My name is Emmanuel Nwachukwu. I reside in Nicosia, North Cyprus, but my home is Owerri, Nigeria were I was born and spent the greater part of my early life with my family. I have been a student in Cyprus since September 2018 when I also joined my local church, Lefkosa Protestant Church.

Like many youngsters in my neck of the woods, I grew up with Christian parents. The blessings and privileges of such a family provided me a foundation for a daily and disciplined reading of the Bible. I remind myself that that was God’s grace working in me. The comfort of such a family shielded me from any immediate challenge to my beliefs. However, this was experienced during my undergraduate studying Biochemistry at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I encountered a professor who was an atheist. He spent parts of his classes disparaging God. He often said, “Science is not like a white bearded man in the sky with a magic wand.” According to him, God was the white-bearded man, believed only by blind faith and myth, while science was all about facts and evidence. Many of my peers never took him to heart (atheism is not a belief that many Nigerians hold). However, I was one of the few that took his arguments seriously. But God was gracious to bring along my path a friend who shared resources that were helpful. Another evidence of God’s grace in my life. It was during this time that I encountered the greatest evidence of God’s grace. That Jesus died for my sins and was raised by God was the greatest news ever. I came to see the Gospel of Christ as my only hope. I had no choice but to give in. The hymn writer helps me capture it:

I need no other argument,
I need no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

Since then, I have spent my life sharing this news with as many people as possible.

Seminary life has been another evidence of God’s grace in my life. Although the challenge of studies exists, the discipline of maintain a daily devotion is greater. Thankfully, I have had the encouragement of elders in my church who have been there to pray with and counsel me. I am thankful to them—Pastors Andrew Swanson, James Swanson, and Philip Benstead—whose support has been key to my development.

I am also grateful to the RBS Staff and lecturers, especially Dr Gonzales and Vadim Chepurny. I am confident that RBS will continue to serve God and his people faithfully. As I look forward to my days after seminary, I am grateful for the opportunities of service that God provides. My desire is to do all to the glory of God the Father, God the Son—the Lord Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria
Emmanuel Nwachukwu