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| Merry Christmas from the Jungle |
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"Kiristhu Jayanthi!" Joyous Christmas! It was on our lips and in our hearts as we met in our church on Christmas Eve, 2007 in the Phulbani district of Orissa, India.
As we gathered outside our church to sing carols around a manger scene in a tent...Indian style, with tambourine, sitar and drone, we explained to neighborhood children what the figures meant...that they were not idols of avatars.
Suddenly, we were astonished by some cars roaring up the street toward us. Fellow Christians from the neigboring village were jumping out of their cars, running up to us in great distress!
"The RSS! The Viswa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal are on the march...500 men strong! They are going village to village beating Christians up...they killed two! Do you know the pastor and head deacon in the church of Barakhamba village? Dead! The mob is wrecking computers and schools and burning churches..burning cars and homes and businesses! We were in the middle of a Christmas feast and they burned it up and wouldn't let us have our church service. We slipped away while they were occupied burning some other cars!"
We knew it wouldn't be long before it was our church's turn. Eleven churches had been attacked and we were next! We grabbed a few bags of rice, a pot, some matches, a machete and bug repellent and our Bibles and headed for the jungle. We split up so it would make it harder for them to find us. We hacked and pushed through the thick undergrowth and I kept going by myself until I was far from the sound of civilization. I found myself by a stream, so I walked down it a long way and then crossed over it again and again, pushing deeper and deeper into the jungle.
"There, that ought to confuse them," I thought. By now I was tired and I climbed up the vines of a tall tree and found a limb to sit upon. My emotions were raw. I turned in my Bible to Psalms...and briefly rested my eyes on Psalm 116:15, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones." I thought of the men of Barakhamba village who were now being warmly welcomed by the Lord Jesus into their eternal reward. Welcomed by the King of Glory, whose birthday we were celebrating. Tears filled my eyes. Tears of gratitude to be allowed to suffer for Him, who gave up everything and died for me so I might be one day in HEAVEN with Him.
I whispered into the night, "No darkness and uncertainty for me...only light and freedom of my soul. Praises! Glory to God in the highest...and on earth, peace, goodwill to men!"
"Yes," I thought, leaning back against my tree trunk, "Especially to Swami Laxmananand Saraswati who has been campaigning against what he called "forced" conversion of the low caste Hindus to Christianity."
I brushed off a tarantula, crawling up my leg. "Totally ridiculous! I just bet he lied and said he'd been personally attacked by Christians on Christmas Eve. How can people believe THAT! We are peaceful, never forcing anyone, only helping those in need."
The sounds of the jungle at night broke in on my thoughts. Birds and monkeys calling...insects buzzing, the distant snarl of a tiger...or was it a cougar? That made my heart jump up in my throat. I gripped my machete harder. Then I relaxed. God was with me.
"My Bible, where is it?" I almost panicked at the thought of being without my most cherished possession...the tool I used most often in my missionary efforts and church planting.
"Ah. There it is...and Psalm 116 is most appropriate. I love the Lord, because He hears my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live."
The godly men of Barakhamba and also Graham Staines and his two little boys who were all killed because they were Christians came to my mind. I read, "The cords of death encompassed me and the terrors of Sheol came upon me. I found distress and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the Lord. O LORD! I BESEECH THEE, SAVE MY LIFE!"
"Isn't that the truth!" I breathed. I contemplated, "Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate. The Lord preserves the simple; (that's ME! I live very simply!) I was brought low, and He saved me. (Yes, my house is probably burned down by now. With all I own...well, I don't own much. Sure could use a bicycle!)"
"Concentrate on Scripture! God has a message for you!" I chastised myself. "Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For Thou hast rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the Lord in the land of the living."
"Well spoken, Psalmist." I commented, remembering how I had been a devil worshipping, fear-filled astrologer and spell-caster...until the Lord showed his power and might in raising my mother from terminal illness to total health when a Christian man prayed for her at death's door. Now, after Bible college, I walked in newness of Life, free from the dark bondage of Satan, whom I no longer served.
'I believed when I said, "I am greatly afflicted." I said in my alarm, "All men are liars."
Then, filled with hope and joy, I finished my Psalm: 'What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I SHALL LIFT UP THE CUP OF SALVATION AND CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD!"
"Oh, yes, my Father...save out those whom you have chosen before the beginning of the world in your land of India. Cause a mighty church to be founded on the blood of the saints...I willingly give my life's blood if you will turn the heart of India toward You."
I finished reading: "I shall pay my vows to the Lord. Oh may it be in the presence of all His people. PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS GODLY ONES. Oh Lord, surely I am Thy servant. I AM Thy servant, the son of thy handmaid, thou hast loosed my bonds. To Thee I shall offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and call upon the name of the Lord."
