This week I am in Sri Lanka (Darryl). I was invited to be one of the speakers at a missions conference called "Arise Asia". It has been a tremendous conference with delegates from all over Asia and the world (many from India and Nepal). One of the testimonies I heard is worth repeating and sharing with you.
His name is Ps. Augustine Jebakumar from a place called Beher in India. Augustine left his home and traveled about 36 hours on a train to a place in India where neither knew one person or spoke the language. He arrived only having felt God calling him to the place, but not knowing what he would do or say. He began ministering to anyone who would listen. Today the Lord has helped them to care for 25,000 children in their schools and 1500 orphans. They also have over 1,0000 churches that they over see. They spend 45% of there general church budget on mission work. But waht really got to me about this man's life was his sacrifice to preach the gospel.
Once, when he was out on the mission field preaching far from his hometown his father died. It was 6 days before the news got to him that his father was dead and it took him 7 days to get back home, before he could be with his grieving mother and family (13 days later). On a second a occasion, again while he was out preaching his son died - this time it was 3 days to get him the news and then anthor 3 days for him to get back home to be with his grieving wife (6 days later). Because he was not around - his own wife with two others had to dig the grave for their son.
He spoke with a broken heart about these deaths - rightly so - but he said that the choice to either stay home or "GO" and preach the gospel was a decision he was compelled to make. Their are people today around the world that are living out their faith in ways that God may or may not require of us -but I encourage you to live fearlessly in the face of whatever your facing - knowing that what He has called you to He is faithful to get you through it.
