I am a Mexican-American Muslim. My name is Juan Jose Galvan. My family calls me Johnny. My Austin friends call me John. I come from a very modest background. I spent my adolescent and teenage years in small communities. I have lived in small Texas Panhandle towns such as Quitaque, Turkey, Lakeview, and Memphis. None of these towns has a mall, a movie theater, or a McDonald's. The star marks the location of Memphis, Texas. Population: 2300. Residents are proud to proclaim that Memphis is "The Cotton Capital of the World." In Memphis, if you hear a fire truck or police car, either your neighbor's house is on fire or your neighbor is being arrested. Growing up in small communities gave me much appreciation for the simplicity in God's creations.
I graduated from Memphis High School in Memphis, Texas in 1994. I did well in high school and would attend Texas Tech University in Lubbock. In 1998 I began attending the University of Texas at
Austin. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in MIS in December 2001. Not bad for a kid who had to hoe cotton most of his junior high and high school summers to pay for his clothes and school supplies! My dad was a cotton ginner. Now, he is a custodian at a high school. My parents had eight children. In 2000 a sister died in a car wreck at the age of 17. My family now lives in Pampa, Texas.
Various experiences led me to believe that Islam is the true, universal religion of God. In high school, a Christian friend told me that the Holy Trinity was not true. He claimed that Jesus was not God. ‘He was wrong’ I told myself. Jesus had to be God. God and humanity were disconnected by the sin committed by Adam and Eve. God sent his only Begotten Son to die because He loved us so much. Because only God forgives, Jesus had to be God. I even had the Bible quotes to prove it! Indeed, I have read almost the entire Bible. I was a devout Roman Catholic Christian. In high school, I was a lecturer, usher, Eucharistic minister, and CCD teacher. I am the godfather for a nephew and a niece. The idea that Jesus was not God made much sense.
I have always had respect for other religions. I would often attend other Christian churches and join interfaith Bible study groups. While inan interfaith Bible study group, I told my friend Chris that I was a Catholic. Chris blatantly told me that the Catholic Church was "a false doctrine." As you can imagine, I defended my religion. Chris would accuse me of worshipping Mary, Saints, and the Pope. I would argue that we only revere them.
Around this time, I saw this man praying on the ground. His knees, hands, and forehead were touching the ground. He was not wearing shoes. After he finished praying, I asked him his name. He said "Armando." He said he was a Muslim. I thought to myself, "Ok, freaky, you’re Muslim. You can’t be Muslim. What is this Hispanic guy doing praying to Allah?" He would later tell me that Spain was Muslim for over 700 years. Thousands of Spanish words have Arabic roots. The ruins of mosques with Qur’anic writings have been found in Cuba, Mexico, Texas and Nevada. Most importantly, Armando spoke to me about Islam. I began to realize that my reverence for Mary and Saints was much more than mere reverence. Chris was right. However, we were both worshipping Jesus! Jesus was a Prophet. Nothing and no one is worship of worship but God.
Many questions I needed answered were answered! What is the purpose of life? How can the Father be the Son? Why can’t God just forgive anyone He wants? What happens to babies that die that are not baptized? In the Qur'an 5:83, God states, "And when they (who call themselves Christian) listen to what has been sent down to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of the truth they have recognized. They say: 'Our Lord! We believe; so write us down among the witnesses.'" Indeed, my eyes overflowed with tears as I read that Qur’anic verse. Yet I would not take Shahada until three years after meeting Armando. I did not want to change. A struggle occurs within everyone, everyday, and everywhere. We struggle to attain what is most important for us. By embracing Islam, we tell Allah (swt) that He is most important and that we are prepared to struggle to do what is right and to avoid what is wrong. Muhammad (pbuh) perfected religion.
Samantha Sanchez and Juan Galvan are co-authoring "Latinos Revert to Islam: What’s Old is New Again."
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