01/19/2005: Hands of Compassion
Hands of Compassion
It was an unlikely sight. Hands that had beaten and abused were held tenderly by the very person who had been the object of their fury.
When GFA Pastor Kishor had visited Ajit's village with the Good News, Ajit responded in rage, beating him for his witness.
That was before the December 26 tsunami hit, devastating Ajit's village in South Asia and leaving him with nothing. No family, no possessions, no hope—nothing.
Pastor Kishor was the first to reach Ajit, who desperately needed medical treatment. The pastor rescued Ajit and brought him to a transition camp, where he requested a doctor to come help. He didn't stop there—as they awaited the medical care, he stayed by Ajit's side, holding his hand.
In another area, a man had severely beaten a group of GFA missionaries, driving them out of his village. He even burned their literature. After the tsunami hit, the missionaries returned to minister to him and the other villagers with Christ's love, not knowing how they would respond. This time the same man who had violently opposed them welcomed them with open arms.
“I never knew your Jesus loved me so much!” he told them.
Some people question whether sharing the Good News is “appropriate” while offering physical aid. To the survivors of the tsunami, however, there is no question—the answer is definitely “Yes!”
