Dear brothers
and sisters, I want to Share with you, my humble testimony, only for the glory
of the Lord, with a hope that my life will be a blessing to some one! And for
others it will open their hearts widely to accept me as a man of god!
I come from a
family of hindu temple priests and orphans. And on my birth death threatened to
snatch me at the age of 1 in the form of "Total paralysis". 1950 my mother's prayers with a bargain to full
time ministry and my father's sacrificial physiotherapy for years healed
me and still have some walking difficulties. Thus my religious up bringing was
very strict. But the sin in me was very active and I lived in sin.
My
Conversion: For the first
time in 1963, in a summer camp I confronted the Lord and was "born
again", a new doctrine for the churches. I dedicated my life to the full
time service.
I back slid: As I grew as
an young man I was attracted to sins again and I hated to serve the Lord. I ran
away from home and joined the Indian Army. this way my studies were spoiled and
my testimony in the community, family and church got spoiled. In the Army I was
a pious person and kept my religion. For a soft fellow like me with a physical
injury, it was hard. I spent some years in time in the army and here the Lord
re-shaped my life! Till to-day I am faithful!
New Spiritual
Experiences: Not many welcomed my return and no body cared of my
future. I was depressed, ashamed and was a failure. But, the Lord helped me to
seek him in prayer. In the early hours and in the evenings I spent hours crying
for mercy.
The Lord
opened a door with Operation Mobilization India, to work for the Lord as
Missionary. I went with dreams but there it was all very tough. It was an
International and Multi lingual team with a truck from England. It was loaded
with books and we went from one village to another, singing and preaching and
selling gospel packets and Christian books.
What to
preach? I stood there as a barren and as a leafs fell empty tree. I was used to
do mean jobs. I was asked to go with the flat tyre to the velganizing shop to
mend the puncture. I was broken! my pride dis appeared. With in months I was
made a team leader. I did exploits for the Lord. I was on board M/V. Logos
ship. There I spent nights after night for hours in the presence of the Lord! I
learned that the Lord hears prayer and one can go to the very presence of the
Lord.
I tell you
dear ones,I was a demand street preacher and I always learned. I learned the
secrets of fast. and the secret of living by faith. Even to-day it is
with this I live.
New
Religion: It was in Bihar state
for the first time the Lord spoke to me of baptism by immersion. I saw
new Christians, illiterate old women getting up in the middle of the service
and testifying! I told Jesus," Lord I need that freedom and joy." I
wrote to my family and friends and there was an undr ground movement here.
I came out
of this Organization and joined with Anderson church of God. By thei time
I completed my seminary with a B.Th degree and was ordained. At this time we
were all ex-communicated from our mother church. I was married with Molly in
1979. We were well settled in the beautiful land of Kerala.
New Call: "Go out! leave your
comfort zone" go to the un-reached and preach the Gospel and plant new
churches was the call and
we obeyed. We worked hard and had some fruit. We were lonely and starved with
the little ones for months. Our First son died! I buried him with my own hands!
Many churches opened their doors for a paid job. And others told me to put my
kids in the orphanage. But I sought the Lord!
The Lord gave
me the Holy Spirit. A new dimension mission started. Demons fled, lepers were healed
and hindus and catholics were saved and were added to the church. The Lord took
me to Europe in 1998.
To-day I have this ministry and 25 children whom we
love and are. We have 30 associate churches and many kinds of ministries. This
is growing ministry with swelling needs. I don't go to Organizations. They
would not help you! Bethel is a national NGO; tax exempted and accountable.
Very few individuals support this ministry.
Our vision: is to plant rural
churches where ever needed and make them harvesters. And to bring the so many different names under 1
umbrella and to properly train and support them. Bethel must become self
supported by some projects until churches become self supported.
My request: I want God's
children to pray for
this ministry.I humbly extend a very warm welcome to Bethel ministries +site
seeing trips in India. If possible be a part of this ministry in bigger and
smaller ways. If you have tools which would assist our ministry, like a van,
digital camera,8.5 pix,a key board, film projector,computers, used old
cloths,warm blankets,pencils/pens.writing books... to say some, please! bring it with you.
You can contact
me.
Sincerely,
Rev.Dass.T