24 May From Despair to Hope
Pastor S* is one of our new Co-Mission Partners in India, working within the sphere of church planting and discipleship. He oversees two small congregations, one in the city and another in a rural village. Part of his sphere of missions involves training pastors and lay leaders in a one-year training program that equips them in church planting.
He shares a brief testimony from this first quarter about a young couple named, Ash* and Ann.* This young Hindu couple began attending one of Ps S’ church a year ago and are slowly experiencing changes in their lives, as they grow in their faith and understand the Gospel.
Prior to this, over the last three years of their marriage, Ann had several miscarriages. They were very disappointed, frustrated, and discouraged and even resorted to seeing several shamans using witchcraft to solve the problem. As a result, they lost a huge amount of money on it but nothing worked or helped; both were filled with despair.
Then they began attending Ps S’ church, renouncing their old ways and accepting Christ. They began to form new friendships and within months of attending church, Ann conceived. She is now almost at the end of her pregnancy and will be delivering soon.
They have found much encouragement, healing, and hope in their new faith and community, and although Ash recently lost his job, he remains hopeful and has begun selling vegetables.
The couple is slowly growing in their faith as they attend church regularly and have also started serving on the music team – playing dholak (a traditional drum) in the church.
Please do pray for Ash and Ann’s growth in the faith and their transition into a new season in their personal life. Pray also for Pastor S and his church so they continue to reach out to their surrounding communities with the love of Jesus.
*names changed to protect privacy