Father Abraham

This morning we walked down the hill to meet some new friends at HIM - Himalayan Inland Mission. There we had tea and cookies with Swanee, a very wise Indian man. He and his wife shared with us their story. What a story!

Swanee shared with us the importance of Christian missionaries. The work started by William Carrey and others in India resulted in the gospel taken through north India and to his town in the eastern part of Uttarakhand, the other side of the state. I think he told us that his great grandfather became a believer as a result of this early mission work. Swanee was saved and felt a calling to preach the gospel in the hills. He thought he would be "a big man" but God made him a servant.

He joined Team Mission or something of the sort and was sent to Mussoorie where he lived and eventually began a children's home with his wife. They have been there since 1974 or so. Swanee was inspired by George Mueller, and held strong in trusting in God and not man. When there was no money, he trusted in God and God provided. When the mission planned to pull out of Mussoorie, he trusted God's calling to stay and God helped them stay. His stories were amazing - as if from the Bible! He knows God. And so well that as God has spoken to him through the word and through prayer, Swanee trusted the promises and calling God has given to us all.

He shared with us the great history of the missionary movement throughout Uttarakhand. If you don't know, its 90% hills and mountains! Young missionaries (not much older than you young men, he pointed to us) forsaking luxury and comfort traveled through the foothills (on foot!) and into the mountain villages to preach the gospel. For a long time there was no success, but with persistence and prayer, God opened the hearts to some of the villages. They started clinics and schools and were able to share the gospel with thousands. Swanee is a testament to the faithfulness of these men and women who gave their lives for the gospel in Uttarakhand. And he continues that legacy in Mussoorie!

One night in 1984 he was waken from his sleep and met with God in his home. He had been struggling to register and start a new mission organization to spread the gospel in Garwhal. God spoke to him to name the ministry HIM - which is both symbolic of Him who is God and Sanskrit for snow (Him+alaya=place of snow). From there he got the name Himalayan Inland Mission and finally the ministry was registered (they are picky about Christian organizations and missionaries).

About that same time God spoke to Swanee that the Team Missionaries were going to come to close the mission of which he was caretaker in Mussoorie. But God had clearly called Swanee to this mission and to the orphanage he and his wife were running! He shared this vision with his wife and with all of the children, telling them that the next day these missionaries were to come to announce this closing. And sure enough they did! Without bitterness and anger he told these men of their purpose before they had spoken a word of it, that they were coming to close the place. They spoke with all of the children and they attested to his vision and they were deeply moved. Several weeks later when they came again to close the mission, they instead offered some 5000 rs to continue the ministry. Swanee declined the money because he knew their hearts were not right with God in their gift - trust God, not men. Soon after God blessed their ministry by giving them the opportunity to by the land and home for themselves!

The past 25 years, they have hosted dozens of children, many who continue to serve the Lord with them. All of their sons and daughters are believers who are doing God's work in medicine and education all across India! They have sent out dozens of missionaries to plant churches in the Garwhal region with the goal of sending at lest 200 missionaries to spread the gospel. There have been times where there was no money, yet somehow God provided - often through last minute, anonymous donations at their doorstep! Through uncertainty they have simply trusted in God's promise to provide. They have planted churches, founded many clinics, and built a few schools in the region. The gospel is being proclaimed in Garwhal though there are still thousands of villages who have not yet heard!

I am so blown away by what Christian missionaries have done for the world. Why have I believed that missionaries have always been biased white men force-feeding Christianity upon the world!? That they have been breeders of hate and war and disease and trouble?!

The history of mission work is filled with love and compassion. It has set the captive free! Would there still be slavery if it weren't for bold CHRISTIAN men willing to stand against an evil system?! It has made men equal! Would we live in such a great nation if it weren't for God-fearing Christian, yes Christian men who insisted that we are endowed by our CREATOR, with CERTAIN INALIENABLE RIGHTS?! It has clothed the naked, fed the hungry. It has brought knowledge to people in hard to reach places. Given children education. It has taught people to read and write. They have been builders of clinics and hospitals. Why go to the ends of the earth and risk a healthy, luxurious life to tend to the wounded and sick in India, in China, in South America, in disease ridden Africa?! Name one man who feared not God and had compassion on the poor, the sick, the uneducated and there are hundreds (thousands?) of Christian men and women who gave up their entire lives to give hope AND a better life to people the worth might call unworthy, outcast, unclean!

Why do we point the finger at the close-minded Christian and yet embrace such blatantly destructive and inhumane religions of the East? Am I close-minded because I am disgusted by caste?! That I believe that no man is greater than any other? That all men deserve not grace but yet are entitled to Salvation by the act of a loving God? Am I a bigot for believing that God has called all people to love their neighbor, to love their enemy? Am I ignorant that I believe that God has revealed himself and asks all people to serve one another? I hate the sin of what man has done in the name of Christ, but there has been no greater force of good in the world than by what Christ has done in the hearts of those who have followed His word.

Should I trust in the goodness of man who has started war and killed in the name of ethnic or religious cleansing? In the name of corrupt political systems? Should I have faith that men will do the right thing when I can so easily look around me and see what destruction, oppression, and injustice has been dealt by man?!

Or should I look to the God of the Universe who HAS given man dignity? Who rules with justice? Who is incorruptible when man so obviously is!? Who stepped down from his HEAVENLY THRONE to wear the skin of a man and die for his sins?! How can one possibly call this God unloving?! How can one possibly call this close-minded and hateful.

Even in a week in India I can see the oppression of Hindu belief. There is no dignity in caste. Their culture may be beautiful in its temples and festivals and colours but tell me if the poverty and oppression it has created is in any way redeeming?! There is no hope for the Dalit. You are dirt. You cannot change your stripes. You cannot hope for improvement in this life. All that can be done is to accept your fate as karma and die! If that is considered beautiful and worth perpetuating then I will live a life ugly to the world in my "close-mindedness"!

These last three days I have heard from two of the wisest men I've ever been with. They have opened my eyes to what mission is about. It is giving up oneself - dying to oneself - and obediently following God in doing his GOOD work in RECONCILING the world to himself. It is not glorious, it is not often pretty. But as Swanee said, there is no greater honor.

The world may say we have a human obligation to help our fellow man - but in fact we have a God-given mandate.

Are you making your world a better place? Are you giving God glory by righting wrongs, by supporting good, by serving your community? Or are you even just simply guilty of believing that the world, your town, your neighbor, does not need Christ. For there is no other name by which men are saved, but that of Jesus Christ. The world doesn't need a populist leader. It doesn't need food and medicine and clothing. It certainly doesn't need an accumulation of wealth. It needs Jesus. It gives men hope - in this life and the next. It gives man a reason to live and a reason to love.

Jesus called us not to be haters of people - but to see that every person was created by God. To be defenders of truth. To stand up for those who cannot stand for themselves. To be advocates and intercessors.

Swanee shared with us about George Mueller, often known for his great prayer life and faith. But most importantly he knew God's word. He so well knew the promises of God that faith was simple - if God promises, then he will provide. God promises to give us strength. He promises to give us peace. To be our comforter. To stand beside us in uncertainty. To weep with us in sadness. To dance with us in times of joy. God is never far. His ears are open to all who cry out to Him. I hope you are challenged to KNOW God.