I began to become aware of a joy and peace within that I never imagined. To my relief, depression, nightmares and unexplained illnesses in my body gradually faded.
My wife, Helen, and I are originally from Kenya. I was baptised Patrick at the age of eight, at the Church Missionary Society affiliated church in Western Kenya and confirmed at fourteen while at the Lenana Secondary School in Nairobi.
The East African Revival Fellowship had a big impact on three generations of my family. Apart from Sunday School, evenings at home echoed with hymn singing, prayer and Bible reading.
However I did not live up to the ideals of my faith at Nairobi University. The freedom there led me off track and I experimented with social, moral and ethical issues that I otherwise would never have explored. The result was a great cloud of guilt and depression. I had nightmarish sleep and unexplained illnesses that drink, disco dancing, sport and even medication could not cure.
Christian friends and classmates challenged my rough, have-it-all attitude and lifestyle. The crisis of the conviction of sin so overwhelmed me as I remembered my Christian upbringing. With God's help through these friends and circumstances, I determined to get back to faith. After some particularly difficult nights I went to the University Christian Union Sunday Service one morning. There I was helped to confess and turn away from my sin and turn back to God.
That was a new day and a fresh beginning. I began to become aware of a joy and peace within that I never imagined. To my relief, depression, nightmares and unexplained illnesses in my body gradually faded. I found a new confidence to speak to people, especially about what Christ had done and how He was changing my life.
Those who doubted gave me two weeks to go back to my old ways. By God's grace it is now 27 years later. Jesus has taken hold of me and I know that Christ loves me even in my fickleness. I want to love and serve Him always.
My wife, Helen, and I believe God has led us to the community of Penhill in answer to our prayers. We come as fellow pilgrims wanting to learn and serve in obedience, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith. (Heb 12:2).
About the author
Revd Patrick Mukholi has recently started as a Pioneer Minister on the Penhill estate in Swindon.