I became a Christian in October, 2004. After a friend of mine, the late Juliana Nyoni preached to me on God’s forgiveness. She preached from the gospel of Matt 6:14-15 (compare 7:1–2).

Before then, I thought I was a Christian, because I used to go to Church. I come from an active religious background. And I participated in many Church activities, including good works of charity. I actually took an offence if anyone asked me whether I was a Christian, because I was convinced that I was one.

I have a Roman Catholic background. In Roman Catholic, I was made to believe that through baptism, I entered the family of God. Having been baptised an infant, I grew up believing that I was already a Christian. However, in 2004, I was faced with the question of salvation. I thought seriously about my own salvation, because, I had problems confessing the same sins over and over again. I wandered how God could tolerate and forgive me who kept on committing the same sins. This was with the background that I had not forgiven somebody for what they had done against me. So I thought that God would not forgive me too.

It was during this state of confusion, where I resolved, that even going to Church was not worthwhile. I then decided to stop attending Church all together, not until I had an answer. Fortunate enough, my friend visited me on that Sunday afternoon. She asked why I had not gone to Church. In response, I told her the truth. She asked me to pray with her. She then shared with me on God’s forgiveness and His great love for repentant sinners. She explained to me that God wanted me the way I was. She caused me to realise that I was not a Christian. I was confronted with the reality of my sinful condition, that I was living in sin.

After she left that evening, I prayed and confessed my sins to God. I pleaded that God may forgive me and change me. From then I felt an awakening inside, and inner peace which I could not explain. Following that experience, I felt the need to find a Church where I could hear more of the love of God. I was then invited to attend a Church service at Evangel Baptist Church by the Singogos. Indeed, I came to believe that Evangel Baptist Church was the Church God directed me to settle in. During the worship service at Evangel, Pastor Singogo preached on deception from Genesis 29 (the Jacob story). He gave examples of deception of which I found myself having been deceived for many years. He also emphasized on the assurance of salvation and the doctrine of grace, which made me settle all my doubts. Elder Chilemu also took me through Romans 6 and 12.

After a year of congregating at Evangel, I asked to be baptised, as a way of showing what God had done in my life. I got baptised a Kabwata Baptist Church in 2006. And still Pastor Singogo continued to disciple me as a young Christian.

Therefore, I thank God for saving me by His grace through faith, in the Lord Jesus Christ. These are some of my favourite scriptures: Psalm 51; Romans 6:1 – 2; I John 3:1 – 12. And my favourite hymns are: “Like the woman at the well I was seeking…”, “I know not why God’s wondrous grace to me has been made known…” Amen!