My name, Mana,* is also the name of a Tamil Indian literary writer. My father was a devout Hindu priest. When I was a young woman, I helped with Hindu temple sacrifices during worship times. I was in the temple most of the time worshipping gods and neglected my daughter, my only child. I had no peace in my life, because I was possessed by evil spirits. It seemed that a Hindu god was in control of my life, so I even needed help to walk. At times, my tongue and eyes almost came out of my body. So I was emotionally stressed to the point of death. This torment from evil spirits lasted nine years. I was semi-conscious and sometimes not aware of the constant stress. My daughter later told me that I had long, beautiful hair. I asked myself why should I live. Then I tried to hang myself. While I was hanging, luckily, some friends took me down, and I escaped death. Doctors told me that I would not live because of the injuries to my throat. Some Hindu priests and other Hindus tried black magic to try to help me, but there was no help. They tried putting chicken eggs on my head to rid me of the evil spirits, but this did not help. When I was demon-possessed, I was out of control and used to eat lots of bitter leaves with turmeric powder. I was under the influence of evil spirits when my daughter Sela* was born. My husband died in an accident shortly after Sela was born. When Sela was 5 years old, she and others who were helping her began to pray that God would deliver me from the evil spirits. At that time, my daughter did not understand Hinduism, nor did she know much about Jesus. She just wanted her mother’s love and for me not to be influenced by evil spirits. As a young child, God gave her faith in Jesus’ power to deliver me from evil. After three years of prayers by Sela and other faithful people, I was miraculously delivered. I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and have been serving the Lord since then as a Bible teacher. My daughter is now 37 years old, and she is also a strong follower of Jesus since age 8.

*Name changed.

I was born in a Hindu village in India. It was my desire from childhood to know who is my god. I used to follow all kinds of Hindu rituals, rules and regulations. This is how I began searching for God.

At first, I wanted to know the real and true god, but I used to think, “Who is that true god?” On Thursday in my village, we would worship the banana tree. We would pour water on the roots of the banana tree as a religious practice.We used to perform puja (Hindu worship practices). We used to wrap the tree in clothes. Then we would take our religious book and read under the banana tree.

After all this, still I could not find the true god. Soon my body looked the same as that of Job, who after having all kinds of wounds on his body, nobody recognized him.

One day, a sadhu (a Hindu ascetic) came to me and said that one day I would be a very big man with a very good figure. That sadhu gave me some instructions. He gave me something and instructed me to soak it into milk and pour it out in the sun.

For one month, I practiced what the sadhu said. Continually I poured the water on the banana roots. Then one day I saw a temple, and an evil spirit told me to go inside and worship. So, I went inside and worshiped there for three hours along with many other people.

For one year continually, I would go to the temple and worship every day for three hours. Every morning I would take a bath and then go to worship the idol in the temple. Then in the evening after work, again I would take a bath and go to worship.

One day I met a man who was totally blind. Because of his blindness, the man could not even walk properly, but that man had the Gospel of Christ. He told me about Jesus.

Lots of people were surrounding him. When I got to where I could see, there was this blind man. He was preaching about Christ and telling about the idols. He was saying that they have eyes but cannot see, ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot speak. Then after this, all the people left. I stood alone with this man.

I questioned the blind man. “Your hair is so long. Your legs are so weak. Your clothes are so dirty. You have not taken a bath in many days. How can you speak such good words from your mouth? Tell me, where did you learn these words?”

Then this man told me about Jesus Christ and the church. He told me to visit the church. On the first Sunday I went to church, I saw some people singing and praising the Lord. Also, they were preaching. I took a keen interest to visit the church again.

I used to go to the temple on Thursdays to worship and then to the church on Sundays. I decided that I would go to each place to see where I would worship. Whichever one could give me full satisfaction in my heart, then that god I would accept.

One night I had a dream. The idol came and told me that I should not go to church. Another day I had a dream, a vision in which I saw a fire. In the midst of this fire, I saw Jesus Christ and I saw His hand.

