Flowers that bloomed in the Christian world and then disappeared into the glory!  

 

Hardly we know the young missionaries who work for the Lord of the Vineyard in places not reached by the gospel and not known to the outside world. They are not known to us because they serve the Lord in places which are not connected with the rest of the world through internet or through modern means of communication.

One beloved Kokani Pravin Bhai was serving the Lord in a mission field, called Tapkara in the state of Chattisgarh, India through an evangelical organization i.e. Friends Missionary Prayer Band (FMPB). On 5-6-2010, he was riding his motor bike with his wife and two children for conducting a prayer meeting for believers. When they saw a bus approach them at a high speed, the got down from their vehicle to give way to the speeding vehicle on a narrow bridge. But the driver of the bus could not control his vehicle and hit them. The wife and the younger son whom you see in the picture died on the spot. The missionary brother breathed his last in the hospital. Their girl was thrown away and escaped miraculously. She is now recovering in the government hospital. She has to live in this world without her parents.

After prayers, the bodies of Pravin, his wife and his son were taken to Gujarat, the native state of the missionary for burial. They were laid to rest on 19-06-2010. Pravin was the first fruit of the missionary work that began in the mission field at Bardipada, Vyara District, Gujarat State. He and his wife joined the FMPB as missionaries on 21-09-2002.

In the mission field, there are many such flowers that bloom in the morning and disappear in the evening, not being noticed by us but in the sight of the Lord of the garden.

What is your burden for such workers of the Lord's vineyard who serve Him in places not reached by the gospel in the continents of Asia and Africa? Are you ministering to them through your prayers and material blessings in the Body of Christ? Are you involved in the global evangelical work of the Holy Spirit? I am putting this question to you today.  

 

The short but fragrant life of a young man who did God's will

I publish below a wonderful testimony about a young boy aged 25 who entered glory in the prime of his youth. God loved this young man so that he was called home because he had fulfilled God's perfect will in his short life which many of us are not able to do despite our long life. He was not a great preacher or an evangelist but a young Christian boy who worked for an evangelical organization faithfully and sincerely. He is an unknown and nameless Seraphim who has a place just above the throne of God in the prophetic vision of Isaiah. Just read this testimony prayerfully. It is a report published by Indian Evangelical Mission (IEM) in their July 2010 magazine issue: - Job Anbalagan

With deep sorry, we regret to announce the sudden demise of our beloved Joshua Deevaker, Mission Support Staff (MSS) at the IEM Head Office in Bangalore, on Thursday, May 27, 2010. He was 25.

Joshua came to us in 2006 from Raichur, Karnataka (a state in India which is known for persecution of Christians). Almost immediately, he set about serving the Lord by ministering to His servants! Any task assigned to him was executed promptly and to the best of his ability. The IEM office was his home. Even on holidays, he went about his work tirelessly. He might not have traveled far and wide but Joshua often waited for long hours in serpentine lines to book train and bus tickets for IEM staff. He handled large amounts of money carefully and was known for his honesty.

Joshua was both able and available. He had a deep concern for people who were passing through tough times and would go out of his way, as only he could, to make them happy and alleviate their burdens. He maintained a strong Christ-like testimony, not only among his colleagues but among all those who were in his circle of influence. He never refused to do any work.

When the late Rev. Dr. Theodore Williams, the Founder of IEM, ( who entered glory during 2009), was hospitalized, Joshua instantly volunteered to stay in the hospital at night. Later a team of young men joined him and rendered outstanding service to this man of God. Retrospecting on his experience, Joshua and the team said that it was a rich and rewarding experience to serve the founder of the Mission on his death bed.

Joshua maintained a close relationship with His Lord. His roommate, Sam Caleb, vividly recalls how Joshua spent much time in prayer and with the Word. The strength of his relationship with the Lord was revealed whenever he led the morning devotions at the Head Office. The songs he chose were meaningful and appropriately reflected the Scriptures which he read in Kannada language, his mother tongue.

As news rapidly spread about his sudden setback in health and later about his demise, a large crowd assembled at the hospital and later at the IEM office. These people were from all walks of life and in some ways were influenced by Joshua's abundant life. Hundreds of wailing people throned he road leading to his home in his native town, Raichur as the ambulance carrying his body reached its destination.

An abundant life is not measured by the number of years you live but by the quality of the life you live! Joshua proved this beyond all shadow of doubt. 

Kindly uphold his parents, his three brothers and their families in your prayers as they pass through the valley of grief. 

 

- Job Anbalagan