I emerged bemused but happier

BBC TV antiques expert David Harper had never considered Christianity, but when faith transformed his daughter’s life he began an investigation of his own. He told Chris Rolfe the story.

Before my daughter Hetti became a born-again Christian just over two years ago we lived in constant fear for her. She’s a singer-songwriter in London, and for several years had been involved with the heavy rock scene, making very dark music.

She became deeply depressed while experimenting with spiritualism and although doctors tried to help her with therapy and antidepressants, nothing worked.

We were constantly terrified about what might happen next. Never did we expect that she’d find Jesus.

Someone suggested praying, so Hetti prayed in desperation that Jesus would either let her die or save her. He saved her, and the change I witnessed in her was remarkable. She is a completely new person.

I saw in her a light, a joy and a purpose which I gratefully, if nervously, monitored for over a year. It was an immense relief to witness her continued and growing happiness. I was worried all this joy was just a phase. It wasn’t.

I’ll admit this watching period was a time to look for faults in her Christian belief system; for reasons for me not to believe and for the honeymoon period to end.

It didn’t, so in December 2024 I decided to research what had transformed her. I’d look at Christianity without bias and investigate it from the very beginning. Nothing academic, just an ordinary inquisitive layman looking for answers.

I was, and had always been, a confused agnostic. I’d looked at many belief systems over the decades without finding any satisfying.

For the past few years I’d been reading Stoic philosophy. I relished it, but as I experienced Hetti’s transformation I realised very quickly that it wasn’t enough; it didn’t answer any of the big questions around the purpose for life in the way that her Christian faith did.

I’d never really looked at Christianity before. As I began my research I thought it might take a few hours of internet browsing, but I immediately found myself diving into cavernous rabbit holes of information that I’d never heard or seen before.

My research started with the Big Bang and covered everything from evolution, evidence for the soul, near-death experiences, the life of Jesus, the resurrection and the effects of the Holy Spirit. I also began reading the Bible for the first time and started praying (on the advice of my daughter!).

Eleven months later (working on it every day and at the expense of all my other work) I emerged a somewhat bemused, but surprisingly happier person … a born-again Christian!

I came to the conclusion firstly that God exists and later that Christianity is true. Jesus is real and the resurrection is a historical fact.

But this was only going on in my brain. I felt nothing in my soul. Then a month or so later I began to experience some spiritual and highly emotional shifts, which came from nowhere and stopped me in my tracks.

I’d have a feeling of joy, a sense that I’d remembered something important but didn’t know what it was, or I’d just come up with a great idea, but also didn’t know what it was! I began to feel emotional like I’d never felt before. My general mood was noticeably lifted and I developed a definite spring in my step.

Then a few weeks later something hit me like a steam train.

I’d amassed a huge amount of evidence for Christianity but after watching a video of Dr John Lennox discussing the incredible changes he’d seen in people once they’d found Jesus I realised I’d overlooked the evidence that was shining me in the face: Jesus had transformed my daughter.

In that moment, I experienced what I describe as an 18-inch drop. This is when the belief I held in my head fell 18 inches into my heart and became an all-knowing and loving sensation in my soul that God is real. I felt it in every fibre of my body. I thanked God for saving my daughter.

Becoming a Christian is without doubt the best thing I’ve ever done! I’ve found purpose, joy and meaning, the like I’ve never felt before.

I’ll continue my TV work – the new series of Antiques Road Trip has started and I’m also presenting BBC Bargain Hunt – but my primary focus and passion from now on will be talking about God … antiques will come second!

Finding a faith community

My wife, Wendy, and I go to a couple of churches – our local CofE and Bishop Auckland Elim, whose pastor I’ve known for many years. I feel very comfortable with Elim and especially with its energy and passion in worshipping God.

I enjoyed our Alpha Course, which helped greatly with my research and coming to my conclusions, and since then we’ve continued with group get-togethers and even paddle tennis matches!

Having a church community is very important; talking to people about God, the Bible and exploring faith is absolutely vital.

I realise I’m very new to Christianity, so I certainly don’t profess to be any sort of expert on it, but I feel I can reach people who are inquisitive about God but don’t know where to begin.

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.