Brothers in India I: "Alok"

“Alok”

I. Devotion [morning of 3/1/05]

- 2 Kings 18:5-6 "He trusted in the Lord the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses."

- Joshua 1:6-9 "Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Alok found strength in these passages, especially when he and his wife lived in a place that they weren’t familiar with and that they didn’t know what they were doing [they didn’t have a clear vision for exactly how God was going to work in their situation].

Alok shared what he called the “5 C’s” that uneducated people can become teachers of the gospel.

(1) Character… of Christ
(2) Commitment… to Christ
(3) Conviction… of Christ
(4) Courtesy… of Christ
(5) Courage… in Christ

Alok and his wife waited for 8 months where they were living and didn’t know what to do or where to go in order to start their ministry…they were greatly discouraged, yet they continued to depend on the Lord.

People are strong in their other religious faiths [Hindus, Muslims, etc.] and it is hard to win them to Jesus Christ.

He said that God opened a door to reach people through birthday parties and they began to minister to the kids in their community.

As of March of 2005 they had 30 boys and girls every Sunday gathering. They play games, sing songs, and then tell Bible stories.

Alok constantly said, "Our success comes from the Lord!"

Alok exhorted us to, “Be strong and courageous…be careful to obey and careful to do. Continue to meditate on the Word day and night."

II. Bio and talk [night of 2/28/05 and 3/1/05]

The night of February 28, 2005 [my kind-of birthday] I stayed up late with Alok and we talked about a lot of things. He spoke about his wife… he said that they has been married approximately 2 years [in March of ‘05, so now about 3 and a half] They couldn’t have children at the time. He said that he knows if it is God’s will for them to have kids it will be so. He said she had fibroids in here uterus and had surgery to remove them. They have to wait to try to have kids. Alok said he has joy either way. With or without children! He said he will be praying for me. Also asked me to pray for him.

We stayed up late again on March 1, 20053/1/05 [once again my kind of birthday] We talked about life and ministry. He said they have lived in the town where they live about 2 years [now about 3 and a half years]. They hadn’t seen anyone come to faith in Jesus Christ, but he was ministering to approximately 50 kids who he was invited to play music for at the family’s house for a birthday party. He said they cannot share the name of Christ with the children. If they do the families will not let them be with the kids anymore. They meet with the kids weekly and they play games and sing songs with them. They also read Bible stories to the kids, and just love them and minister to them. Alok's wife also sings to the kids.

When he said something about his wife singing he started to tell me how he met her. He met his wife briefly [when they met], and their relationship grew over time by only speaking to each other. They met in March and married in June. He said her parents were strict [with a smile:)], but they knew God had ordained their relationship.

They have approximately 50,000 people in their village and it is mostly Hindu. He said a lot of Western people come there for the mountains [it is close to the Himalayas]. He has a scooter that he drives. He drives the scooter to the villages ministering to people door to door. He drives in the winter, and during the rainy season [monsoon season]. He said during that time in the year his wife cannot go with him because it is too cold so she stays behind. On the scooter he travels up to 2 hours away during all seasons to share Christ with his people door to door.

He would say, "when you come back you have to come to my village and record some music with me." Alok was a music teacher for 6 years before he went to seminary. He’s from Calcutta, grew up in a Roman Catholic church, went to seminary for a Masters degree at William Carey’s Baptist Church. Said his parents were both believers and so are his 4 brothers and 3 sisters [praise the Lord!]. He is 33 [as of March of ‘05]. Both his parents passed away in their 80’s and his oldest sister’s children are older than him!

He really loves his wife and that was such a beautiful thing to see his eyes light up when he spoke of her. He said he first fell in love with his wife by listening to her singing voice. [Below is a picture from their wedding.]

He really wants me to visit him in his home and I said, “If the Lord wills, maybe someday." [It is a desire of my heart, but only if God I may go back and see him. We discussed how no matter what we will see each other at God's throne in heaven one day! What a glorious fact!]

I played a recording of “Awesome God” for him [Kirk Franklin’s version] and his heart was filled with joy. He was taken back by the music. We had a great time talking about God, and our wives, and cannot wait to praise our Lord in heaven together.