Thursday, April 5, 2007

Testimonies from South Asia

In my last post, two videos showed how much of a dark and lost place South Asia is, and why this region needs Jesus. One of our partners, who is an indigenous Pastor in the region, sends us reports, called Facts from the Field. It is about how God is working among the people. It's all for the fame of His name, is it not? Here are two testimonies to how Jesus changes people who have never heard of Him:

The testimony of the Medical Practitioner: Dr. _______ was a Hindu, worshiped idols of different kinds. He was also a drug addict. He had no hope and peace in his life. One of our pastors visited in his villager and shared the gospel with him. He also read a few booklets about Jesus, but he didn't believe in Christ. One day, while he was doing an operation with the help of another doctor, the patient lost his pulse and Dr._____ felt the patient die. He didn't know what to do. He knew that if the patient dies he will have to close down his clinic and it will be a great shame and problem for his career. He will have to go to jail. Suddenly he remembered about the Lord Jesus and he began to pray to Jesus to bring life back to the patient. As he finished his prayer, amazingly, the patient began to breathe again. The patient is still alive and has no problem. This helped him to put his faith in Jesus and he accepted Jesus and took water baptism. There is a prayer meeting going on in his house now. He made a decision in his life that he will share the gospel with the patients, whether they like it or not, who come to his clinic. He is taking time to visit other villages also to share the gospel. His wife and children are now Christians.

Testimony of an Idol Maker & worshipper:
Mr. _____ used to make Hindu gods and goddesses of wood, cement and muds etc. Customers used to come from different parts of the area to buy the idols which he and his brother used to make. I have seen the idols he made while I visited his village. He used to worship them. He was also an alcoholic and wasted all the money he earned. His family was in great trouble as he used to fight with others after drinking and also he wasted all the money. One of our pastors visited his village and began to share the gospel with his villagers. His wife, after she heard about Jesus told him about the pastor and the gospel she heard. They had never ever heard about Jesus before. So this was new to them. However, he didn't listen to the gospel, in fact, he was very angry with the pastor for sharing the gospel. But the pastor began to pray for him and invited him to stop by the prayer meeting place whenever he liked to do so. One day, Mr. _____ was going to drink alcohol, and as he just passed the prayer meeting place, he felt the need to stop there and visit the pastor. Amazingly, the prayer meeting was going on there and he sat with them and listened the gospel. He got changed from there on. He didn't go to drink that day after he heard the gospel but he returned home. The gospel began to change him. He gave his life to Christ and peace and joy returned to his home. He witnessed the Lord in the water (baptism). Now, he is sharing the gospel not only with his villagers and friends, he is going to other villagers, even to his wife's villages. He is truly a changed person now. I met him and his family after he went home from the training. I was really happy to see a happy family in Christ. His father is against him for accepting Christ. Please pray for him to believe in Jesus. This is what Gospel can do with any one who believes in Christ. The gospel transformed him. (Names left blank for security reasons).

God is doing amazing things in a very dark and lost area of His world. Praise His Holy Name!

4 comments:

Debbie Kaufman said...

This is incredible. Thanks so much S.A.M. It's something to ponder as Easter approaches. He Lives!

Darrell said...

SAM,

Any thoughts why we don't see the Lord do these kinds of things here on a regular basis? Or if He is what am I doing wrong? I earnestly desire the Lord to demonstrate His power and love like this to the folks I am loving and praying for. Thus far no BOOB. Just a still small voice.

Help me out Bro!

S.A.M. said...

Darrell, You live in a completely different culture. There have been some missionaries/evangelists who have never and may never see any of their followers or people of their community come to know the Jesus they speak of every day. Jesus also spent 3 years along side someone who would never embrace Him or accept Him in his heart. That someone was Judas. Even though he was with Jesus every day, he did not really believe He was the Son of God.

In South Asia, the people there are very spritual already. They are searching for something, and blindly latching on to the traditional gods of their families. This has left them spritually blind to God's truth, and most have never heard the name of Jesus. But the blindness is curable, much like the blindness that Jesus healed during His ministry. These people are like dry brush. The smallest spark of the Word sets this dry brush on fire and it spreads and changes lives. Jesus is badly needed here, and God is working through miracles, visions and life change to bring people to know Him.

I know you desire for the people around you to know the Jesus that you know and speak to them about now, but it has to be in God's time. You are planting seeds, and the Lord will harvest them when they are ripe. That may not be the answer you need, but I will continue to pray for you and the ones around you. I will also try to think of new ways to help you possibly reach these as well. Bless you and stay strong brother!
SAM

Darrell said...

Thanks...I think :)