"OH, MAY IT BE IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL HIS PEOPLE. Save the suffering church of Orissa. Oh God, raise up the church to flourish once more and cause all to wonder at it. Defeat the plans and purposes of the devil. May we PRAISE THE LORD once more in the courts of the Lord's house...in the midst of you, O India."
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With that, the missionary closed the Book, put it at his back for safekeeping from any rain that might fall, and closed his eyes in peace. His slumber was like that of one sleeping on a cloud or feather bed, and not once did he start to fall or wake in fear...for the Lord was holding him in the palm of His hand.
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Mandie |
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December 28, 2007 at 4:22am |
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| wow 2 awesome for words |
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Ravi |
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December 28, 2007 at 10:56pm |
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| Acts 8:1-8 "On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city." Presecution brings revival and revival brings Joy. (to many unsaved souls in Orissa and India.) I Pray, Swami Laxmananand Saraswati will be encountered by our Lord one day, just like Saul was encountered on the way to Damascus. May GOD extend his grace to the people of RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shivsena and BJP so that their eyes shall be open and they will see our Resurrected Saviour and ears shall be open to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. As you may have observed there were no reaction/protest/comments by any believer/churches to the happenings in Orissa. And this would definitely drive across the message of love and tolerance to the people who are without christ. A.Ravi |
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By this last statement, Ravi, I assume you mean...like the violent and senseless goings-on that there are in Pakistan to the assassination of former Prime Minister Bhutto. Certainly not! The Christians were being persecuted falsely for their "strong arm tactics", for "forcing people to believe in Christ"...but they are as harmless as doves. The power is all coming from the Almighty and attracting many to Him...that is what the devil can't stand. Hence the opposition.
From Christians in other parts of India there are comments...and requests to the Prime Minister for protection of the rights to have freedom and democracy that are due every Indian under the constitution. (Actually inalienable rights from God Amighty Himself....the right to worship Him and Him only.) May the neighbors see the Power of God revealed even more in their midst. |
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Procyon |
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December 29, 2007 at 2:25am |
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This is very powerful and heart-shattering. The horrors of what is happening in Orissa are little known to us, though the Press has been reporting the matter regularly for the last few days. I wonder who wrote this post 'Merry Christmas from the Jungle' because it truly reflects the nightmare that is occuring in Phulbani district of Orissa. And I know how powerful Psalm 116 is for it has spoken to me in my deepest trials. Oh Lord, give us a deep burden to travail and intercede for our suffering brethren in Orissa. |
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| I'll let you in on the secret Procyon...it was me. I took the facts and wove them into a fictional account that I knew was pretty close to the truth. That is why it is powerful. We need to ALL be writing scripts to use on the soon-to-be-established Christian TV and Radio ministry coming out of India. India is going to be won completely to Christ (well, almost) and turn around and win the nations around her. I love the people of India and especially the saints in Orissa, with whom I would love to join hands as soon as it becomes possible. Orissa is going to become the next Kerala. |
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Procyon |
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December 29, 2007 at 3:24am |
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Yes, it is pretty close to the truth. And perhaps the truth is much worse! And we don't know how many were and are being killed. But thousands are fleeing the villages. 'Next Kerala' bemuses me, because except for the Brethren, and a few evangelicals who are doing good work outside that State, there is too much pride in that place. And an awful lot of spiritual arrogance. I visited that State several times. |
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Well, Kerala IS at least a place where Christians can be Christians without persecution.
It is interesting that at the car dealership where we went today we met a girl and her whole family from Kerala who just moved to Tampa from chilly Chicago. We got her email, phone and address and are going to reach out in friendship and hopefuly share Christ eventually.
It may be that they have the "form of godliness and lack the power thereof". They need to be saved, even though they think they are. Which is exactly the problem in America. Those kind are the hardest to convince they are lost. They have perfect head knowledge. They do not have a living relationship with the Saviour or know what they are missing.
But remember, the fact that there ARE the vistages of what used to be a vibrant living church, is proof that God CAN work in India. And he will...through multimedia evangelism and discipleship and love. We will teach the ignorant to be literate and help them with starting up a community business, clean water and electricity to run their computers, fans and air conditioners.
But for now we are fasting and praying for the financial situation to finally be resolved in the next two weeks so that all may occur. |
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Praise the LORD, Daisy and Jacob...and thank your church from the bottom of my heart.
Much as we wish we could help even a little, we just can't... but the Lord is working on it...He just hasn't QUITE made it possible yet. Meanwhile, I am praying every day many times for those suffering saints. Today I sat down and started writing out verses of comfort and promises of God to those who are having troubles and persecution...I ended up with 10 handwritten pages and STILL have about 5 more to go, but my hand gave out. I wanted to send them to Siani and Suphala, but there are so many wonderful things God has promised to our dear friends in the jungle, that I have to just pick the ones that are the BEST. How do you decide that? Every word from the Lord God is just simply...the best.
Loving you and Asia Missions,
Connie |
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