‘How can an Indian become a Christian’?. The local people exclaim as we share the love of Jesus. Some others ask Really, are there Christians in India? When did you convert from Hinduism ?! Is your father a Hindu? These are some of the questions we faced over the years. Many Africans sincerely believe that there is no Christian in India. That’s why when they meet people like us they are astonished. They have seen only the big and powerful Indian business community who embraces only certain other religions. We used to say ‘Just to be in Africa for the Lord itself is a testimony’.
This is now the fifth year of our mission service in Africa. Praise be to God who called us to Africa to share the love of Christ. We came as a family in Kenya on Jan 3rd 2005, to a strange culture, unknown people and country. Humanly speaking there was no one to guide or lead us or to fellowship with, but God helped us in all the initial hurdles to get used with the place and people. The first 2 years were really testing and challenging. There were several reasons to think that we made a wrong choice or to go back. In the mean time the Lord started to bless the work also. Already some good seeds were sown by Uncle Albert (Australia) who used to visit Kenya since 2000. I visited the interiors and stayed with him for 2 months (2004) before we finally came in. Several assemblies were already started in the western parts of Kenya.
Coming with family, I decided to stay in Nairobi. The Lord gave me the help of a good local brother named Samuel. With his assistance after 6 months of our coming we could start an assembly in Githurai on the outskirts of Nairobi . The assembly grew slowly. Started with a tent. Later the Lord gave the assembly hall, a training centre and also a tailoring school. By His grace, this ministry is going on very well, around 80 people are gathering with children. Another assembly was established 550 kms west of Kenya bordering Uganda, a place known as Busia under the leadership of our evangelist Bro. Hillary. The Lord has given believers, land and assembly hall. It’s too going on well under this brother’s care. We could also help in the upbringing of Ukunda assembly in Mombasa by buying a plot and putting a chapel and visiting and teaching them several times. Bro. Happy & Susy’s (Dallas) call to Kenya is greatly encouraging for the work in Kenya. They also started an assembly in the outskirts, built a hall and are going on well. Altogether there are about 60 assemblies in Kenya.
Ever since we came it was our desire to spread the work to other countries also. After 4 years of establishing the work in Kenya, Lord has guided us to the neighboring country Tanzania. After several trips of 1000 kms one way, we finally landed with family in August 25th 2008. The situation was totally different from Kenya. In Kenya the response was fast and better as Kenya is mostly Christian. On the other hand, Tanzania has the background of communism which makes people skeptical. We are in Dar es salaam, the commercial capital of Tanzania. The place where Dr. David Livingstone came and worked, Zanzibar also is 2 hour Boat ride from here. It’s an Island. Tanzanian population is almost equal, Christians and Muslims. By God’s grace the assembly we started with 4 of us, grew into a group of about 40 right now. The Lord saved many and 10 people got baptized. Two Indian families also worshipping together with us. Many from Malawi are here. They form the major part of the church. God is opening a great door in that neighboring country as well. The Lord has given us a rented house for the church. We used to gather in hotel rooms which was inconvenient for several reasons. As we have a lease house now, we are looking unto the Lord to develop the ministry with training and other programs. It is also praise-worthy to mention many of our brethren who visited from around the world over the last 5 years and helped us in various ways and encouraged us. Mention is to be made of Uncle John Kurian and Alexander Kurian who visited us several times in both countries to teach the people here and to encourage us in the mission field. Without the fellowship, encouragement and visitations of our dear ones over the times, it would not have been possible to come up to this. All the glory due unto God! Our only desire is to spread and establish the work in many African countries and be obedient to the Great Commission. Pray that Lord will enable us to do that in the coming years too. Remember my wife Joyce who has immeasurable passion for the Lord’s work and our children Joel and Julia. Pray for the new assembly in Dar es Salaam and visitings of Albert Fairweather and Alex Kurian.
From Tanzania God took us to Malawi. God is doing amazing ministry in Malawi. Established four assemblies and growing. Praise God.
In conclusion, let me quote one phrase which challenged me always to give my utmost for the Lord. These are the words of famous cricketer turned missionary to China, India and at last in Africa. He died in the jungles of Congo among the people whom he worked. He is C.T. STUDD.
“Only one life, it will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”