Then I finally decided that I would go to church. I would pray to God. I would continue in my faith. I began to pray to God, and then God gave me His word. I took water baptism, and now I am serving the Lord.

In the village that I have come from, I want to return and tell Christ to them where nobody knows. Please pray that many people will come to know Christ through me.

–30–

By Yash*, a believer ministering among Yadavs in India

*Name changed for security purposes

Life for a woman living in Pakistan is very different from that of a typical American woman. For a Muslim woman in a village, her day begins early in the morning. She quickly dresses in her “shalwar kameez,” a long-sleeved, loose-fitting shirt that reaches down past her knees draping over baggy pants tied at the waist with a drawstring. A “dupatta,” a long headscarf, covers her hair and much of her face. You will never see her without her head covering.

As the sun rises, she is milking the cows so that the family can have milk in their morning “chai” (spiced hot tea made with lots of milk and sugar). Once she has finished the milking, the woman returns to the kitchen to begin cooking the morning meal. Her kitchen is very simple – a small room with a dirt floor and a wood-burning mud oven. She cooks the family’s breakfast of “chapatis” (round, flat bread similar to a tortilla) and chai over the fire.

She must then see her school-age children off to school. She has much to do before they return at 1 p.m. She begins with feeding the family’s cows, goats and chickens. After she has fed the animals, she goes to help her husband work in the fields.

She returns to the kitchen in the early afternoon to prepare lunch for her family. Lunch often consists of “dal” (a type of beans or lentils) and chapatis or a rice and yogurt mixture. In the afternoon, she may walk three miles to get fresh drinking water and wash clothes. She carries her jar of water back on her head, the easiest and most convenient way to haul a heavy burden.

Her next task is to cut wood for her cooking fire. Once she has completed these chores, she may have chai and visit with her neighbors or sew clothes for her family. In the evening, she will prepare another meal for her family. Pakistanis eat meals at different times of the day than most Americans. For example, they eat lunch at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and then dinner is around 8 p.m.

Like most village women, she is nonliterate. Her parents did not send her to school when she was young. They expected her to help in the home instead. The situation is beginning to change in Pakistan and more young girls are going to school. 

One concern American women do share with this Pakistani woman is the concern they feel for their families, their households, their friends and their neighbors. Most of all, they share the need to be loved by Jesus. Like most Muslim women, she does not know that Jesus (Isa al Masih) died to save her from her sins.

She does not know the peace and forgiveness from sins that Jesus can provide. She has never heard that she can know for sure that she will be in heaven one day. This woman needs to hear about Jesus. Your prayers can make a difference. Please pray that God will send more women to share God’s love with the Muslim women of South Asia.

–30–

By Geneva Donoho*

*Name changed for security reasons.

Geneva Donoho is a journeyman serving among Muslim women in South Asia.

Jai Masih! I praise the Lord that He has chosen me to serve Him. I grew up in a Christian family. My father was a pastor.

Although I was born to a Christian family, in my callousness, I did not follow Christ intimately. I spent a lot of time in very bad company. My father prayed for me constantly and told me that I must not be in bad company and do bad things.

I went to school at a seminary. There I came to know Christ very intimately, but there was no challenge in my life to serve Him. During this time, my father called me with a marriage proposal. I got married and had three children.

All was not well though. I was a drunkard; I was a smoker. I got into much trouble with my friends. I did crime also. Because of all these bad habits and bad things in my life, I was separated from my family.

I became a teacher and was always separated from my father. One day when I was drinking with my friends, my son became very sick with fits. When I talked to my mother, she told me that I would have to leave all of my bad habits and come to the Lord. She said, “You have sinned against the Lord.” She told me to be reconciled with my father.

That day when my son had a fit, he fell on the ground. My heart was melting. My mother prayed for me. I confessed my sins, and I returned to my father’s home. I told my father, “I have sinned against you. Please forgive me.”

My father hugged me and loved me. He told me, “God has chosen you.” After that, I left my job. I began to live with my father again. I prayed, “Lord, give me vision. Give me a burden to serve You.”

