Kumar (not his real name), a listener from a Hindu family in south India, tells his story.
“From my childhood I was the black sheep,” he says. “I got into wrong company and involved in all kinds of antisocial activities which finally landed me in jail – not once or twice, but 23 times!”
In the end, with no friends, avoided by people he knew and hated by his family, he felt suicidal: “I could not see any other way out of my shameful life.” But God intervened in his circumstances.
His only hobby in jail was listening to film songs on the radio. “Accidentally I heard a new radio station broadcasting something in my language – Tamil. I listened out of curiosity. I heard a person talk directly to me. He said, ‘The world may hate you, your family may hate you, your friends may despise you, but do not give up hope. There is Jesus who loves you. He will change your life completely.’
Heart piercing
“I wanted to find out more about this Jesus and wrote to the address announced at the close of the programme, asking them to send this Jesus to visit me in prison. I thought, ‘I will not get a reply.’ But a reply came, explaining who Jesus is and what he could do for me. Feba also sent me a Bible; and using that, I started following what was told on the radio. These people took personal interest in me and this became a turning point in my life.”
Feba invited Kumar to a Seekers’ Conference and – amazingly – the prison authorities allowed him to go. “The things they taught at the conference were so encouraging and heart piercing. When time was given for repentance, I gave my heart to Jesus.” On the final day of the conference, Kumar was baptised. “I was a totally changed person,” he says.
Released from prison, Kumar is reconciled with his family. “I shared with them the love of Jesus which changed me,” he says. “Slowly my family, too, have accepted Jesus.”
Written by Anthea MacNeill, Feba
