From youthful madness to purposeful living

How faith in Christ changed the life of Moses Nwanji for the better

Moses Nwanji, 32, is gearing up for the release his debut book, The Streets vs The Kingdom, which chronicles the journey of his life to date. This husband, father of three, former youth pastor and banker is living a fulfilled and exemplary life – because of his faith in Christ. His life could have turned out very differently. Moses was walking a path that would have led him to a life of unfulfilled potential – that of some of his childhood friends. However, his parents’ decision to send him to Nigeria when his life took a turn they didn’t like, turned out to be transformative. Not only did Moses get into education and put away childish things, he became a Christian too.

Moses spoke with Keep The Faith about the follies of his youth; how following Jesus has changed his life; and how he is now compelled to share with others the transforming power of the Gospel.

KEEP THE FAITH (KTF): Can you tell us about your childhood and what it was like growing up as a child of Nigerian parents in the UK?
MOSES NWANJI (MN): My childhood was filled with family, church and libraries. I am the eldest of three siblings, and so from a young age I knew I was to set a good example for them. We didn’t have much, but my parents were very intentional to ensure we were exposed to certain things: holidays, so we could see other parts of the world; church, so we would know Jesus; and education, so that we would have better opportunities than our parents did.

KTF: At what point did things start to go wrong for you as a teenager? What influenced your decisions back then?
MN: Everything turned south when I entered secondary school. Year 7 exposed me to things I hadn’t known when in primary school. School versus school fights; people selling cookies and doughnuts to make money; postcode gang affiliation; and protection based on who you knew. When I reflect back, I realise that my decisions were influenced by insecurities. I had no older brother or cousins (role models) close by, and so I note that a lot of my actions stemmed from wanting to make a name for myself and being accepted by a specific crowd. I got what I wished for, but this came at a high cost.

KTF: What kind of trouble did you get into, and what were the consequences of your actions?
MN: It started with bunking classes and being disrespectful to teachers, and then progressed to stealing and violence. This resulted in me being expelled from my first secondary school in Year 9. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop me, and shortly afterwards I was expelled from my second secondary school for the same things, ending up in a pupil referral unit. It was during this period that I immersed myself deeper into gang culture, travelling to different areas and schools to intimidate others, and also being introduced to drugs. My actions meant I had a criminal record instead of GCSEs by the time I was 16.

KTF: Being sent back to Nigeria at 16 must have been a huge turning point. What was that experience like for you? How did it shape your perspective?
MN: It was definitely an important point in my life. Looking back, I can see that if I hadn’t been sent back I wouldn’t be doing this interview today. It was a complete shock. I was in a boarding school. There was a rigid structure: when to eat, when to sleep, when to socialise, when to study, when to wash clothes. We didn’t have electricity 24/7; malaria was a common thing; and the teachers had the authority to beat you. But it was there that I came to understand that education is for progression and that faith in Jesus isn’t for old people only.

KTF: At what point did you decide to turn your life around, and what role did faith play in that decision?
MN: It started within one year of being in Nigeria. In that year alone, I got excluded from my school in Nigeria for fighting and, at the same time, the majority of my friends in London had gone to jail. It felt as if God had intentionally removed me from London in order to grant me a second chance. I didn’t become a follower of Jesus at that point, but my heart was definitely more open to Him. What followed, though, is that I decided I would make the most of my time in Nigeria; integrate and actually make friends; take my education seriously; and aim to leave with some qualifications.

KTF: Was there a specific moment or experience that led you to become a Christian?
MN: Yes, there was a moment. Up until that point I had been scared of God and death, because I knew I had done much wrong. But, as I was reflecting one day, it’s as if a lightbulb went on in my heart and I started thinking about the familiar phrase, ‘Jesus died for my sins’. It was in that moment that I got the revelation that the same God who I’d been scared of because of my sins, was the One who sent Jesus to die for all those very sins in order to forgive me. It was then I knew that Jesus truly loved me and wanted to make me new. And I decided I would follow Him.

KTF: How did you transition from that past life into becoming an investment banker? What were some of the biggest challenges you faced?
MN: By God’s grace, I left Nigeria at 19 – a Christian with 3A*s and 3As. Before leaving, though, I’d developed an interest in finance, and so I returned to London to study Economics at university. Most people didn’t know I was back, as I kept it quiet so I could remain focused. While at university, I volunteered at a corporate finance firm in order to get some experience, and in my second year, I was fortunate to secure an internship at Santander. By the time I started my final year, I had secured a graduate role at Barclays Investment Bank. The biggest challenges were the fierce competition for these opportunities and overcoming the hurdle of having a criminal record. Jesus saw me through!

KTF: You’re now a husband and father of three. How has your past shaped the way you raise your children?
MN: Given my past, I recognise the importance of affirming my kids in God’s truth. I aim to constantly remind them that they are loved and their identity is to be rooted in Jesus, not in the things I was once did. I also endeavour to spend quality time with them and have frequent conversations, as I want to make sure they know experientially that they can speak to me about anything. Lastly, I am honest – age appropriately – about my past and my sins, so that they recognise that their dad isn’t perfect, but deeply dependent on Jesus – just as I desire them to be.

KTF: You’re getting ready to launch your book, The Streets vs The Kingdom. What inspired you to write it, and what message do you hope readers take away from your story?
MN: In 2019, I visited three friends in jail. It was a very depressing experience, which made me ponder the way Jesus had rescued me from the streets and transformed my life, and ultimately how He can do the same for my friends. This is when the book idea was birthed. Alongside this, I routinely heard reports of young people dying, and abhorring the fact that many were doing so without Christ.

My heartfelt desire is for readers to recognise that ‘the streets’ thrive in deceiving our youth due to the worldview they espouse, and that only Jesus and His Kingdom are able to discredit, dismantle and deliver them to true freedom.

KTF: What advice would you give to young people who may be heading down the wrong path, just as you once did?
MN: I’d advise them to get alone and ask themselves this question: at what cost are you becoming loved by the streets? When you’re on that path you often don’t take time to reflect, as there’s a lot of adrenalin involved. But when alone, ask yourself: are the arrests, the constant paranoia, near misses, fear, jail time, lost potential, and tears of your parents worth the five minutes of fame in your area? Not at all. Recognise that the streets are a counterfeit for true purpose, set up to stunt and destroy you. The truth is that you were made on purpose and for a purpose, and it’s the Author of your life, Jesus Christ, who leads you into that purpose.

KTF: What are your goals for the future, both professionally and personally?
MN: In truth, to honour God in all that I do. Professionally, that looks like continuing to add value to my clients, treating my colleagues well, and grasping at the opportunities to grow and lead. I’m fortunate to work in an expanding business with ambitious targets, so I know I’ll continually be challenged.

On a personal level, there’s more writing to do. My wife and I set up a publishing company, Safehaven Prints, with the goal of empowering people’s faith beyond the page. We want this first release to be distributed throughout UK prisons, but there is more to come, including resources for both children and adults.

KTF: How do you hope your story and your faith will inspire others?
MN: My story is a testament to God’s awesome grace. I want others to see that same grace is also available to them – no matter how chequered a past they may have. Jesus sought me out when I was a complete mess and opposed to Him, and, despite that, He dealt with my sin and gave me a new life in Him. You may or may not have the background I have, but my hope is that all will know that it’s the power of the Good News of Jesus that is able transform any life and, by extension, our society.

The Streets vs The Kingdom is out on March 28.
Pre-order a copy at www.safehavenprints.com
Follow on Instagram at @moses.nw