Jamilya Sadykova is a healthcare worker from Kazakhstan using medicine as a tool for evangelism in Central Asia.
When did you trust Christ?
I became a Christian in 1999 when I met the Holy Spirit in Almaty Grace Church and decided to leave Islam to follow Jesus.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
After my father's death in 1997, I realised Islam is empty. One of my post-graduate public health school study partners shared the Gospel with me, and this sparked many questions. The personal touch of the Holy Spirit led me to change my faith from Islam to Christianity in 1999.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
I want to more effectively bring Jesus into the workplace, use medicine as an evangelism tool, and improve my leadership skills. I hope to expand my network of passionate Christian leaders to find inspiration and renewal for my ministry to healthcare workers.
What is your ministry?
I work for the Smokefree Kazakhstan Coalition. Also, since June 2024 I have been the Central Asian regional leader for Medical Christian Fellowship, under ICMDA. We reach Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, and we are praying for access to Turkmenistan. We also have a medical outreach to Afghan refugees in Tajikistan.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
Once I became a Christian, I joined Medical Christian Fellowship in Kazakhstan, and in 2015, I became a leader of the national organization. Under my leadership, stable Jesus groups in Kazakhstan increased from one to eight. As a member of a medical mission team serving vulnerable populations in Central Asia, I was responsible for providing leaders with vision, inspiration, communication, and support.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
As a medical professional, I am already making a positive impact on the health of people in the Central Asia region. My mission as a Medical Christian Fellowship leader is to inspire and support other Christian healthcare workers. Together with the Holy Spirit, we have experienced breakthroughs in effectively promoting good health on a political level. In my field, I see how God moves to set people free to live healthy lives and bring the peace and joy of the Gospel.
