Your support changes lives: Ram’s story.
Open Doors recently met with an Indian believer by the name of Ram*. He is the oldest in his family and has the responsibility of taking care of everyone. Both his family and the local church rely on him.
Ram found Christ when he was on his death bed. The doctors had lost all hopes of his survival, Ram had no cure for his health issues. In hopes to be cured, he visited every temple, doctor, and self-proclaimed healer, and took every kind of treatment, but regardless of all these attempts his health only deteriorated. It was at his weakest point when everything began to change. A pastor came to the hospital and told Ram about Christ and then prayed with him. Curious to know more, Ram was constantly in touch with the pastor. When he was able, he attended the church, until then he spent time in scripture. Not long after this first encounter with the pastor, he accepted Christ into his heart. Gradually Ram saw his health being restored and he knew without a doubt that it was by God’s grace he was healed.
Ram’s parents were not happy with him as he abandoned their ancestral religion. Ram shares, “When I found Christ in my frail moment, I found my strength as Paul says, ‘in my weakness, I delight in Christ.’ My parents were disappointed in me for accepting Christ and tried to convince me to leave the foreign God and come back to the old religion, but I knew there was no turning back for me. Though we lived in the same house, we lived separate lives and our communication was limited.”
Ram testified, “My prayer was that my family came to know God. When my mother faced a kidney issue and her health worsened I prayed beside her bed each night assuming nobody was aware of it. However, to my surprise, all the members of the family knew that I was praying secretly during the night. Miraculously, my mother was healed and God returned her to good health and this was a turning point for my family as everyone accepted Christ.”
Ram decided to give his life to ministry. He started a church in a nearby village that he and his family would travel to each week to run. Many were blessed by this church, he witnessed countless people accept Christ. Others, however, grew furious. Locals started to harass Ram and his family, as well as the church members.
Ram and his mother outside their shop.
One day, the local villagers along with the help of religious extremists, tricked Ram by saying the church was being attacked. Knowing Ram would come to protect the church, they attacked him on the spot. The extremists and villagers began to assault Ram and beat him mercilessly. The attackers also vandalized the church. When Ram’s family received news of the attack they rushed over to find their son covered in blood and bruises. He was rushed to the hospital and was attended to with medical aid, at the cost of all their savings. Later on, a complaint was made against the attackers, but no action was taken, instead, the church was closed down.
“I was in a state of shock about what had happened to me, I was unable to grasp the situation. My family were terrified when they saw me and were on the verge of leaving Christ. Sensing their fear, I assured them that my faith in God is unfathomable and unshaken. Though I had a moment of clarity, I had to regain my strength and show my firm faith to my family. I was reminded of Paul’s words and felt better. I even found a spiritual pleasure in the horrible things that happened to me because I felt that when I was being beaten, I could feel the power of God in me the most. The church being closed down is like a thorn in my flesh reminding me to be dependent on God. In weakness, His strength was made perfect,” declares Ram.
Ram and his family’s living conditions were severely affected by the church being closed because that was their form of income. All the savings had been spent on Ram’s treatment, and finding a job during the pandemic was impossible. Ram felt the pressure of providing for his family and began selling coconuts but the earnings were barely enough.
Open Doors partners met Ram, saw his desperate need, and provided the required support by helping him set up a grocery shop. Ram opened the shop in his house and sold basic needs and materials. The shop helped in generating sufficient income to feed the family. Open Doors partners were present with them to help strengthen and encourage them through prayers and training.
Ram says, “I was overwhelmed when I had received your support. Having no income or job was my lowest point. I was unable to see a way out. I was devastated and broken. I assumed that I had failed Christ and He had turned His face from me. Breaking all my misconceptions, God proved His sovereignty by your help and encouragement. Surely, I can boldly profess that when I am weak, then I am strong. Christ’s power was made perfect in my life.”
He is earning a living for his family through the shop and shares his testimony when locals gather in front of the shop or come to buy items. The shop has become a wonderful tool for evangelizing. Despite everything, Ram remains in touch with his church believers so that they do not slide away from their faith as he is preparing to restore and restart the church. He is seeking the required permissions for this.
Please Pray
- Pray for Ram and his family. They are zealous and eager to start the church and continue ministering among the unreached. Many churches have been closed down and Christian leaders and pastors are disheartened and left with limited resources for existence.
- Please pray for such Christians who are discouraged and demoralized, pray that as Ram found his strength in weakness, many could also testify in weakness we are strong.
- Pray that they receive the required permission to build the church.
*Names changed for security reasons
