As a child, during visits to our grandparents" house for the holidays, I loved attending a small local church near their home. Whenever there was a lull in the boisterous end-of-year festivities at home, I would ftnd myself drawn to join in the happy singing and fervent prayer services of the little church next door. This happened every year, and I especially enjoyed and looked forward to this intimate worship times before the major New Year"s Eve watchnight event at the much larger St Peter"s cathedral church.At the young age of twelve during my high school years, I had an experience with G.o.d that would be my "born-again" experience. Although our parents identifted religiously as Christians, routinely prayed daily with us at home, and made their children attend Sunday school regularly, our family did not yet know what it meant to be born again or be believers in and disciples (followers) of the Lord Jesus Christ (a Christian). My parents were members of the same Anglican Church as my grandmother, St Peter"s Cathedral in Ibadan, and were members of the church"s Christ band. I can still remember my parents having many fun evenings socializing with the other members of their church group in our home, as they all rotated gathering at one another"s homes. Attending church, but not regularly, as a religious social and morally responsible act was what our Christianity at the time mainly consisted of.
Believing we were already children of G.o.d, our hearts had not yet been penetrated with, or transformed by, the knowledge of our need for repentance from our sins, and belief in the sacriftce of Jesus Christ G.o.d"s son that brings us forgiveness, grace, and eternal life in heaven with G.o.d. I was soon to be divinely led to this most important and very ftrst of faith principles. That true faith in G.o.d begins with being born again.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of G.o.d, even to those who believe in His name. (John 1:12 NASB)
Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of G.o.d." (John 3:3 NIV)
For G.o.d so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NIV)
A family member had one day invited me to a large church retreat hosted by a Christian fellowship where for the ftrst time I heard new worship songs that were quite different from our usual denominational church hymns; this was followed by the Holy Spirit-empowered Gospel message. I was also taken to a church rally which included a play. It was held on a Friday or Sat.u.r.day night on the grounds of the Oritamefa Baptist Church congregational hall. The church was familiar to me as it was right next to my old elementary school founded by that denomination. The service being held inside was however totally unfamiliar! There was joyful singing, clapping, and a play was dramatized to share the Gospel. At the end of the play, a young man sang a special song. Parts of the lyrics were:
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I"m gonna ßy, so high, When my spirit spreads its wings across the skies, The risen one is coming to take me away, I"m gonna live forever in the kingdom someday.
This young man anointed by G.o.d and empowered by the Holy Spirit, connected my heart with G.o.d through his song in a very new way. I sang with all of my twelve-year- old zeal, and at the end of his song, the young man shared the Gospel message. Asking all who wanted to receive G.o.d"s eternal life through repentance from sin, and trusting in the sacriftce and salvation offered through Jesus Christ to raise their hands to pray and receive Jesus; he led us to our salvation experience. I joined in and prayed, though I did not know the full meaning of my actions at the time or what would change about my life. With this genuine heartfelt repentance and prayer, I was instantly spiritually born again. Through G.o.d"s amazing divine setups, I would have the very pleasant surprise of meeting the young man who shared that message and led us in prayers many years later in England. He had also left Nigeria to become a pastor and later bishop of a very fruitful denomination, Bishop Gbenga t.i.tus David. He is now with the Lord.
Unfortunately, with my parents not yet saved themselves, and no additional knowledge or discipleship, my outward life continued as normal. I was not informed enough to know that I should read the scriptures daily or pray, which are the second most important principles of a life of faith. Beginning a walk with and knowing G.o.d more requires these two steps without which we will be completely ignorant of our new spiritual status in and with G.o.d. Being the tender age of twelve and not yet feeding my new faith with G.o.d"s word (the Bible), my life continued back on its usual track with no immediate sign or fruit of my new experience. I, however, was quickened in my heart by who I now recognize as the Holy Spirit to enroll in baptismal cla.s.ses at my local Baptist church where I had attended Sunday school. After successfully completing the cla.s.ses, I got baptized at a big ceremonial event held in the same congregational hall of the church where I had got saved. I did not fully realize until the day of the service when it all fully dawned on my twelve-year- old mind that baptism was a cornerstone doctrine for this denomination.
Baptists took baptism very seriously. I was, therefore, very surprised upon my arrival at the special service to see many families gathered dressed in beautiful outftts to attend their loved one"s baptism and afterward take photographs with them. Though I shared with and invited my parents to the service, no one in my immediate family had any awareness of the signiftcance of the spiritual events that had taken place in my life, so at my baptism I was the only one from my family in attendance. My father had gone out on some business, mother was having her much-needed afternoon nap, and my siblings were outside playing. G.o.d was very present, however, and He made it a very special moment in my heart. I was baptized by the Rev. T. A. Akande and given an official church baptismal certiftcate, conftrming my new faith, which I still dearly cherish.