By Rand Carruth*

KOLKATA, India—Bijoy* chose to follow Jesus on Easter Sunday. The 18-year-old former Hindu, an apprentice carpenter, placed his faith in Jesus as his Savior, rejecting worship of other gods.

I am sounding off an exclamation of praise to our great God! Will you join me?

Five days earlier, I had the privilege of sharing a tract, my story of faith and the Good News message with three carpenters. They were building and installing a kitchen cabinet, and I saw that Bijoy was most-interested.

“Can he come to your religion?” asked the senior carpenter. He was referring to his junior carpenter Bijoy sitting nearby. Bijoy was favorable to the tract and message that I had explained to them two days earlier. So as the men sat on the floor of the kitchen and me in a chair, I restated the Good News.

He told me on the last day of their work that he wanted to have the kind of relationship with Jesus the Son that I was describing. We made plans to meet again Easter Sunday.

That day we knelt down as a symbol of our worship during the most important decision Bijoy would ever make.

Bijoy had been exposed to the Gospel through a Christian school during grades six through eight. The organization that runs the school also happens to be a partner with whom I give our church-planting training. What a joy to see God’s hand preparing and guiding this young man through the years.

Right before our eyes, the Easter message came alive! The Son who rose from the dead, conquering sin, and who lives today became a living hope to Bijoy 2,000 years later. He could have continued a pattern of worshipping idols and could have easily chosen to follow any guru of his former faith. Yet, the powerful drawing of God and the desire for internal peace beckoned him to the Resurrected One!

The words of Jesus come to life when we hear what He told His followers. “I sent you to reap what you didn’t labor for; others have labored, and you have benefited from their labor” (John 4:38, HCSB).

God’s harvest is ripe. On Easter, I was privileged to labor and reap a harvest in God’s field because of faithful men and women before me.

You, too, have been a part of this effort through lifting up God’s work here. I am very grateful for you. Let us praise Him today!

Please lift up Bijoy before God.

• Ask God to give Bijoy assurance of his salvation.
• Pray that Bijoy would experience God’s presence and perfect peace.
• Pray that he would be strengthened and have perseverance as he lives and works among Hindus.
• Ask God to provide an Indian Christian who will mentor Bijoy spiritually.
• Pray that God would also provide a church home for Bijoy.

He is risen, indeed!

–30–

*Name changed.

Rand Carruth is a Southern Baptist representative serving the Lord in India.