Shady’s Story
Shady first came to Manara Youth Center (MYC) four years ago, starting with tutoring classes. Over time, he became active in the spiritual programs, including Bible classes and, most recently, the core discipleship groups. He’s now diving into the Alpha curriculum as well, eager to grow deeper in his faith.
But Shady’s journey with Christ began even before he was born.
A Life That Was Meant to Be
His mother was pregnant with him while battling cancer. Doctors warned her that carrying this baby boy could cost one of their lives: hers or his. Friends and family pointed them to revered religious people, but an elderly neighbor pointed her to Jesus. Desperate, she prayed. The very next day, test results showed she had been miraculously healed. The cancer was gone! Shady was born healthy, against all odds.
Though his mother clung to her newfound faith, his father remained opposed for a decade. One day, after watching a video testimony of a religious leader in a different religion who had come to Christ, Shady’s father surrendered his life to Jesus. Today, he is a pastor.
And Change Did Come
Despite growing up in church, Shady admits he didn’t truly know Christ until he was 14. A youth worker at MYC challenged him to ask the Lord to reveal His love personally. At a Christian concert, Shady remembered the YFC youth worker’s words and took a bold step during an altar call after the preacher had called the audience to experience God’s love. As he prayed, he felt a hand on his shoulder—though no one was near. Still unsure if what he felt was real, he sought guidance from the same YFC youth worker, who told him that true faith leads to a changed life.
And change did come. “I couldn’t read the Bible and pray before,” Shady says. “Now I do it every day. I’m not afraid anymore because the Lord is with me.”
Growing in Christ at MYC
Being part of MYC’s core discipleship groups has strengthened his spiritual walk. Weekly gatherings involve sharing life updates, discussing deep questions like “Does the Lord really love me?”, and memorizing Scripture together. He finds encouragement being surrounded by others who are passionate about knowing God.
“MYC helped me be more committed to my faith,” he says. “Without it, I wouldn’t be spending this much time with the Lord.”
Now, Shady feels called to be a pastor—just like his dad. He wants to help others open their eyes to the Gospel. “Many people’s eyes are closed to Christ,” he says, “but I want them to experience Him the way I did.”