CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Shagmie Levenvall’s life has changed dramatically in the last five years. He grew up in a Muslim home, used drugs as a teenager and was a member of a gang.

Today, Levenvall is a living testimony of how Jesus Christ can change anyone’s heart and the direction of one’s life.

Levenvall is a life skills educator for Living Hope, a Christian mission organization in Cape Town, and a youth minister at Capricorn Community Church. Between his two roles he is able to minister to more than 300 youth every week.

“I teach life orientation … but we put in some biblical principles so that we can bring the Gospel,” Levenvall said about his job at Living Hope. “Ultimately I go and teach people about the salvation of Jesus Christ.”

Growing up, though, Levenvall’s life was much different than today.

“When I was Muslim, I was doing drugs … not knowing the things God wants from me,” Levenvall said. “I had no purpose.”

Things changed five years ago when Levenvall heard the truth of the Gospel and committed his life to following Christ. Soon after that decision, he felt a call into Christian ministry.

His decision to turn to Christ was met with both support and opposition from his Muslim family. His mother challenged him to take his new faith seriously and even attended his baptism and ordination as a minister. His father, however, had nothing to do with him.

“I’m the oldest boy, and I am the one who is supposed to carry on the family name,” Levenvall said. “Basically [my dad] disowned me and really doesn’t speak to me.”

As Levenvall prayed and asked God how to minister to his family, particularly to his father, the Lord gave him an answer.

“Jesus clearly told me [to] let [my] light shine before him … don’t say anything, just allow [my] actions to show him,” Levenvall said, “to prove to him who I am and who God is in my life.”

Levenvall has a passion to reach the youth in his community. He lets his testimony show not just his family but everyone he meets that a relationship with Christ changes lives and gives hope and a purpose for living.

“The light that Jesus has placed inside of me can shine in this community,” Levenvall said. “I can be a light to these kids.”

Jacob Alexander is a writer for IMB’s Global Communication Team. He enjoys sharing God’s stories from all over Africa and is becoming more of a soccer fan from being in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup.