Idhant had only been married a few years when his wife left him. He earned less than a dollar a day chopping wood, and scraped by into his mid-40s with little to cheer him or look forward to, until he met Gospel For Asia Pastor Matthew.
When Pastor Matthew came to Idhant’s village and heard the man’s story, he was so deeply moved that he invited Idhant to live with his family. Pastor Matthew’s wife and children took him in as one of their own, and as they demonstrated God’s love each day, Idhant began to want what they had.
Sharing Jesus
Once Idhant decided to embrace Christ, he couldn’t keep the good news to himself. He began traveling with Pastor Matthew to share with others how Jesus could work in their lives. But even as he shared his new joy and delighted in his surrogate family, Idhant continued to struggle financially.
Pastor Matthew began looking for an opportunity to help his friend further, so he requested that a rickshaw be given to Idhant during an upcoming Christmas gift distribution programme.
Lifeline from the rickshaw
Idhant’s daily income tripled with the rickshaw, but he didn’t forget his provider. Every morning, he set out with stacks of gospel literature to share with his passengers and people around town. Word spread about the kind man who distributed literature from his rickshaw. For a young woman who had run away from home, it was exactly the lifeline she needed.
Udbala’s whole life had been marked by abuse. However, the freedom to use her income wisely proved to be a battle. When she returned home from work, her father demanded money for alcohol and beat her if she didn’t give in. Often the family went without food for entire days. Instead of helping or sympathising with Udbala, the local young people mocked her every day whenever she went out. One day, as she listened to their harsh words, it all became too much. Without a plan or idea of where she would go, Udbala ran away.
Searching
Udbala had heard about a rickshaw driver who carried literature about the Christians’ God, so she went in search of him, wondering if this God and his people could help her. Finding a specific rickshaw driver in a city with a population of more than 100,000 people was a long shot, but it proved not to be impossible.
And when she did see him, she seized her chance to speak to him.
Idhant took Udbala to his church where he introduced her to Pastor Matthew. And just as he had shown love and concern when he met Idhant, Pastor Matthew gave Udbala the care she had longed for.
‘This is the plan of God, and he brought you here to save [you]. The Lord will help you’, Pastor Matthew said.
Pastor Matthew invited Udbala to live with his family, and after a few months, she put her trust in Jesus. Like Idhant, she soon began telling everyone about her transformation – sharing Christ’s love in other villages, teaching Sunday school and regularly attending the local Women’s Fellowship group.
Seeing her love for the Lord, another Gospel for Asia pastor, Ajoy, asked permission to marry Udbala. After nearly two years of living with Pastor Matthew’s family, Udbala finally got to start a loving family of her own.
Today, the impact of one simple rickshaw is seen as Udbala and Pastor Ajoy lead their church and Idhant continues to tell every customer about the good news.