It was then I met the pastor I am now working with. He told me, “God is with you.” Then he laid his hand on me and prayed for me. He told me, “Today with us, you are going to serve the Lord. If you believe that Jesus Christ has chosen you for His service, then go and bring your family to serve Him together.”

I was reminded of the prophet Elijah who was fed by the raven and the widow. I believed that God, who had provided for him, would provide for me also.

Now the Lord has blessed us. My wife is in a good job, and my son has never had a fit again. If you put all your burdens upon Him, He will care for you. I have put all my burdens on Him, and He cares for me.

Look at the birds of the sky, they don’t grow and they don’t harvest; yet the Lord provides for them. God has helped me in many ways. He is helping me in serving Him. All my family together is serving the Lord.
 
–30–

By Shandar*, a believer serving among the Yadavs in India

* Name has been changed for security purposes.

My name is Sarath, and my brother’s name is Naveen. We are very thankful to come to an eye-care clinic (set up by a group of Christian volunteers). We traveled 200 kilometers to come for this eye clinic, and we are very much blessed by the service.

We were born in a Christian family. My father is a bus driver who earns very little. It is not even sufficient for our daily needs. We are studying in school. Many times we have been sent home for not paying the school fees.

All of the sudden we lost our sight partially. We were examined by the ophthalmologist, and the doctor prescribed us eyeglasses. We took our prescriptions to my father. He tried all his best to get us a pair of glasses to help us see better like other children, but all his attempts failed because of his low income.

We were not given much attention. Our sight was gradually growing blurred. We were not able to see things, and we failed to do all our schoolwork. The school authorities said that they would send us away from school due to vision problems. We lost all hope of getting a pair of glasses and being like other children, playing and doing all their work and helping their parents.
 
One day, one of my relatives came and told us about the eye-care clinic. My mother borrowed some money from our neighbors and sent us to attend clinic. When we got there, we were thoroughly checked and given good glasses. Now we are able to see better and go to school and play like other children.

Thanks to God who brought you (Christian volunteers) to India especially for us. When I was given the glasses, I saw an angel-like figure, but very immediately it disappeared. Maybe I have seen a real angel in your form.

Glory be to God. Now we are telling all our friends and classmates that Jesus has given us eyeglasses. Now we are regularly going to church and reading our New Testaments. Thanks to all the people who helped us in getting these glasses.

We are hoping that my father also will join us one day to the church. You also pray for my father. We are praying for you all.

–30–

By Sarath*

*Name changed for security purposes.

When I was 14 years old, I became very sick. My family took me to a witchdoctor to heal me. That witchdoctor told me that in order to get better, I could not go anywhere for 21 days. He said I could not talk to others; I had to stay inside the house and not go outside. The witchdoctor did many other things to make me get better.

As he was doing all of this, I remembered that someone had told me about Jesus and that He wanted to heal all the people. I decided not to take the medicine that the witchdoctor gave me. When I did this, the witchdoctor fell down. For 15 minutes, he lay there unconscious.

So during that time, I thought in my mind and in my heart. I said to the Lord, “Lord, you have that power to heal me and the sick.” From that time, I was healed.

I decided I wanted to sing a song and through that song to proclaim the Gospel of God. In my room, I had a musical instrument that in Tamil is called a chipla. I wanted to learn to play that instrument and to sing songs to God. My brother and my sisters are very well educated, but I couldn’t ask them to teach me a song about God.

That same year, I was very interested in learning more about God since He healed me, so I went to church. I took my instrument. I wanted to study the Gospel very religiously, but I didn’t ask to meet anybody, any educated people. I didn’t take any special training. I went back to my village people, and I sang about the birth of Jesus Christ.

One time 6,000 people gathered around a stage in the village to hear a pastor speak. I wanted to preach the Gospel also. I went to those who were leading the congregation. I asked them, but they wouldn’t give me permission.

I talked to the pastor, and I told him, “You tell the Gospel, but I want to tell my story to these people.” Still he would not let me.

So, I challenged that pastor, “You are going to preach here; I am going to preach outside. The people will either stay here or come to listen to me, and we are going to see.”

