JAPAN — Asami leaned in so she could hear the story Crossworld worker Jeremy was telling around the circle. It was the story of how he became a follower of Jesus.

One by one, the members of Jeremy’s small group went around the table to share their testimonies of faith in Christ.

Asami had been attending the church where Jeremy and his wife, Leanna, serve for several months. She had been invited by her university professor who is also part of Jeremy’s small group. Asami didn’t have a story of her own to share with the small group, but she listened intently as the others spoke about how Jesus had changed their lives.

“Are you ready to put your faith in Jesus and believe for yourself?” Jeremy and Leanna asked Asami a few days later.

“No, I am not ready,” Asami said.

“I understand. Thank you for being honest,” Jeremy said. “Keep reading God’s Word and praying. Keep joining us on this journey of faith.”

Jeremy hoped Asami was simply not ready yet. But after that conversation, Asami pulled away. She didn’t show up to church anymore and didn’t respond to messages from the group.

How are you doing? Will you join us for small group dinner? How can we pray for you? All their attempts to reach out were met with silence from Asami.

Though Jeremy had felt confident in the Lord’s leading of their last conversation, he still wrestled with the outcome and prayed for God to change Asami’s heart.

About a month later, Jeremy and Leanna messaged Asami: We’d love to see you this Sunday. We want to celebrate your graduation from grad school after church. Will you come?

To their surprise, Asami responded: Yes, I’ll join you.

The next surprise came when Asami not only showed up to church but took communion during the service!

“I’ve given a lot of thought to our last conversation,” Asami said after the service as the small group members welcomed her back. “I didn’t feel I was ready because I don’t have answers for all my questions. But even though I don’t understand everything about Christianity, I’m ready to take that step of faith.”

Asami looked around the group of people who had invited her into their lives and had shared God’s love with her. She said, “I’m ready to put my hope in Jesus.”

The celebration of Asami’s graduation paled in comparison to the celebration of her new faith in Christ that day. Now Asami has her own story to share of how Jesus has changed her life.

The people in this story are real, but some names have been changed to protect their privacy.