How and why I became a follower of Jesus

Recently, I attended a conference at which the speaker, Dr Kwashi (Nigeria), encouraged people to share their story of salvation. I've realised that I very often talk about how I started writing, how I experienced a certain situation and what I learnt from it, but rarely why or how I became a disciple of Jesus. Maybe that's because I think my story is too predictable, not of the ‘Wow’ kind of story. But this word from the Pastor made me realise that every experience of a personal encounter with Jesus is worth sharing. So, here's mine, hoping to hear yours too...

My Dad and I at the Pastors Book set project-Yaounde 2013

I was born into a Christian family. From a young age, I was exposed to teachings about heaven, sin, and hell, and I attended denominational schools. I knew and prayed the ‘sinner’s prayer’ several times. With such supervision, combined with my very shy and withdrawn character, I had almost no chance of going off the rails. But I struggled with internal questions about the purpose of my life, making friends, and dealing with adolescent challenges. 

At 14, a new concern emerged: “If I die today, am I sure of going to heaven?” It was 1999 and talk of the world ending with the new millennium made this question even more pressing. Around the same time, my older sister participated in a mission camp, and her spiritual growth inspired me to question whether my faith was truly my own or just a family faith.

I began seeking God independently, not because anyone told me to, but because I felt the need. In the privacy of my room, I revisited evangelistic tracts that explained humanity's separation from God due to sin and how Jesus paid the price for us to have eternal life. I asked Jesus to become my personal Savior and to guide me in living a life that pleases Him.

Nothing special happened on the spot, I still had my insecurities and challenges. But gradually, through reading the Bible, receiving mentorship from older believers, and the work of the Holy Spirit, I began to grow spiritually and heal emotionally. Looking back, I see my faith journey as an ongoing process, a bit like going to school, where I'm constantly learning, being corrected and growing closer to God, who is shaping me to be more like Jesus, until He returns or calls me back to Him.