--- title: From darkness to light date: 2026-05-11T11:36:00+01:00 author: Lydia Gilbertson canonical_url: "https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/from-darkness-to-light" section: Articles --- Great Commission is the Evangelical Alliance's evangelism and mission hub for stories that inspire and resources that equip us all to share Jesus. Share [](https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=1769260916495219&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Ffrom-darkness-to-light) [](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=From%20darkness%20to%20light&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Ffrom-darkness-to-light) [](https://www.facebook.com/dialog/send?app_id=1769260916495219&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Ffrom-darkness-to-light&link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Ffrom-darkness-to-light&display=popup) [](mailto:?subject=Shared%20from%20Evangelical%20Alliance&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eauk.org%2Fnews-and-views%2Ffrom-darkness-to-light) #### Reading the Finding Jesus supplemental findings really resonated with my own journey. As a British-born South Asian raised in a Hindu Gujarati family, I recognised myself in the stories of those coming to know Jesus from other faiths. 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! Sponsored[](#) [ ![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](https://lst.ac.uk/event/blessed-trinity-conference/) 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. > It’s not just about saying “yes” to Jesus. It involves a deep internal shift, changes in identity, faith, relationships and culture.” 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. Due to a breakdown in relationship with one of my siblings and his partner, I left home two months after being baptised and moved to the Midlands. Here I found myself broken and in need of support. I wasn’t part of a homegroup for the first seven months, but I went to church each week. Over the years, I began to heal and rebuild my life. 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. [ ![Finding Jesus no Christian background report](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![4](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/4_2026-01-20-100752_jjzk.png) ](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/reports/finding-jesus/finding-jesus-no-christian-background-report) [#### Finding Jesus no Christian background report ](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/reports/finding-jesus/finding-jesus-no-christian-background-report) The supplemental findings for those with no Christian faith background [ Find out more ](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/reports/finding-jesus/finding-jesus-no-christian-background-report) [](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/reports/finding-jesus/finding-jesus-no-christian-background-report) [ ![Course | Discovering Jesus](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![DJ website banner 2](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/DJ-website-banner-2.png) ](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/courses-and-small-groups/discovering-jesus) [#### Course | Discovering Jesus ](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/courses-and-small-groups/discovering-jesus) Join Aaron and Rani as they explore faith, identity and culture as Asian Christians [ Find out more ](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/courses-and-small-groups/discovering-jesus) [](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/courses-and-small-groups/discovering-jesus) --- ### About Rani Joshi ![]()Rani Joshi lives in London and leads our South Asian Forum. Coming from a Hindu Gujarati background, Rani found faith in 2012 through an encounter with the Holy Spirit. She studied marketing and media and spent over 15 years in marketing working for various industries and businesses. Whether initiating a singles ministry in her church for those seeking community, contributing to the Race Equality Advisory Group for the Diocese of Coventry, serving for several years as part of the prayer ministry team or on the Parochial Church Council and deanery synod in her church, Rani has a heart to serve and draw people closer to Jesus. Rani is also involved in a prophetic mentoring group and mentors with Rise Women’s Network. Passionate about sharing her faith, Rani launched ‘Couch Conversations with Rani’, a podcast aiming to normalise being brown and a follower of Jesus. Outside of her roles, Rani enjoys writing poetry, reading, traveling, being creative, growing vegetables, appreciating good music and food, and connecting with others to hear their stories. [See more from Rani Joshi](/author/bhav-joshi-west-midlands)