In Northwest India, among the foothills of the Himalayas, in a small brick shanty home that looks more like a tool shed with a few rooms but home to 15 families from Nepal, in a small bedroom lit by one small light, 15 people gathered to worship and encourage each other in their faith in Christ. Welcome to the underground church.
Summer, Sarah and I, along with our local contact Rajan and his wife shared testimonies of what God has done, of his faithfulness and encouraged the new Nepali believers of hope among hopelessness; of Gods love for them when they are alone; his specific purpose and plan for them; of his strength in their weakness; and the power of the holy spirit which they have in Christ.
There are Indian believers. They are few, living among the highest concentration of Hinduism, Buddhism, Muslim in the world. But the corrupt Indian government put a recent crack down on any new converts. Indians or Nepalese living in India are persecuted for their faith. In most places it is now against the law to convert from Hinduism to any other religion. Many who leave Hinduism to follow Christ are ostracized and thrown out of their homes, abandoned by family and friends and most certainly not supported. Worst cases, they are beaten, stoned out of cities, thrown in jail, tortured or martyred.
In the last year alone, the faith of one man and seeing God restore him led the way for 15 other families to discover a relationship with Christ. For the first time they were able to find value and dignity believing they were made in the image of God and not reincarnated from some rat, cow or elephant. That they really are more valuable than animals. Rather than believing in man made idols of wood and stone, that they began to see the One true living God who knows them and loves them. They have been set free from their strongholds and bondage within even though they worship in secret. They are being delivered and healed by the power of God that no other earthly gods could accomplish.
It was humbling, yet so amazing sitting on their bed in this small room surrounded by these beautiful brothers and sisters who love God and are convinced by His goodness that they are willing to meet in secret, drinking chai that they served us, singing a Hindi song with them, laying hands for healing prayers, watching mice run around the walls, and getting to hear their stories of restoration.
It was a powerful time and something one would read about in a book by Brother Andrew. It makes me appreciate and see even more the freedom we have in the States and how much we take for granted.
Even in the most hopeless situation, God is still setting people free, bringing hope showing people who they are – who they were made to be.
