All through primary school in a country in Asia, Rita* actively played a team sport.
When she was 12, she noticed something interesting about the “character building” sessions her coach would have at the end of training.
During these sessions, he shared anecdotes about his “friends”, through which he imparted values to the team to build up sportsmanship.
“My coach’s focus wasn’t on winning tournaments … Instead, he challenged us to live a life that was truly different.”
“For instance, my coach told us about a young friend named David. When facing a bigger and stronger opponent, David didn’t outsmart him, but instead, ran towards him with confidence knowing he wasn’t alone. So during a match with opponents who are more skillful, we can play with confidence rather than fear.
“When I was the captain of the team and we were losing, my coach told us about his friend Joshua, and how he hung on to the words “be strong and very courageous”. This became a team cheer and chant that boosted our confidence,” Rita told Stories of Hope.
Though these values were similar to what she had grown up with, there was something about them she could never wrap her head around.
“Everyone in the stories were very joyous. There was a sense that they did good things because of who they were, not out of fear or obligation,” Rita said.
This prompted her to start asking her coach about his “friends”.
It turned out that they were characters from the Bible. Hearing about them made her long for something more.
“It sparked the question in me, ‘What’s the purpose in life? What and who do I want to be?'”
“My coach lived his life in a very present manner – and wasn’t interested in things that are fleeting.
“His focus wasn’t on winning tournaments or pushing us to succeed academically to land a high-paying job.
“Instead, he challenged us to live a life that was truly different.
“He consistently gave his time to teenagers and their families, not out of obligation, but out of genuine care – even when it was inconvenient for him. That kind of commitment left a lasting impact on me.
“It sparked the question in me, ‘What’s the purpose in life? What and who do I want to be?’” she shared.
As she expressed interest to know more, her coach suggested she explore the Bible for herself, and ask God to speak to her through it.
Google search and a lightbulb moment
With some hesitation, she pulled up the Bible on Google, and asked God to speak to her. Skeptically, she clicked around at random, wondering if God would really respond.
The first verse she landed on shook her to her core:
“… You are my son; today I have become your father.” (Psalm 2:7)
“I’ve got a good relationship with my dad, and God used that as the first point to speak to me.”
For the first time, Rita saw God not as a distant figure but as a loving Father. It was “a lightbulb moment”.
“I’ve got a good relationship with my dad, and for God to use that as the first point to speak to me was mind-blowing. It was simple, but something I could relate to.”
Another series of clicks led her to another verse that jumped out:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1)
If Jesus was God, then what He said mattered. She had to know for sure if the words before her were real and applicable to her.
Scrolling once more, she landed on another verse. It assured her that this truth she had found was not something to fear:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)
Scrolling once more, she landed on a verse that assured her that this truth she had found was not something to fear.
At that point, all she needed was one more sign.
“I closed my eyes and scrolled. Out of the craziness of all the things I could have clicked on, I landed back where I first started,” she said
It was then she knew, this was no coincidence.
Rita knew that there was no turning back, but knew that believing in Jesus could lead to consequences for herself and her family.
At that juncture, Rita faced a crucial question: “What would this revelation mean for the rest of my life?”
A love too good to keep to herself
After two years of growing in her newfound faith, Rita couldn’t keep it to herself. She wanted her family and friends to experience the same joy she had found.
When she was 14, she quietly invited her cousins join her at youth group at church. Then she shared her coach’s stories with peers from a similar background. Curious, they joined the team to hear more.
Then everything came crashing down.
Her mother found the small Bibles she and her cousins had purchased, and barred her from going to youth group and attending team practice.
So Rita stayed in her room and prayed during service times on Sundays.
Realising she could not stop her daughter from pursuing this new faith, Rita’s mother eventually allowed her to resume going to youth group, on the condition that she did not get the family in trouble or tell her father.
The miracle of the scholarship
In the next two years, the youth group grew from six to 250 members, 80% of whom had a similar background to Rita.
Rita and friends continued sharing the goodness they had experienced, and by the time she was 17 and in her last year of school, there were 1,500 people in the group.
“Then, a miracle: A commercial institution offered her a full scholarship to study abroad – without her even applying.”
However, one day “everything really hit the fan”.
The authorities shut down their youth activities.
That same week, Rita – a straight A student – received the results of her national exams. She was devastated. They were abysmal and her plans of getting a scholarship to study overseas were dashed.
“I bawled my eyes out. Overnight, everything stopped. I had no friends, no youth group, I didn’t know what to do with life,” she said.
Then, an unexpected miracle happened.
A commercial institution offered her a full scholarship to study abroad – without her even applying. This opportunity not only took her to a country down under but also provided her with the chance to study theology alongside a degree in social science.
Purpose and gratitude
Now living overseas, Rita has dedicated her life to serving others. She became a pastor, supporting churches back in Asia and continuing the mission that first transformed her life.
Her family has seen the difference in her, even if they may not fully understand her faith.
“I’m the only one of my siblings my parents never gave a single cent to. When my parents couldn’t pay for a scholarship, I got it. I was supposed to serve a bond with the sponsor for five years, but that was wiped clean.
“My parents couldn’t deny there was a God looking after me,” she said.
Looking back, Rita sees how her journey has been guided by something greater than herself.
“Before, life was about being a good person and living for myself. Now, my life has a purpose beyond me. As long as I have breath in my lungs, there is a mission for today.”
For Rita, following Jesus was never about rules or rituals – it was about love. A love so overwhelming, so personal, that she couldn’t help but respond with her whole life.
*Names and certain details have been withheld for the protection of the interviewee.
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