He told me that I was born into a very proud family and that I was just talking very proudly. I told that man of God, “I am not like that; I am very interested in preaching the gospel.”

The pastor came to the conclusion to give me 15 minutes to speak. I stood up and shared for three and a half hours. The people were so interested in hearing my words that they could not see the time on the clock. It gave me such great joy!

At the time, that place was not a church, just a gathering of many people. After I spoke, the people gave some offering to me. The total population gave to the offering, but I could not take that offering. I didn’t know how I could spend the money. At the time I was just a girl. So I gave this money to build a church for them.

From then to now I haven’t gone to any seminaries, but through the grace of God, I read the Bible, sing songs and preach the gospel to all the people. Jesus’ power is in me, so I am preaching. Now I am going all over the villages. I go to some houses, I preach and pray in the houses. I am doing God’s ministry through what He has given me; that is my story.

–30–

By Riya*

*Name changed for security purposes.

Nishant* was born in a high-caste Hindu family in India. His family taught him to worship many gods, but there was no peace in his heart. He prayed for help, but no help came. He began to ask, “Who is the living God?” Nishant started attending a Jain temple and worshipped the leader of that temple. For five years, he followed this path, but he still found no peace.

In his last year of college, a classmate shared with him about Jesus, but when he understood that believing Jesus meant becoming a Christian, he was very angry and beat his classmate up. His friend continued to pray for him and gave him a New Testament. In his anger, Nishant threw the Bible across the room.

Many days passed, but one day when he was very discouraged, he picked up the New Testament. He opened to John 14:6 by accident. When he read that Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” he wondered why Jesus was saying this because his religion teaches good works. When he read Hebrews 13:8 and learned that God never changes, his heart was touched.

He went back to his friend and asked for an explanation. As his friend taught him about sin, he finally understood and accepted Christ as his personal Savior. From that moment, his heart was burdened for his village. The first person he witnessed to was his brother, who beat him because he was sharing Jesus. Today both Nishant and his brother are working in God’s harvest field, and their parents have also come to know Jesus.

–30–

*Name changed for security purposes.

Nishant is a church planter and evangelist in northern India.

I am 28 years old. I was suffering with bubbles in my eye for many years; it is something like cataracts but not cataracts.

As the days went by, I lost sight totally, and I was bedridden for four months. I could never work or walk without another person’s help. One man told me about a hospital. Since I have no income, I had to wait for my brother to give me money to go to the hospital.

One day he gave me a little money and asked me to go to the hospital. With the help of another man, I went to the hospital. Nine doctors performed all the tests and told me that I was suffering with “nerves disorder.” They said they could not help me to regain my sight and health.

By this time, I became very weak and failed to walk. Every time I tried to walk, I fell down. Then the doctors advised me to go to another hospital that is very far. My economic situation did not allow me to go to that hospital. My family members took out a loan from a moneylender and asked me to go hospital.

The man who was supposed to help me said that we would go the next day. He never helped me. My family members left me in a cowshed without care. They decided that I should die and relieve them. I was in the cowshed for almost two years. All these years I was depending on someone to help me.

On 10 April, a pastor came to my village and distributed pamphlets to all the villagers. He said that a team of doctors would be coming from America and they would check eyes and provide eyeglasses for free. Since I was not able to see the pamphlet, I asked a boy to read it for me. As soon as I heard that doctors were coming from America, I had hope that I could recover my sight.

On the same day, my brother was traveling to a nearby town. In the bus, he also got the same pamphlet. He stopped his journey in the middle and came back home to tell me the news that the doctors were coming from America. He too had hope that I would be cured. He told me, “Americans worship a god who cures all illness.” He encouraged me and led me to the eye camp. I came a day early and stayed overnight to be the first patient.
 
When I was led to the doctor, I did not see anything and someone was asking me questions abut my eyes. A woman touched me; immediately I could see some objects. Slowly, I was able to see a lady with short hair. I felt some strength come to me, but I don’t know what was it.

The other lady spoke with me in the Telugu language and explained everything to the doctor. The doctor gave me good glasses, and now I am able to see and do all my work by myself.

