Night Visitor Restores Family Torn Apart by Alcohol
Vikas was traveling to a distant city when he ran across Dilip, an old school friend he hadn’t seen in years. Dilip invited Vikas to his home where they spent several hours happily reminiscing about college and friends. “Here, have a drink,” Dilip said as he opened a bottle of expensive whiskey. “No thanks, I actually quit drinking years ago,” Vikas replied.
When Dilip left the room, Lulleta, Dilip’s wife, confided that her husband’s drinking problem was destroying their family. “I have nearly made up my mind to leave him. How I wish you could help him stop drinking as well.”
When Dilip returned, Lulleta brought up the subject of her husband’s drinking problem. Vikas responded, “I actually know someone who can give you the help you need to quit drinking. He was the one who helped me. Do you still remember how I used to drink?”
“A man in white, with his face shining like the sun, told me that I needed to make a change in my life to restore my family.”
“Really! Who is it?” Lulleta eagerly asked. Vikas shared how Christ had transformed his life. Intrigued, Lulleta wanted to know more. Vikas responded by giving her a small New Testament.
Dilip, however, became very irate. As a result, Vikas left and went to a hotel for the night. In the morning, Vikas received an urgent phone call from Dilip. Remorsefully, Dilip said, “I am so glad I found you. I have been calling every hotel in town. I must apologize for the way I acted yesterday. Please forgive me. You must return to my home at once.”
Once together, Dilip confided, “Here is how things unfolded last night after you left. Lulleta and I fought for hours. She was desperate for me to find a solution to my alcohol problem. I was inflexible in my refusal to make any changes. In anger, I slammed the New Testament on the floor and stomped off.”
Continuing, Dilip shared how Lulleta ended up spending the night in the living room, crying out to the God of heaven to heal her husband and save her family. During the night, she dreamed of a man dressed in dazzling white clothing. He invited her to trust him and to read the New Testament. She immediately woke up and started to read until early morning when she drifted off to sleep. When she woke up, her husband’s loving arms were around her neck—offering no excuses, expressing no anger, just begging her forgiveness.
Looking at Lulleta, Dilip said, “I must tell you, I just had the most amazing dream. A man in white, with his face shining like the sun, told me that I needed to make a change in my life to restore my family. I instantly felt in my heart the horrible pain I was causing you and our children. Further, the man in white told me, ‘In the New Testament you are going to find the power to change.’”
Lulleta told him of her dream as well. That’s when they were convinced they needed to find Vikas so that he could help them better understand the New Testament. Not knowing where Vikas had gone, Dilip, with Luletta praying beside him, called every hotel in town until he located his friend.
Lulleta and Dilip, both high-caste Hindus, found the joy of Jesus in their lives that day. They are people of influence in their city, and as their story spread, it has resonated with many others. Within three months, Dilip and Lulleta established a home church that meets in their living room.
Today, over three and a half years later, they now have a whole network of house churches, not only in their city but across their entire state. Through their influence, many others are coming to know Christ.
By Felicia Phillips
Felicia Phillips is a retired missionary and Bible teacher who presently serves as an nPraxis volunteer and as a contract teacher in the Southern Adventist University religion department.