Extracts from a Book written by one of the greatest Indian Missionaries

After a few days, i am back here.... there was nothing much to write... this week was quite boring... at work, also nothing much to do... even today i didn't have anything to write... but in the evening i got a mail from one of the greatest indian missionaries whom i know personally... it was encouraging... it was a kind of prophecy to me... he doesn't know anything which i had to go through for the last few years... but what he wrote was about that too... and wrote that god will lead me in great ways... yes!!!! i am looking forward to it....

He attached a portion of the new book he is writing, a couple of stories and his testimony... i liked that... so thought of sharing with you guys....

Let me borrow a page from Ruth Bells Graham’s written collection.

Quote:

Happy Christians were apart of my heritage. And those I knew were deeply committed to Christ. One would have to be to go to China in those days, learn the difficult language and work as hard as they did, often under dangerous circumstances.

For example, an oil company was about to open a new operation in China. A committee was charged with finding a man to manage the new division. This manager had to meet for qualifications: He had to be under 30 years of age, university graduate, a proven leader and have a fluent knowledge of Chinese. Each man considered was found lacking. Then some one said that they had a friend meeting all the requirements who already was living in the very city where the company was planning to establish its headquarters. He was 28, had brilliant college record, had three years’ study and practice in the Chinese language, plus he had the full confidence of the Chinese people among whom he was well known. The committee asked how much salary this friend getting and was startled to learn that it was only $600 a year because he worked for a mission board. After further questioning, the committee chairman appointed the man to g to China and gave him the instructions, “Hire that man. Offer him $10,000 a year. If that fails, offer him $12,000 or even $15,000.” The man made the long trip, found his friend and made him the offer – which was declined. As instructed, the man raised the offer but was gain refused. Finally the man asked his friend, “What will you take?” “It’s not a question of the salary,” the young missionary assured him. “The salary is tremendous. The trouble is with the job. The job is too little. I feel that God has called me to preach the Gospel of Christ. I should be a fool to quit preaching in order to sell oil.” Such were the giants among whom we grew up.”

Unquote.

Mrs. Graham was raised among spiritual giants. But I feel that our children and youth are growing among dwarfs – who are willing to sell the call and ministry that God gave and go to the gulf to work for oil companies. I remember the story of my pastor P M Thomas. He was the pastor of a church in Jammu & Kashmir and I was saved in his convention in 1971. Immediately he took me under his wings and trained me as a disciple of the Lord. As I was serving in the Indian Army I could go to the Church only on an occasional home meeting and one or hardy two Sunday church service. The rest of the days I was on duty in the office. But when ever I was available he ad his wife Christy gave me their time. He was a teacher in an English medium school in Kerala. He was also a well-accepted preacher in the conventions too. Then this young man felt the call for Kashmir. He was only happy to g but he had many responsibilities towards his home: 2 younger brothers, four unmarried sisters and aged parents. But he decided to obey God and go as a missionary to Kashmir. Let me quote the rest of the story from his life storybook though he himself told this to me.

Quote:

“Temptation appeared. Some one in the USA heard about Thomas and offered him a full scholarship at Grace Theological College in Los Angels. In those days, going to America for theological training was almost like going to Paradise. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and America and all its dollars shall be added unto thee”, was the popular notion. “Lord, what shall I do? Thomas cried out. Every monring for six weeks he walked down the street and spent the day in prayer and fasting until evening. As he agonized in Spirit, he realized that many who had gone to America for training never returned to India for ministry. And inside, he could hear God speaking to him not to go to America for his studies. ….Reluctantly, Thomas wrote to the school in Los Angels, thanking them but declining the offer.”

Unquote.

Let me tell you about my temptation. I left my army job and went to Katra as a pioneer missionary working on faith. I did not have a mailing list and no mission to support. It was a life of poverty. I saw my son becoming unconscious three times because we did not have a grain of rice to give. Lily was all skin and bones walking around in torn clothes. I remember crying as I watched her skeleton body and torn clothes. It was a very hard life. One day I was sitting under a tree in front of our rented room reading the mail. There was a letter from Alain, UAE. It said, “Recently there was an influx of sweepers from Pakistan. A special camp is set up to accommodate the 1000 newly arrived sweepers. Recently I found that all these people are Christians – mostly nominal Christians. They are given a large tent to meet and worship. But they have no pastor. We wish you can come to Alain and be their pastor. The American hospital here will give you the visa and free housing. We will send you a ticket and give a car on arrival. Since you speak Urdu, You can havea very good ministry here.” It also talked about opportunity to minister in the other Indian assemblies also. I did not even pray about it. I tore that letter into pieces and scattered in the air. Because I knew my calling and the place for which He has called me. The offer did not even tempt me even for a fraction of a second.

I Rememeber going for a visa to go to USA to preach in a few churches. The Visa officer rejected my application saying that she is afraid that I will not return to India. I talked to her and said, “I am a Christian preacher. I promise that I will return on time” She laughed and said, “Those who went before you said the same thing, shaking their Bibles in their hands. But none of them came back. They settled there.” I did not have any words to speak to her.

Dear friend, know your call, know the place of your call and know the term of your call. If God is calling you now, don’t wait for another ten years. If God is calling you for Bihar, don’t settle for Bombay. If God is calling you – don’t say, “Lord here I am – but send my neighbour. I will support him.” God does not lack money – but He lacks men called for a purpose. If he called you – you must go to do that job God called you.

I heard another story from Rev (Dr) John Haggai in April 2004 in Kula Lumpur, Malaysia. He talked about South Korea liberated. The American caretaker government was looking for an able man who will be accepted by the people. They considered one after the other and finally narrowed on one man, a Presbyterian pastor who was highly respected by the people of Korea. They approached him to be the President of Korea to lead that country which was in ruins into stability and prosperity. He declined saying that he is doing a greater job and he cannot step down to take up the position of the president of Korea though the offer is tempting.

hope it blessed you guys too... God Bless