By Lexie V. Owen | Echo
When you see her walking to classes, talk with her about her career goals or listen to her rave about Starbucks, Mary Komy seems like the average American college student. You'd never guess that she's a United States citizen as of March 14, 2014. Her arrival at Taylor University marked the end of a journey on which she never expected to embark.
She was content living as a Muslim in her native country of Sudan until God used her thirst for knowledge to lead her to him in 2004.
"I wanted to learn English," Mary said. "My English teacher gave me a Bible and I started reading it. In Islam, there is a lot of fear in the worship of God. The Scripture had the answers to questions I had about salvation, grace and love. I'd never heard of them before."
Mary's intellectual interest in Christ was transformed into whole-hearted faith one morning when her mother woke her, claiming that her father was dying of a heart attack.
"He was lying on the floor, not moving or breathing," Mary said. "I started praying because I had read about Jesus' miracles. When I prayed in Jesus' name, he came back to life."
Her father was healed, but he was not quick to accept what Mary claimed to be the source of the miracle.
"When my family found out about my faith, I was beaten and locked up so I couldn't escape," Mary said. "But God opened the door for me and I literally walked past them."
Mary took refuge in the home of fellow Christians and came to terms with the persecution she suffered.
"I believe my family loves me," Mary said. "They reacted that way because their eyes were not opened to the truth. It was their way of trying to protect me."
With the help of friends, Mary applied to the U.N. for religious freedom and refugee status. She escaped to the U.S. in 2007 and began her new life in South Carolina. It was there that God presented her with another unexpected path. His name was Sam.
"I didn't think there would be any kind of a connection," Mary said, "but he was a very kind man. He was someone you loved to spend time with. He was a history teacher and had his education in England. He spoke seven languages. Many things were attractive and I was lonely and had no family."
Mary and Sam married in January 2008, moved to Indiana, and had two children. Mary was widowed when Sam suffered a heart attack in 2011.
"Many times we think we plan things and try to make things happen, but everything was in God's timing," Mary said. "Meeting him, having two kids, and then having him go to heaven was all part of that plan. It's not always easy, but the same God who brought me through persecution is now providing for us."
God showed Mary the next path to follow in the same way he showed her the first: through education.
"We'd met Marylou Habecker through a friend," Mary said. "She came to the funeral and felt that God was telling her to do something to help me. She invited me to Taylor."
Mary moved and enrolled at Taylor in the fall of 2012. Being a full-time student and single mother of two was a feat in itself, but Mary followed God's calling to many other places. She now volunteers for the Justice Center of Sudan and has shared the story of her conversion at 167 churches. She works for A Hope Center in Indiana, which aids young mothers. She also works with groups of immigrant women, helping them learn English and connect to resources to adjust to the culture. According to Mary, she is ready to face the challenges God presents her.
"Well," Mary said, pausing to laugh, "I always believed when God opens a door for you, you walk in and enter and he will provide you with everything you need to do what he appointed you to do. That doesn't mean it will be easy and beautiful. It's going to be challenging. It gets stressful sometimes, but every day is a journey of his faithfulness."
Though it has lead her down many paths she never thought she'd travel, Mary stands firm in the decision that sparked her journey to becoming an American, a student, an activist and a mother.
"The one thing I've always been sure of is God's grace," Mary said. "The one decision I've never regretted in my life is becoming a Christian."
Thumbnail photograph courtesy of Brittany Smith.
