How A Buddhist Becomes A Follower

Bhim’s uncle became a Christian because of a faithful witness of an Australian SIL worker in eastern Nepal.  On learning of his conversion this Buddhist family disowned the uncle and he was forbidden to remain living in their village.  After a period of time Bhim’s father would allow his brother to come into the village to visit, but only at night.  By morning the uncle had to be out of the village so that the family would not suffer.  It was on these night visits Bhim’s and his brother would listen to their uncle tell the Good News of Christ Jesus and His love for them and the salvation He provided at Calvary.  Both Bhrim and his brother became followers of Christ.

About the same time there was a Hindu girl, Kalpana, who through a friend was asked to attend a Christmas service.  Kalpana gave her life to Christ, though she was rejected by her family, even up-to-today.

Bhim and Kalpana met at a Bible college, fell in love and married.  Bhim and Kalpana now serve Christ in Kathmandu, starting several churches, a home for abandon children and a training center for pastors.

The story of how people come to know about Jesus is always fascinating.  Certainly through any outreach program God can use to bring people to Himself.  However, I have always believed that the most common way people come to Christ is through the network of family.  A faithful missionary, a courageous uncle, a friend to a Hindu girl is the path God often uses for His honor and glory.  Heaven will be an eternity of listening to the stories of grace.

Amazing Story of God's Work of Salvation

In my class at the Africa Theological Seminary is a guy who lived in Agra, India for seven years.  Wayasa was a Kenyan student studying there and he told me that, though he was a Christian before he went to India, he wasn’t living anywhere close to being a follower of Christ.  It was a pastor in Agra who discipled Wayasa to a fuller walk with Christ, to the point that he came back to Kenya and is now a pastor.  Another Kenyan, Dickson, studying in Agra was not a Christian but became a follower of Jesus because of this pastor.  And you think that is an interesting story, listen to the pastor’s story.

Hemet Patel is from a Hindu family who move to the U.S. when he was 12 years old.  After high school he joined the U.S. Airforce, though not yet a citizen.  It was through the faithful witness of American Christians in the Air Force that God used to bring Patel to Himself.  Disowned by his family, who was told by his father not to listen to Christians because they were Hindus, Hemet continued his spiritual journey by himself, eventually going to Bible college after he left the armed services.  Hemet married an American, though he never applied for U.S. citizenship, and have been living in India for the past 15 years. 

The working of the Lord is truly amazing.  A Hindu becomes a Christian through the witness of American Air Force guys who in turn leads Kenyans (a country that is 80% Christian), living in India (with less than 5% Christians) to Christ.  

A great lesson for those who are Christ followers; always be the best witness where you are to allow God to bring people to an understanding of wonderful salvation that is only through His Son, Christ Jesus.