The phrase “pass on the torch” first came to my awareness years ago when I sat for the entrance examination into Queen’s College, Lagos. At the time, I didn’t fully understand its meaning, but I vividly remember the accompanying image: a student, smartly dressed, holding up a burning torch. It captivated me.
When I was eventually accepted into the school—albeit later than planned—I encountered the phrase often, especially whenever we sang the school song. The song itself was beautiful, and we sang it with pride. That pride was instilled in us by our principal—may her soul rest in peace—who taught us what it truly meant to be a student of Queen’s College. At the time, I didn’t grasp the deeper meaning of “pass on the torch,” but I joined my peers in chanting it aloud and proudly declaring the name of my school at every opportunity.
This phrase returned to my memory as I read my Sunday School lesson for the week. The theme was “Pass it on.” It made me pause—what exactly are we passing on? As I read about the Great Commission, the Lord brought that old phrase back to my heart: Pass on the torch.
Now, with the benefit of time and varied life experiences, I have come to understand what it truly means. It means to shine your light for another young woman who is journeying toward greatness—without dimming your own. It means to pass along the pride and honor of being part of a vibrant sisterhood of girls who attended that prestigious school. It means sharing the lessons you’ve learned. It means keeping the school’s values and honor code alive for the next generation.
Looking back, I realize we did pass it on—with joy and without being told. We saw it modeled and we followed suit. My sister shared the school’s history and traditions with me before I resumed. My seniors guided me through hostel life. My teachers instilled principles that have shaped my life toward excellence. To this day, I proudly tell people I attended Queen’s College and speak of it with deep admiration.
“Pass it on”—the gospel of Jesus Christ. Just like the little servant girl in Naaman’s story. Just like Andrew. Just like Philip. Pass it on to the next person: the stranger on the street, your neighbor, your co-worker, and even your date.
There is such joy in passing it on—seeing others encounter the same peace, joy, and freedom you’ve found in Christ. How beautiful to create prayerful spaces at work. How enriching to have prayer picnics with your neighbors and share the Good News.
But to pass on the gospel, you must first have it. Just as I couldn’t pass on the Queen’s College torch without being a student, you cannot pass on Christ if you haven’t experienced Him for yourself.
So today, I invite you to experience Christ. But don’t stop there. Carry the light of Christ with pride and boldness. Tell someone about Jesus. Be the bright light in your corner of the world—and pass it on.