“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” –Matthew 5:10
This is the scripture that is on the wall in Hindi in the house, a two-roomed, tiny home where you can take 4 big steps and have walked across the whole house, of the woman where we meet when we visit the slums. A woman, who because of the pastor and his wife who we partner with, now worships and follows the King of Kings rather than plastic statues. A sparkly I Love Jesus sticker welcomes us on the door before we walk in and the walls also contain pictures of Jesus, tackily yet beautifully displayed for all to see. A woman, not even five feet tall, who is full of joy, all smiles, always excited to see us and hug us, serve us Chai tea, or have us pray for her son.
Pretty bold considering just a few shacks down the row of slums she lives on, is an alter for the Hindu false gods, one I silently pray collapses every time I walk past it. Or considering the pastor’s family (who live close by but not in the slums), his wife, 3 beautiful daughters, and one son, have all been beaten numerous times by radical Hindus that live in or around the slum community. Persecution I am almost positive this woman has also faced in some form or another, but this has not stopped her from displaying the name of the one she now finds hope and life in.
Our team is only allowed to walk down this one row of slums before entering her home. Then kids and women, who the pastor and his wife have met and began relationships with, pile in until we are usually packed tightly together, all sitting on the floor.
If it wasn’t for this woman’s faith, would there have been a place for the man who came in her home on Wednesday to receive prayer from our team (we had yet to have prayed for a man in the slums, but our team prayed that morning for a man to show up so we could pray transformation and leadership over him!), a Hindu with very severe breathing and chest problems, who has recently started reading the Bible and praying to God. He said since he has been praying, his breathing has been slowly getting better and he said the more he is healed the more faith he will have to truly believe. Myself and my team laid hands on and boldly prayed for physical healing, inner & spiritual healing, and for him to become the man the Lord uses to reach the other men in the slums.
But what if this woman, scared of what might happen because of her faith, kept her doors shut with no stickers or pictures? Would there have been a safe place Wednesday for this man to, by faith, come and ask for prayer and to be encouraged?
Or how about the number of children that are gathered in her house each time we visit, still Hindu in faith because of their parents, ranging from babies to young teenagers. We teach them songs with hand motions, read bible stories, share testimonies of God, and pray for them. Wednesday, we asked if they had any prayer requests and my heart about broke when they responded. One boy, about 6-7 y/o, raised his hand and asked if we would pray for his father who is always drinking. Another boy, about the same age, said his mom has recently started smoking and drinking every day. Two girls, a little older, also asked for prayer for their parents who are having health problems. Their just children, many who are alone during the day, but because of the pastor’s ministry there, now have a safe place to receive love, hear truth, and ask for and receive prayer.
And all because of this woman who has experienced Christ and can’t help but open her doors for more to experience Him, too. Although this is risky, she knows the verse written on her wall is more than a good quote, but it’s a promise from the Lord she is walking in both here on earth and soon, eternity with her King.
So what does this mean for you and I? Well, for me it’s both convicting and encouraging. Though possible, we rarely face persecution in the States that makes us question our physical safety, but we know that’s not the only type of persecution out there. I hope next time it happens, next time a friend rejects you or a family member insults you, next time a high school kid yells “cult” at you because of Young Life, or you have to speak your faith at work that risks your job, you remember this woman, tiny yet mighty, who embraces persecution the way Jesus instructed us to when he said,