Apart from my sight, my nerve disorder was also cured. Now I run without a support and I tell you that my whole body was healed. Now my family is thinking about my marriage.
 
Before I received the glasses, always somebody had to lead me to finish my natural duties. Today I am going to the forest to cut wood and sell it in the market, contributing to my family’s well-being. Now I am learning about Jesus Christ. (A Christian woman) is telling me about Jesus Christ, and I am coming closer to God who healed me. She is telling me that I should confess my sins and take deekshsnanam (baptism). I do not yet understand what it is. Since Jesus healed me, I am seeing today. By seeing me, my family is coming to know about Yesu (Jesus).
 
There are many people like me; they also need to see the God that healed me.

–30–

By Mohandas*

*Name changed for security purposes.

I had some friends from Australia. Several years ago, they invited me to come to church with them. My answer was no thanks! One Saturday, they invited me again. I went with them, but I was a little bit afraid to go inside that building. I thought, “If somebody will see, they will kill me.”
 
As I sat down in the church, I was very surprised to see the people worshipping God and discussing God’s Word with one another by looking at Bibles, not only by listening to what the pastor says and believing it in a second. Yet, the most important thing I liked was the songs, which touched my heart very deeply.
 
Two years later, I had free time and thought, “I will go to the church to listen to those songs again.” I asked my friend to come with me. My friend and I went to the church Sunday morning. There was nobody there. The worship time was an hour later. We stood there for about 15 minutes, and then one man came. He smiled at us, and we also. So, we sat together in the church and talked for a half hour. He invited us to come to his place. My friend and I went. It was the morning time, so we had tea together. We talked about many things. After some time, the pastor came there also. He began to talk about Christianity. I was listening from one ear and leaving from another.
 
I spent some days with that man, and we became friends. Before he left India, he gave me one small Bible and book, “Knowing the Bible 101.” I went to church from Sunday to Sunday just to listen to the songs. I heard more than that – eternal life, forgiveness of sins, changing people, giving brand new life, giving sight to blind people, giving His life on the cross to pay for our sins – but still I wasn’t interested at all.
 
One Sunday I went to the church. I sat beside one lady. As the pastor was telling the story from the Bible, he told the people to look at what it says. I tried to find that, but I could not find it. Then this lady who was sitting beside me took my Bible, turned the pages, and gave me that chapter which I was looking for. She seemed very kind, but I didn’t know that she was going to become my mom.
 
One day I visited her house, but upstairs, not at her apartment. I had one Christian friend there who was staying in the same house with his wife. As I was talking to them, this lady came upstairs to visit with them for a short time. I was about to leave. I did talk to her, but very briefly. She said to me, “Come sometime. I’m staying downstairs.” I said, “OK, I will,” and I left from there.
 
One day I had some questions about the Bible. I thought, “I can go to her house and ask these questions to her.” On Sunday, I told her, “I will come to your house.” I went there. She was cleaning the refrigerator, and I asked her, “Can I help you?” She said yes, so I helped her a little bit. We talked about the questions and some other things also. Then I asked about her life.
 
Later that same day, I began to wish I could be her son. But I thought, “I don’t know what she will think about me if I will tell her, ‘I want to become your son.’” It was very difficult for me to decide should I tell her or not. I decided that I would tell her. She will say yes or no, but I will tell her.
 
One day I went to her house to tell her. I knocked at the door. I heard, “Come in.” I opened the door, and she was sitting. I stood by the door, and I told her, “I want to become your son.” She was very confused about what to say. She said, “You can call me Mom, and I can call you Son,” but I was sure that she was telling me this just to make me happy.
 
I was going to the church almost every Sunday. Every time I went there, there was one Muslim security man. He was wondering why this person comes to the church every Sunday. His attitude was not good toward me, so it became a little bit difficult for me to go to the church.
 
In March, my mom phoned me. She said, “We are going to meet tomorrow at this time, and I want you to come and join with us in worship.” The next day I went. What I saw were people singing, worshipping, praising God and discussing God’s Word with one another – even at home like this. I was surprised.
 
