My Salvation Story: Temporary Disappointment to Eternal Transformation
"For we know that all things work together for the good of those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
I was 16, going on 17, and I had carefully planned the last two years of my secondary education after my time at St. Joseph's Secondary School. Having spent my entire school life in all-girls Catholic schools, I was eager to attend a co-ed school and finally study alongside boys. I spent the whole of the long vacation from school excitedly looking forward to a fresh start at St. Edwards Secondary School. The uniform was ready, and I bought the black patent heels while on holiday that summer, along with tights, a blue shoulder cardigan, and more. It was a complete vision.
Alas, it was not meant to be. A few days before school started, my Mum was visiting a friend near the school when they saw a group of students, probably from summer school, hanging out idly nearby. As expected, the two friends discussed it, and a conversation about truancy and mischief in the schoolyard took place. Influenced by that talk, my mother quickly decided to change my plans and enrolled me at yet another all-girls school – The Annie Walsh Memorial School.
To say I thought my life was over would be an understatement. The trauma of processing why I had to wear the dreaded green uniform with brown socks and shoes left me speechless for days. I didn't talk to anyone at home for weeks, too stunned to process it all. To me, after years of rivalry with my sister about her school, it was entirely off-limits and unappealing. Despite weeks of tears, protests, and trying to convince her to change her mind, I found myself enrolled at Annie Walsh.
The first few weeks were difficult, full of shock and deep disappointment. But over time, I started to settle in. To my surprise, I reconnected with some familiar faces from St. Joseph's, and I gradually adjusted to my new digs.
One of my classmates was a born-again Christian who often shared her faith in class. At first, many of us found her stories amusing and asked a lot of silly questions about the Bible, her church, and her beliefs. We teased her by asking her to pray just for fun, and we watched with curiosity as she sincerely prayed. We even asked her about speaking in tongues. Every stereotype associated with born-again Christians, and we threw them at her.
Something shifted after a few months. What began as lighthearted banter turned into something I still find hard to put into words. A quiet transformation began. No longer just a joke, the message of Jesus and His death and resurrection began to touch our hearts.
Suddenly, a revival broke out in the lower sixth classroom at Annie Walsh in 1987/88. One by one, girls in the class accepted Jesus as their Savior, experiencing a significant personal transformation. No one openly declared their decision or said this was no longer a joke, but the changes were clear and undeniable.
Soon, many of us found ourselves on the steps by the bell, praying together and sharing our newfound faith in Christ. What started as playful interactions had turned into a life-changing experience. The place that had brought about the most unwanted and unwelcome change in my life was now the place where the Lord guided me on my faith journey. While I cannot provide an exact number, I would estimate that more than 60% of the class was affected during this time. We later found out that her entire church had been praying for the troublesome classmates!
Looking back, I realize that while I can't fully explain how or when my conversion happened, somehow the Lord wanted me at Kissy Road from 1987 to 1989, and He made it happen through my mother's unusual decision to enroll me at the Annie Walsh. What initially seemed like a setback became the very place where I encountered God's grace and saw the light of the Gospel Message.
The complete and thorough transformation in my life was astonishing. God's plans for me unfolded unexpectedly, and my life was radically changed. Everything changed. My desires, the things I was interested in as a young person... My focus shifted to fellowship events, Scripture Union, Evangel Church, youth groups, and Bible study.
This revival of 1987/89 highlights how God can use one light, one flicker of fire of quiet faith and persistent prayer in a classmate's willingness to be a witness of her faith in Christ to ignite change that can change lives for eternity. God can use anyone, anything, big or small, to redeem and bring His truth and grace into our lives. He used one young girl to get His truth into various lives! Cheers to the Annie Walsh Memorial School!
Cheers to my courageous classmate and friend. Grace and peace to you, Linda! May the Lord turn His face toward you. "Those who win souls are wise"! Your reward is coming.
'For I know the plans I have for you, Good plans to prosper you and bring you to an expected end" Jeremiah 29:11