Remembering why I do what I do In Memory of Sarah Mohamed Lockard

Pacific Southwest Campus Ministry

It was 13 years ago when I decided to be a Resident Assistant in the rowdiest co-ed freshmen hall at the University of Arizona. Though I was only 2 years older than these students, I tried to be a mentor to them in all aspects of life. It was that year, as I entered into their lives, that God gave me a deep burden for the lost and specifically for college students.  (Some of my residents are pictured on the left.)

Sarah Mohamed was one of my residents, and one whom the Lord gave me a great burden for. Her father had kidnapped her from Egypt and brought her to America. Being abused by her father, Child Protective Services took her away, and when she walked across the stage for her high school graduation, she had to wear a bullet proof vest for fear her father was in the crowd with a gun ready to kill her.  Needless to say, her traumatic childhood  left Sarah with no family and a serious eating disorder.  Her bulimia became so intense that we finally had to send her to a woman’s eating disorder ranch where she could get counseling and have accountability.  Amazingly, it was a Christian facility not far away!

Before she left, I felt burdened to share the gospel with her, but I wasn’t sure how since she was raised in a Muslim home.  God imprinted on my heart to write out Psalm 139 as a poem to her and read it to her. I explained that God knew her before she was born and how she is fearfully and wonderfully made. That God’s love for her far out numbers the grains of sand. I explained that she can know and experience His love through a personal relationship with Jesus.  At the time, she did not pray to receive Christ, but when I went to visit her at the ranch a few months later, she had memorized the whole Psalm and said that her favorite part of her time there was singing about God’s love in worship.

I lost contact with Sarah after I graduated, until a month ago. She initiated with me on Facebook on Feb 22nd. I was traveling so I “befriended” her but didn’t send her a message.  On February 23rd I got an email from her boyfriend that Sarah had passed away in her sleep after taking the appropriate amount of a new prescription medication. She was leaving behind a 5 year old son, Colin. My mind couldn’t comprehend that she had initiated with me just the day before, after 12 years of no contact, and now she was no longer here.  My heart’s greatest grief was not knowing her spiritual state. I wrote her boyfriend to ask about the funeral and how her son was doing, and he shared with me that she was a converted Christian, so much so, that he refused to have a Muslim funeral and was going to pay for it instead of her family so she could be honored as such! I couldn’t believe it! My heart rejoiced as I heard that Sarah had truly decided to follow Jesus and even tell her Muslim family about her decision!

Her son is living with his father, and I have been keeping in contact with her boyfriend, Justin. Please pray for him. He and I have been talking about his own spiritual journey and how to grieve such a great loss. Sarah was only 30 years old.

I am once again reminded that sharing the Word of God will NOT come back void and that college students really need to hear the gospel. I am so blessed that I can see on this side of heaven what my little step of faith as a college student meant to one soul who is now with Jesus in heaven.

Thank you for praying for me and being a part of my ministry. It makes a difference. May I never forget the blessing it is to share the gospel and see lives changed for all eternity!

Blessings,

Holly Ashman