Isatu was almost eleven when she first spoke the Word of God out loud. Not in a church, not at home, but in a classroom courtyard. Surrounded by her classmates, teachers, and school leaders at Agape Elementary and Academy, an Edify partner school in Sierra Leone, Isatu remembers the feeling clearly. Her hands were steady. Her voice surprised her. Scripture, once unfamiliar, now lived inside her, ready to be spoken.
But all that led up to that moment did not come easily. Isatu grew up in a Muslim household, and Jesus was not a name she knew well, or one she was encouraged to explore. When her parents chose Agape, it was for the quality of education, a school with a reputation for helping children learn and thrive. They came looking for strong academics. Yet Isatu did not expect that the school would place a Bible in her hands, and that her world would open to the Word of God.
Changed by the Word of God
She began quietly. Reading on her own. Sitting with the words. Two verses changed everything for Isatu, verses that held her together during this season of change in her life. John 3:16 reminded her that love was not distant or conditional, but given freely. A God who loved the world enough to give His Son so that no one would be lost, but could find real life. John 20:30 spoke of signs and wonders written so that people might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and that believing led to life itself. “My view about Jesus began to change when I started reading Scripture,” Isatu says. “Those verses made me want to learn more about Him, even though it was difficult at home.”
When her father discovered she had a Bible, he was furious. The tension was real, but it did not stop her. Isatu continued reading, learning, and growing in her faith. At school, she found a place where faith and learning belonged together and where asking questions was welcomed. Where standing up to read Scripture was not rebellion, but formation. Through Discipleship Clubs and later the Alumni Fellowship, her understanding deepened, and her confidence grew. These communities helped expand her leadership skills and strengthened her resolve to keep learning, wherever that path might lead.
A Bright Future in Christ
Today, Isatu is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree. She speaks about her future with calm clarity and courage. “After completing my studies in medicine, I plan to equip myself with the necessary skills and knowledge to transform lives and help make Sierra Leone a godly nation. I hope to serve others and give back to my community by sharing my faith experience and academic knowledge.”
