Aug 6, 2025 “Because I Have Jesus” – Annisa’s Quiet Stand for Faith

Behind closed doors, *Annisa’s mother carried a deep desire to return to the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, a faith she had once belonged to before marriage. Encouraged by her sister, a committed member of the church, this yearning simmered for years.  

After much soul searching, Annisa’s mother made a life-changing decision: she was baptized into the SDA Church. Her choice was made privately, without her husband’s knowledge, out of concern for the fragile balance of peace in their household. 

Not long after, she enrolled 12-year-old Annisa at Toraja View Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist boarding school tucked away in the highlands of Tana Toraja, 217 miles an 8-hour bus ride away from their home.  

Her mother hoped the distance and the school’s spiritual environment would give Annisa the space to grow in faith, wisdom, and independence. 

When Annisa arrived, her mother told her she could participate in Bible studies but was not to be baptized, at least not yet.  

Her mother and aunt agreed that it would be safer to wait until high school, when the timing might be less risky. The fear of her father’s reaction loomed large. 

But something stirred in Annisa’s heart. 

Life at Toraja View Academy was deeply spiritual. Each day began at 5:00 a.m. with personal prayer and Bible meditation. The rhythm of daily worship, study, and youth fellowship filled her soul. She especially loved the Bible study sessions, where she felt Jesus speaking directly to her heart. 

Then came the school’s public evangelism series in September. Despite the 11-mile journey by truck to attend the nightly meetings, Annisa’s eagerly went. By the end of the series, she knew, beyond any doubt, that she wanted to be baptized. 

When she told the head of her dormitory, word soon reached her mother and aunt. Their reaction was a swift: “Absolutely not.”  

They begged the school not to allow her to be baptized, citing fears for the family’s safety and urging patience. 

But Annisa’s conviction didn’t fade. Instead, it deepened. After many prayers and emotional conversations, she finally helped her mother and aunt see that her desire wasn’t born from peer pressure or emotional excitement. It was a personal call from Jesus. 

With tears and trembling faith, they gave their blessing. And in a quiet yet powerful ceremony, Annisa’s entered the waters of baptism, her aunt by her side to witness the moment of surrender. 

To this day, Annisa’s father still doesn’t know that his wife and daughter have become members of the SDA Church. But Annisa holds no fear. 

“My life is so happy,” she says, “and I feel relieved without any worry or fear if my father finds out about this, because I have Jesus.” 

Let us pray for Annisa and her mother as they continue their quiet journey of faith. May their courage and conviction lead to healing, unity, and one day, by God’s grace—the transformation of their entire household.