Growing up in a Christian family means a life revolving around the Church and having the concept of salvation ingrained from a very young age, which sometimes means taking on the path of faith with uncomprehending eyes, living the depth and true meaning of faith that remained largely unexplored.
Despite making an initial commitment to Christ as a teenager in Sunday school, our feature this week, Thenjiwe Simelane’s comprehension of the Christian life was simple, often limited to an adherence to rules, such as the prohibition against dating. The moment Simelane completed high school and entered university, a powerful desire for freedom took root.
This yearning for life outside the strict confines of her home and church quickly led her to cast aside all things Christ-like.
The structured rules she had known were replaced by a compelling need to explore and experience life without restraint.
Her spiritual commitment, never fully rooted, faded as the world’s offerings became more appealing.
Her trajectory, however, shifted dramatically during the 2023 Assemblies of God (AOG) Easter Convention held at Kwaluseni AOG.
The catalyst for this profound change was a sermon delivered by Pastor Fakudze on the three kinds of Christians or believers. Simelane recalls the pastor meticulously elaborating on these three types: “Type 1 being the non-believer; this individual has not yet given their life to Christ and consequently, the devil holds no fear of them.
“A Type 2 is the relapsing Christian. This is a believer who hears the Word of God and repents, yet their transformation is temporary, often lasting only a few months before they relapse into their old ways.
“Lastly, the Type 3 Christian, which is the committed believer. This Christian has wholly set their life apart for Christ and consistently resists the temptations and pleasures of the flesh.”
As the pastor preached, Simelane found herself sobbing uncontrollably. The truth of the sermon was inescapable: She was a Type 2 believer.
She recognised herself as the kind of Christian who would desperately turn to God only when life felt overwhelming yet drift away the moment circumstances became comfortable or favourable.
The painful awareness that she had never given her life wholly to Christ sparked an undeniable urge for recommitment. This time, it would be different.
Her decision was not just a renewal of a childhood vow, but a profound act of surrender, acknowledging Jesus as the Lord and King of her entire life.
Simelane admits that her journey as a young Christian has not been without significant challenges, even following her sincere recommitment.
She found that the lack of a supportive community made her initial struggles particularly difficult. “Being a saved young woman without a community to hold you and encourage you, meant that you’d go through things without understanding.
Hence, I had to learn the hard way,” she reflects.
However, she credits her perseverance through numerous ‘storms’ to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and her determined effort to be obedient to the Scriptures.
Simelane speaks with conviction about the Spirit’s reliability, stating: “If there’s one thing about the Holy Spirit, it is that He is never wrong and will guide you to the right path (2 Corinthians 3:17).” She now finds immense joy in her walk with Christ, a joy that serves as an anchor, even “in the darkest night.”
To those who are currently striving to find their footing in faith, Simelane offers a message focused on total transformation.
“Salvation is about giving up control and letting God mould you into His image and for you to serve Him.”
She stresses that true salvation, as Jesus states, requires being ‘born again’ (John 3:3), which necessitates a complete overhaul of one’s life and priorities. U
ntil one allows God to transform them wholly, “walking in the path of salvation will not be easy.”
Furthermore, Simelane strongly encourages being available in the house of the Lord. She stresses that the Church is the essential place where one finds the community necessary for upliftment. prayer and accountability, referencing the biblical story of Samuel (1 Samuel 3:3) as an example of being present and available for God’s call.
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