Ravi* lived in a village with his wife. And although they really wanted children, they were unable to conceive even after 12 years of marriage.
“I went to many doctors, tried witchcraft, consulted gurus, and even visited different places of worship. We spent a lot of money but gained nothing. Many people in my village were mocking me and my wife. I was so disappointed… my wife and I fought with teach other many times over this.”
This was a dark time in his life. Ravi even had thoughts of ending it all. One evening, Ravi was tuning his radio when he stumbled upon a programme in his mother tongue. The programme was Jindagi Ke Radda (Thru the Bible in the Chhattisgarhi language), broadcast by TWR India.
“The programme was in my language, and I really liked listening to the songs and your message.” Ravi told us. “I started listening regularly from that day onward. Slowly, it became my favourite programme and I was very much influenced and blessed by the teachings.”
Ravi became a regular listener of the programme. One day, the message on Galatians 5 pierced his heart:
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV)
“It was a heart-breaking sermon for me. I felt as if that message was delivered personally for me… it pointed out all my bad habits and wrongdoing.”
Ravi called the TWR India follow-up team and spoke to them. They prayed for him, and sent him some Christian literature as well as a New Testament, which Ravi began reading regularly on top of listening to the programmes.
“My heart was filled with joy… the teachings of the programme were leading me to the right path. When I came to know this truth, I shared it with my wife and she also started listening and learning about Jesus Christ.”
Eight months after first hearing the programme on the radio, he and his wife both accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Today, Ravi worships at a church eight kilometres away from his home. He also serves in missions. And God has blessed him and his wife with a daughter. Though he still faces opposition from his family and relatives, he continues to experience the peace and joy of the Lord. He prays that they will know Christ someday.
“I thank the Lord for this programme because it showed me the way to salvation. Your teachings are very meaningful and easy to understand. I thank Him that He died for my sin on the cross, I thank Him that he has forgiven my sins. I thank Him for His eternal love. It is your programme Jindagi Ke Radda that has shown me the way to come to Christ.”
* not his real name
photo by Aaron Tan
