he decided to proclaim Jesus publicly, regardless of the cost or consequences.

Going Public: The Testimony That Shook the Internet

Unable to find another Yemeni Christian online, John became the voice he sought. He shared his testimony. He shared his baptism.

He boldly declared: “I am a Yemeni ex-Muslim, now a follower of Christ!”

His story went viral. Yemeni youtubers made videos against him, attacking and exposing him.Instead of silencing him, these actions spread his testimony even further. His name became known, and soon, the attacks intensified.

The death threats began in John’s village in Yemen. The community erupted with anger and called for his blood. His name became a curse.

Threats flooded in:

“Kill the apostate!”

“He has betrayed Islam!”

“He is unclean, a blasphemer, a disgrace!”

The pressure mounted. His family was targeted.

“This is your fault!” They were told.

“He has shamed you all!”

“Disown him or bear the consequences!”

Desperate and afraid, his family reached out to him, begging:

“Come back to Islam!”

“Repent to Islam!”

“Deny Jesus Christ, and everything will be restored!”

But John’s love for Jesus was unwavering. Nothing—not threats, not family, not persecution—could separate him from the love of Christ.

“You need Jesus Christ!” He told them.

“Repent and come to the Lord, to the Messiah!”

“He is the only way to heaven!”

Consequently, they disowned him—his father, mother, and relatives were gone.

The Cost of Following Christ.

The imam of his village’s mosque back in Yemen declared John an apostate under Islamic Sharia law. His marriage was annulled. His wife was taken from him. He lost access to his daughtersforever.

John had lost everything:

• His family.

• His home.

• His country.

• His past life.

• His culture.

• His Safety.

The weight of it all pressed on him. But instead of breaking, he stood firm.

He clung to the Word of God, dedicating himself to prayer, the Bible, and the presence of Jesus Christ. He remembered Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:26: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”  

In that moment, he knew: Everything he lost was nothing compared to what he had gained in Christ!

The Rise of an Evangelist and a Missionary: Millions Hear the Gospel

Having lost everything for Jesus, John received a new mission. The gift of evangelism burned inside him.

He would preach.

He would testify.

He would share Christ with the nations!

Now, millions around the world hear his story. His evangelic videos have touched countless lives.

Muslims are coming to Christ.

Atheists are finding faith.

The lost are seeing the light.

God is using him in mighty ways.

Final declaration

“I have lost everything for Jesus Christ. But in Him, I have gained everything!”

“My family rejected me, but I belong to the family of God!”

“My country cast me out, but I am a citizen of Heaven!”

“The world is behind me, Jesus before me!”

“And I will proclaim His name until my last breath!”

Brother, this is your story—full of fire, full of power, full of the glory of Jesus Christ!