Australia’s Largest Christian News Site

At just 14 years old, Sari was given a Gospel tract by a stranger. Growing up in Indonesia, she had spent her life as a Muslim, but was beginning to question what she had been told to believe.

“At that time, I felt empty with the religious teachings I had followed,” Sari recalls. “Something didn’t sit right in my heart, and I kept searching for the real truth. What I read in that Gospel tract changed everything.”

For the first time, Sari encountered Jesus—the Truth she had been longing for. Her soul was filled with a joy she could hardly contain, and she made a bold choice: to leave her former religion and follow Him.

That decision would change the course of her life forever. Because in Indonesia, where Sari lives, faith in Christ comes at a high cost.

Broken Bonds

Her family was stunned by her decision. Rather than offering support, they warned her to stay silent. “Don’t speak of this with the neighbours,” her parents said, fearing the community’s backlash.

Yet Sari’s joy couldn’t be hidden. She began sharing Jesus with friends at school, believing they, too, could come to know Him. But her courage drew swift opposition. Teachers discovered her faith and unleashed relentless pressure.

“My decision to follow Jesus was irreversible,” Sari says. “I just longed for my friends to know Him too.”

The hostility, however, grew unbearable. Some peers joined in, and the constant intimidation led Sari into depression. Ultimately, she made a heartbreaking decision—she left school.

New Life

But God was not done with her. He led Sari to the Women Training Centre (WTC), a one-year program run by Open Doors local partners for women facing persecution. There, she learned practical skills like sewing and knitting while being spiritually strengthened. At the end of the year, WTC gifted her a sewing machine—one that would transform her future.

“Seven years later, this sewing machine still hums under my hands,” Sari says. “It has not only honed my skills, but the clothes and products I’ve made with it have helped sustain me financially to this day.”

Today, at 21, Sari is a university student majoring in management, studying on a scholarship. But even this blessing comes with its own trials. Local authorities have made it nearly impossible for her to change the religion listed on her ID card, so she had to apply to university using her original identity. To the school, she is still officially Muslim.

“I’m afraid to reveal I’m a Christian,” she admits. “If they find out, they might take away my scholarship. It’s what allows me to keep studying.”

Steadfast

The price of faith has been heavy. During her first year, Sari was required to attend Islamic religious classes, wear a hijab, and recite the Quran. “My heart was torn every time,” she confesses. “But I had no other choice.”

She failed the course twice, but God’s hand was evident. “God softened my lecturer’s heart,” Sari says. To pass, she only had to submit a video of herself reciting the Quran—a task she could accomplish.

“It’s the price I’ve had to pay for not being able to change my ID,” she reflects.

Yet despite the secrecy, the fear, and the pressure, Sari’s faith continues to shine quietly, steadfastly, and unshaken.

Her story is a powerful reminder of the cost of discipleship and the sustaining power of God’s provision. Young women all across Indonesia face pressure for following Christ – even from their own family. And yet, just like Sari, they remain unwavering in their devotion to Christ.

You can stand with Sari in prayer:

Pray for strength: Ask God to give Sari courage to stand firm, peace amid fear, and wisdom as she navigates these difficult circumstances.

Pray for her future: Lift up Sari’s education and career, asking God to make a way for her to safely and officially change her religious status, and to provide for her needs—spiritually, emotionally, and financially—as she continues walking faithfully with Him.

Visit Open Doors Australia for more information about Christians in Indonesia, the trials they face, and how you can help.