During the process of confirmation and in considering my life, I realised it wasn’t until a debate in Christian Education class in high school that I thought about what following Christ meant for myself. 

Ever since I was born, my parents brought me to church regularly. I have vivid memories of playing games at Sunday school, dad leading prayer meetings after Sunday services, and my parents welcoming others into our home for Bible studies.

Yet, I was one of the only two in a class of twenty that sat on the Jesus-loving side of the debate. We debated on difficult questions like whether kind people will go to hell or why God would let illness happen to those who believe in him. It made me think deeply about God’s will for us and how we respond to that in an increasingly secular society. From that day I decided for myself to turn to Christ and realised the importance of sharing his message.

A million thanks to my parents, Godparents, ministers, Sunday school and Christian Ed teachers, to those who made coffee for morning tea, transposed music and all were a part of the churches I’ve called home. A special thank you to the SHAP community for welcoming and loving me. It was a joy to be able to stand in front of those I call brothers and sisters and to declare my faith, the wonderful grace of Christ, through his death and resurrection on the cross. 

Esther