On Sunday, May 12, 1985, I went to the Chapel for the “Contact” service (the fellowship of Evangelical students at King’s College, Budo) and chose to sit at the very back. I don’t remember much of what was said or sung that evening, but I do remember feeling deeply unsettled. There was a strong conviction stirring within me - a sense that I needed this Jesus whom the “savedees” were always talking about.

That week had already been emotionally intense. Just days earlier, there had been an armed robbery at the school, during which my friend - a night watchman of Rwandese origin - was shot and killed. The shock of his death had shaken me, and I had been wrestling with big questions about life and faith ever since.

Though I felt the weight of that conviction during the service, I didn’t stay until the end. Instead, I left midway and went to visit a friend, the house prefect of Africa House then. After a short chat, I started walking back to Nigeria House (the dormitory that I lived in) - but somehow, I found myself detouring toward another friend's place, who was born again. There, I ran into a few other born-again students. Without hesitation, I told them, “I want to get saved.”

At first, they thought I was joking. But once they realized I was serious, they were more than willing to guide me through the “sinner’s prayer.” That moment marked the beginning of a new life for me.

Afterwards, I returned to Nigeria House and immediately shared the news with housemate, James Senoga, who himself had come to faith just days or weeks earlier.

Although I had been raised in a Christian home, I had only ever gone through the motions - doing “Christian things” without really knowing Christ. I was always searching for purpose and identity, pouring myself into friendships, studies, and relationships, hoping to find meaning. At the same time, I became increasingly self-focused, consumed by how others perceived me and driven by a desire for acceptance.

This week marks exactly 40 years since I began that journey of faith.

Over these four decades, I’ve come to realize that being a Christian isn’t about good works or religious rituals. It’s not about earning God’s love or trying to prove myself worthy. It’s about simply putting my total trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and walking in humble obedience to Him. Through Jesus, God has given me fulfillment, joy, and purpose. I’m far from perfect - I still stumble and fall - but even in my failures, God’s love remains steadfast.

When everything else I once relied on eventually let me down, God never did. He has revealed Himself through His Word and through life’s circumstances. He loved me at my lowest and rescued me - not only from myself but from eternal separation from Him.

In Jesus, I’ve found a peace and rest that remains, even in the most turbulent times. His finished work on the Cross has become the firm foundation for my life, anchoring me with hope and giving every day new meaning and purpose.

Gakyali Mabaga