Gospel for Asia (GFA) reported in June about women missionaries Champa and Bakul who had been accused of a man’s death, chased out of his village and warned never to come back. Despite that, a small group of believers continued to grow every day.
The village’s fellowship started in 2001 with one paralysed man named Tariq. When Champa and Bakul first visited his house, Tariq could feel nothing in his legs. But after the two women prayed for healing, his cold legs became hot, and he was able to shake them. After sharing the gospel with Tariq and his family over several weeks, the five members of the family, along with three of their neighbours, put their trust in him. Shortly afterwards, Tariq died.
The death caused an uproar in the village. As the newest people in Tariq’s life, Champa, Bakul and their God were denounced as the tragedy’s cause. The missionaries were chased out of the village and warned that if they returned they would pay the consequences.
The Lord encouraged them
With threats hanging over them, Champa and Bakul remained quiet for two weeks. But as the Lord placed courage in their hearts, the small fellowship began to meet again, and it started to grow. Ignoring the danger, new people joined the fellowship every day.
Soon, the congregation was too large to meet in a house, so they decided to raise money for a temporary church building. Although most of them earned little as field labourers, they collected $400 in a month. Villagers strongly warned them against constructing the church, but the believers were resolute. Two months after the house of worship was complete, the anti-Christians delivered the consequences. The group assaulted believers, destroyed the church building and began bringing false accusations against the Christians, saying they were destroying religious items in people’s homes.
After further pressure, they gave in to the neighbours’ demands and rented land outside the village. A church building was constructed, which was then destroyed by an elephant, but the following year Ekanpreet, a GFA missionary, came as shepherd for the flock there. The church grew despite the building again being destroyed.
Selling their possessions
Over the next four years, the church still grew. Even threats of banishment from the village didn’t stop new believers. But in 2010, a great storm ripped through the area, and once again, the believers’ church became a casualty. Then, selling their personal possessions, they set about building a much stronger building.
Made from sturdy materials, it wouldn’t be vulnerable to the elements the way their short-term structures were, and it was large enough to fit every member. Ten years after Champa and Bakul first came to the village, the believers finally had a place to call home. Today, 60 believers worship together in the church, which is one of the biggest in the area. And though some might be tempted to take that for granted, Pastor Ekanpreet and the congregation know it was only granted by the grace of God.
As Christ’s love spreads across South Asia, hundreds of congregations are waiting for permanent places to meet and grow in.