By going Fridays and Sundays, I got more chance to know my mom. I heard many stories from the Bible.
 
One day I saw the film, “The Passion of the Christ.” This was very hard for me to see the people beating Him and making jokes, even (though) He was not a sinner like us. But, the most important thing that I was thinking of was how much He loves us. He gave His life to pay for our sins by dying on that cross. He suffered from this terrible death to cleanse us from our sins. From that day, I believed in Jesus. Something happened to my heart. I found myself saying, “Zechariah*, everybody wants to go heaven, but there is no way to get to heaven except Jesus.”
 
God got me on a track. I began to think, “I will surrender my life into His hands.” It took a long time to think about that, but it was God’s will for me to get baptized on 23 June at 12:37:35. I was very happy that I was born on Friday, and I got baptized on Friday.
 
I remember when I was studying in ninth standard. One day, I bunked (skipped) my class and began to think, “I will be the first person in this world who will go to the hell because of my sins.” I didn’t know at that time that God had planned to save me through His Son Jesus Christ and to cleanse me from my sins by His blood.
 
He gave me eternal life. He gave me hope to stand and say, “Jesus gave me a brand new life. I will leave Satan’s way, and I will follow Jesus all the way.” I thank Him for taking my sins and setting me free. I thank Him for showing me the right path. I thank Him for giving me hope and peace. I thank Him for changing my thoughts. I thank Him for giving me strength and power to speak His greatness to other people to tell them how Jesus can change them. I thank Him for all things He has done for me.
 
I thank Him for my mom. And I thank God for His Son Jesus Christ in whom I have put my trust, who is my shelter and my refuge. I thank Him for the Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
 
Lord Jesus, I need You in every step of my life. Thank you for dying for me on the cross. Thank you for setting me free. Make me the person You created me to be. In Jesus’ name, I ask. Amen.
 
–30–

By Zechariah Beig*
 
* Name changed for security purposes.

I came to the Lord in 1994. Before, I was a Hindu and an idol worshipper. I used to worship sheep. I was a leader in my district, but I always had many bad thoughts.

Then in 1991, I got very sick. I was admitted into the hospital with a serious tumor. I was treated by many physicians and witch doctors, but nothing could be done to help me.

Then I came to accept Christ as my personal Savior. When I accepted Christ as Lord in my life, I was freed from all kinds of spirits and demons and even from my infirmities and sicknesses.

My parents wanted me to become an engineer, make lots of money and build good houses. When I accepted Jesus, my parents rejected me. I had to leave home. I was separated from them for 15 years.

I started walking with the Lord and speaking to the Lord, and He called me to the ministry. At that time, I was doing software engineering, but I had to leave in the middle of that training. Because of the healing that I had received from the Lord, I began sharing with other people.

My mother also became sick with cancer. She was admitted into the hospital and saw all the doctors in the city. They spent a lot of money. The Lord assured me and gave me confidence. He told me, “I have healed you, and I am the same God that can heal your mother also.”

During this time, my father was drinking alcohol, and there was no hope. He used to drink until he was intoxicated, until he passed out.

I told my father, “The Lord is willing to heal you.” Then we prayed, and I shared about Christ. We prayed over my mother. She was instantly healed and began walking.

The whole village heard about this healing, and many people came to know Christ. Even in my family, people came to know that Jesus is the true God. We began continually sharing about Christ.

I thank the Lord because through Jesus, I have received freedom and the salvation of my family. Even though all of my family and friends rejected me, Jesu Masih (Jesus Christ) never rejected me.

In 1999, I prayed to God and He spoke to me through Isaiah 61:1 where the Lord says, “I have chosen you to bring Good News to the captive; I have appointed you to be a prophet.” Some preachers prayed over me and prophesied over me that God was calling me into the ministry.

I did ministry in many states through India. Then God spoke to me again and told me that not only must I be a light to these people, but I must also be a light for my own people, my own countrymen, my own villages and my own family and friends. Many people came to the Lord through my ministry; many people were healed through my ministry. This is how God has wonderfully used me.

–30–

By Kapila* in India

* Name has been changed for security purposes.