To watch Japhlet Lolo give the valedictory address at Booth University College’s convocation this year, one could be forgiven for thinking his faith had always run deep.

But this was not the case. Like so many of us, he had to undo childhood habits he had taken for granted and relearn his faith. In so doing, he became the Christian he is.

“I would never have made it this far if it were not for God,” Japhlet says.

Firm Foundation

Japhlet was born into a Salvation Army family in Kenya.

“My parents are officers, so there’s always that pressure of being a pastor’s child and reflecting that,” he says. “You always need to be on the right, you always need to live well. Going to church was mandatory, a routine, growing up. Sundays are Sundays and you had to go to church.”

But that was not a problem for the youngster. He found the gospel dances, dramas and timbrels that made up a Salvation Army church service fun and exciting.

“I was happy to go to church and Sunday school every week. That foundation helped me to eventually mature in my faith, though at that time I had not really thought through what it all meant. That came later.”

“I Want to Sing”

After high school, the young Japhlet started sitting in the back pew while his parents sat up front.

“The people who sat with me there weren’t really listening and just wanted to pass the time—and leave early without being seen!”

But one day while the praise and worship team was performing, Japhlet felt something.

“There was something in the church,” he explains. “I felt as if I needed to know who God was. Later, I came to understand that when the Holy Spirit visits a church, you can literally feel that. I did.”

Japhlet’s first thought was, I want to sing. So he joined the praise and worship team to serve God. He soon realized it was more than just singing.

“If you are part of the worship team, you need to be on the intercessory team as well,” he says. “And you have to be committed to praying for the church.”

That was the breakthrough Japhlet needed to start to understand who God is. He had always lived a Christian life, but he had taken that for granted.

“I’d not really known Jesus Christ well.”

Through the praise and worship team, Japhlet started to truly participate in the life of his church for the first time. Curious to learn more about God, he searched the Bible for answers.

“I realized why people pray for hours,” he laughs now. “I learned that as a Christian, you are not only praying for yourself but you’re also praying for others.”

The call to serve came at the right time for Japhlet, and it was then that he decided to become a soldier in The Salvation Army.

Serving Others

Japhlet soon started to develop his spiritual life, leading Bible studies and preaching, as well as giving his testimony during open-air services at his corps.

“Since then, I’ve never regretted depending on God because I’ve seen his hand in my life. God opened big doors that I never expected would open.”

One of those doors opened to Canada and Booth University College in Winnipeg. It was only natural for him to join the college’s worship team, and the school played an important part in his spiritual nourishment.

“That’s what led me to go into social work, because of what The Salvation Army has prepared me to do,” he concludes. “I want to serve other people.” 

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