My Testimony: How I Received the Gospel of the Grace of God By Pastor Jotham Ndanyuzwe I grew up in a Christian family where attending church and doing good works were considered the essence of the Christian life. From a young age, going to Sunday services was part of my routine. I was raised in a religious environment, surrounded by teachings that emphasized moral behavior and devotion. I genuinely believed that if I faithfully followed these practices, I would earn my way to heaven. I saw salvation as a reward for good conduct and spiritual performance Despite my religious background, I lacked a true understanding of the power of the gospel. I knew about Jesus but did not truly know Him. My faith was based on rituals rather than a personal revelation. I thought salvation was something to be achieved through my efforts. I was constantly striving to prove myself worthy before God, living under the pressure of trying to be good enough. However, everything changed in 2016. That year, I enrolled at World Impact Bible Institute (WIBI), founded by Dr. Peter Youngren. It was during my time of study there that I encountered the life-changing message of the gospel of grace. For the first time, I saw the gospel not as a system of rules or religious obligations, but as the wonderful news of what God had already accomplished for me through Jesus Christ. As I immersed myself in the teachings and studied the Word, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to the reality of God’s unmerited favor—His grace. I realized that salvation is not something we can earn or deserve, but a gift freely given by God through faith in Jesus Christ. This understanding transformed my perspective. One verse that particularly impacted me was Ephesians 2:8–9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” This scripture came alive in my heart, lifting the burden of religious striving. I understood that Jesus did not come to impose more rules but to fulfill the law on my behalf. He lived the perfect life I couldn’t live, died the death I deserved, and rose again to give me eternal life. My responsibility was not to earn His love but to receive it by faith. Another verse that struck me deeply was Titus 3:5: “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.” This revelation was profound. My good deeds, no matter how sincere, could never earn me salvation. Only God’s mercy, demonstrated through Christ’s finished work, could save me. From that point on, I no longer lived to earn God’s favor—I lived in response to the love He had already shown me. As I embraced the gospel of grace, I felt a burning desire to share this message. My purpose became clear: to spread the truth about God’s grace to others who, like me, had been trapped in the cycle of religious striving. This passion led me to write the book “Grace Upon Grace” to share the liberating truth that changed my life. Today, I live in grace, minister through grace, and proclaim grace. My life is a testimony to the power of God’s unmerited favor. The revelation of grace not only saved me but continues to sustain me every day. I am committed to sharing this message so that others may experience the same transformation and freedom that I have found in Christ.