Gloria Raad grew up as a Muslim, but it was through the powerful, life-changing work of Jesus Christ that she came to understand the true meaning of life.
Having lived through the war in Lebanon, Raad said the experience left deep and lasting marks on her life. The constant sound of explosions and the ever-present fear created invisible wounds that followed her into adulthood.
“War doesn’t only destroy cities—it destroys families, identity, and hope,” she explained. Reflecting on the current conflicts in the Middle East, she said she sees the same painful patterns repeating themselves: innocent people suffering and entire generations being traumatised.
“The difference today is that there is more global visibility, but the human suffering remains the same. That’s why I firmly believe the only real solution is the peace that comes from God.”
Raad was raised in a traditional Muslim household where religion shaped daily life. From a young age, she learned discipline, respect, and reverence for God. However, she also experienced significant limitations—especially as a woman.
“There are four of us siblings. I am the firstborn, then my sister, and later the twins—one of them is Joud. I remember with pain how my mother was humiliated for having daughters. In our culture, not having sons was a source of shame. She was called a ‘mother of girls’ and was despised both in the city and within my father’s family,” she recalled.
That painful reality shifted dramatically when her mother became pregnant again and gave birth to twin boys. The reaction was unexpected. What had once been a source of shame became a source of envy. Several women around them became pregnant at the same time, yet none gave birth to boys. The moment left a lasting impression on their family history.
At the age of 28, Raad moved to Brazil—a transition she describes as radical. She had to adapt to a new language, a new culture, and an entirely different way of life.
“At first, it was very challenging. I felt alone and out of place. But that process was essential because it was there that God began to reveal Himself to me in a personal way. Brazil didn’t just represent a geographical change but the beginning of my spiritual transformation,” she told Freedom Come Rain.
Before accepting Jesus, Raad was a businesswoman with a structured and stable life. However, everything changed when she became the victim of a robbery that left her with nothing. The loss plunged her into a deep depression.
She reached a point where life no longer made sense and made the decision to end her life.
Recalling that moment, she said, “I was at home, ready to end everything. I tried to hang myself. At that very moment, I received a phone call. I almost ignored it, but I decided to answer—without knowing it would literally be my ‘last call’.”
The call came from a Christian family who were friends. They asked if she had called them earlier. Confused, she said no. They then told her something that shook her completely.
“A man named Angelo called us from your number.”
Raad said she immediately fell to the ground and burst into tears. She had made no such call, and there was no record of it on her phone.
“They explained that when they answered, they heard a man’s voice—full of peace—say, ‘This is not Gloria, this is Angelo,’ and then the call ended. In that moment, I knew that God was intervening in my story,” she said.
That day marked a turning point. Raad said she encountered a love she had never known before—the love of a father.
“In Islam, we are taught that God is not a Father and that we are only His creatures. But the Bible says, ‘Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God’ (John 1:12).”
Moved by that revelation, she prayed what she describes as the most important prayer of her life:
“Lord Jesus, I accept You as my only Lord and Saviour. Forgive my sins, change my story, and write my name in the Book of Life.”
From that moment, everything changed.
Her decision, however, came at a cost. Raad shared that her family did not accept her conversion. Her father told her she was no longer his daughter. Yet, in the midst of that rejection, she discovered something greater.
“In my pain, I found a heavenly Father,” she said. “Today I can say this was the greatest miracle—not only did I survive, but I was completely transformed.”
That transformation also extended to her brother, Joud Raad. Today, the two share their faith openly, bringing messages of hope, restoration, and salvation to nations around the world.
Freedom Come Rain caught up with Raad during her visit to Jamaica, where she said she was responding to what she believes is a divine calling.
“We believe there is an important spiritual movement in this nation, and we feel honoured to be part of what God is doing here. We have found a welcoming people, full of faith and deep spiritual sensitivity. “Jamaica has a beauty that is not only natural but also in its people.”
She added, “We firmly believe that God has great plans for this country, and it is a privilege to sow into this land.”
Raad was introduced to Freedom Come Rain by Reverend Al Miller, pastor of Fellowship Tabernacle.