From darkness to light

It’s not just about saying ​“yes” to Jesus. It involves a deep internal shift, changes in identity, faith, relationships and culture. Things once familiar can be lost or reshaped: relationships, homes, traditions and festivals. Yet perhaps this is part of carrying our cross, letting go of the old and becoming a new creation in Christ. 

My own story reflects the questions many have about who Jesus is. I remember being in primary school learning about Christianity and Islam, whilst other faiths didn’t get much notice. I used to be a little angry about that back then, but I’m now thankful for what I learnt. One Easter my mum bought me a small colouring book with Easter chicks and the cross on it, which was helpful as it wove in activities with scripture.  

Growing up, I was taught that Christianity was for the white community, and even though we celebrated Christmas culturally, I don’t remember growing up around any practising Christians. The only time I was exposed to some strange form of Jesus was through the Jehovah’s Witnesses, which we were resistant to – but they were persistent! Even in my university years I don’t remember any active approach from Christians, but I do remember being given a Bible, and I revered it as a holy book, so never got rid of it. In fact, I found it again when unpacking some of my university boxes almost 18 years later! 

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The Finding Jesus research is a great taste of how God is moving and meeting people – just as he met me all those years ago. In 2011, aged 27, I lost my uncle to cancer. Four months later my grandfather died and I became a carer for my grandmother. Like many of the research participants, I too started seeking answers to life.  

I knew there was more, but I just didn’t know what, so I started to visit spiritualists and tarot card readers. We are seeing that even today. People are spiritually exploring and hungry, but not everyone is exploring Jesus. Some are exploring other faiths; some are exploring new age practices and so on. God is moving, but where there is a great move of God, the enemy can also bring deception.  

I also started attending church, and I remember meeting the associate vicar for a coffee. She gently warned me about seeing spiritualists, but at the time I wasn’t ready to hear what she had to say. It wasn’t until the night on evil at Alpha that I sobbed and realised that it was a gateway I’d kept open because I’d desired to connect with my late mum. I’ve seen this time and time again over the years in other people’s lives. Grief is a vulnerable place, and the enemy creeps in with deceptive practices but also questions. When we don’t know where to turn, we can turn to the wrong places.  

After I was baptised I really appreciated being in a Bible study group with others who were baptised at the same time. Our leaders took great care in helping us apply the Bible to our current lives. 

My heart is that we would step into the places God has called us and carry out the Great Commission, to show God’s love to a world that is clearly broken and in need of a Saviour in Jesus. My prayer is that, just as Jesus helped me out of darkness into light, we would see others coming into the light of Jesus. Finally, I pray more people would step up in the church to lead, love and guide those who are in this threshold moment in their lives.