On Thursday, August 25, 2005, Malik spoke to a crowd of hundreds gathered at the 2005 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Global Mission Event. Lutheran Christians had gathered in Baltimore for a weekend of prayer, education, support, learning, fellowship and ministry. The theme was "Gathered by God's Grace", and Malik spoke in the opening worship. He reflected on the fact that he, who was once lost, has found his hope again, in the loving support from people of faith that act because of their belief in a loving God. These are his words, and may you be inspired to serve...
"Good Evening, thank you for coming to hear us tonight. My name is Malik Jarno. I am 20 years old, grew up in Conakry, the capital of Guinea. My dad was the Imam of the local mosque, and my parents were very respected in the community, but it is difficult to say more about my family because of what happened to me and my family.
When I was 12 I escaped death in my home, and was forced to flee, and came to the US asking for protection when I was 15 years old. The day I landed at Dulles Airport, I was put in prison. I was in jail for three years. I was lonely, and I didn't have any clue what was going on. When I came to York County Prison, one lady from the International Friendship House, named Leann Strine and my lawyer, Ben, came to see me, and signed for my release. After one year the US Congress released me.
Since then, many people have been helping me for almost two years. Leann and the people at the Friendship House, Pastor Chad and his wife Natalie of the Lutheran Church across the street and my friends Barb and Ray, my teachers at William Penn High School, my lawyers in Washington DC, Congressman Chris VanHollen from Maryland and many others, all keep working for me and my case.
I have been fighting this for almost five years, and I feel like I am not a strong man because I depend on someone helping me. I causes me a pain in my heart, because I don't want to be the kind of person who needs help. Because in my background, it was my family who used to help people. Everyday, in Guinea, people used to come and my family helped them. It was part of my culture to help people.
In the Koran I learned that when you help people, the day will come when people will help you. My aunt used to tell me, "You dont listen, but one day you will." And this is what I see now. Because I believe in the opportunity to help, but I lost the ability to help now. I am not free in this country without a legal status. I had to leave everything behind. My friends are helping me now.
The Prophet says that whoever you live with is your family. And those who are helping me are my family now. I believe that they are helping me out of love and kindness. I am happy that there are religious people to help because people who know God understand God's Word that we are to be united and to help your brother. Not be divided black and white, rich or poor. God asks us to do this. Someone who knows God wants to do this work and help those who need help, like me. I feel happy and blessed that I have been given this new family who help me because they love God.
Helping people is a gift. And I thank you for your gift. I thank you for coming and listening, and I hope that if you are helping that you keep up the good work, and if you are not, I ask you to do so, to help refugees like me who need help. I know it's difficult to help someone, but you are blessed already, and may God continue to bless you in your work."
- Malik Jarno, August 25, 2005, Baltimore, MD