Raised a Christian, Philip Murmu, 35, followed his church’s teaching that Sunday was the day of worship, but as he grew up he discovered that other Christians worshipped on Saturday. Which day was correct became the biggest question for which he wanted an answer. He brought the issue up in many religious discussions, but either the question was ignored or no one offered a satisfactory answer. He decided the best way to find the answer was to ask someone who worshipped on Saturday for an … [Read more...]
The stubborn motorbike
One day during my work as a Gospel Outreach evangelist in Sundar Nagar, Himachal Pradesh, in northern India, I received a phone call from Adventist World Radio (AWR) about a listener named Mahinder. The AWR representative asked me to try to find Mahinder’s village and indicated that Mahinder was a prisoner. I had no address for Mahinder, but I prayed to God and started out on my motorbike in search of this young man. After asking about 50 people but finding none who knew of him, I sat … [Read more...]
A special prayer answered
Though Basantipaharin’s parents used to attend a Seventh-day Adventist church, they eventually moved to Karipadhi, India, and found it hard to travel the 10 kilometers to church. I told Basantipaharin, 25, that we would come to her and conduct church at her house since her family couldn’t travel. Several members who lived nearby came each Sabbath and held a worship service on her veranda. One Sabbath as we all gathered for church, Basantipaharin’s grandfather told us that his … [Read more...]
A wife’s answered prayers
Since the beginning of his marriage to Rathan, Naveen struggled with alcohol. Drinking consumed his life to the point that he didn’t take care of his family or provide food or clothing for them. He went to parties, drank heavily and only returned home late at night. His wife, Rathan, begged Naveen to change his ways, but he didn’t. During the next 15 years, she would leave him and go to her parents’ house, only to come home and try again to help Naveen change his ways. Rathan asked … [Read more...]
God vs. the goddess
Strange circumstances brought Omprakash, his wife, Bala, their son Jeeta and his wife, Mukta, to the Adventist church in Haryana in northern India. These family members were staunch worshipers of Durga, the goddess of revenge. They were so devout they even had a small temple dedicated to Durga built beside their house. Each morning before breakfast, the family gathered to offer prayers and sing praises to this goddess. Such dedication garnered the admiration of their entire community. People … [Read more...]
Why I’ve adopted workers
Vladimir Sysoev, 34, lives in Moscow and works as the head of public relations for a large Russian bank. Though raised an atheist, Vladimir, like many people in Russia, found himself searching for meaning to life—for something spiritual. He joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1994. Today Vladimir sponsors a number of Gospel Outreach workers through the Adopt-a-Worker program. We asked him about his involvement, and here’s what he shared with us. What drives your interest in … [Read more...]
Saved, body and soul
As the main priest in the village of Balphari, India, Munsa Hembrom, 45, conducted all of the village’s pujas (ritualistic presentations of offerings to deities in order to receive a blessing). He and his family, including his four children, were totally devoted to their pujari work. But for two months, Hembrom felt unwell mentally, and his odd actions troubled his family. He began running away from his home. His wife was worried because they had a lot of land that needed care and … [Read more...]
Introducing the Adopt-a-Worker program
Language, culture and more than 8,000 miles separate Gospel Outreach worker J. Kishor from the person who sponsors his work in a village in India. But despite the differences and distance, J. Kishor and his sponsor are united in purpose: to win souls for the Lord and hasten His return by spreading the gospel in the 10/40 Window. God has worked through J. Kishor, and as a result 700 people have decided to follow Jesus and be baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This is the power … [Read more...]
Adventures in communication
Editor’s note: James Campbell recently wrote to the Gospel Outreach headquarters and provided insight into the challenges of getting these stories out of the field and into your hands. Campbell describes conditions most of us have difficulty imagining, creating even greater appreciation for the thrilling stories and pictures published in Adventures in Missions. The 10/40 Window has experienced explosive growth and depends heavily on volunteers. The Eastern Uttar Pradesh region of India has … [Read more...]
The Doctor who truly heals us
Ajad Ansary had a small child who was ill from birth. He and his wife were constantly worried about their little girl. Despite countless trips to doctors, she did not improve. One day these parents were worrying, “Who can cure our child? She is very sick and about to die.” Confused and sad, they were sitting on their veranda when I came to ask about their welfare. Ajad poured out his sorrows and sadness. Touched by their sadness, I told them to believe in Jesus and He would restore … [Read more...]