Simon watched the kind man who was talking to his neighbors. The man was a Gospel for Asia native missionary named Shivdhan, and today he was in Simon’s impoverished North Indian neighborhood, telling people about Jesus. He said this Jesus had died—and then rose again to bring the hope of eternal life to everyone who would believe in Him!
Continuing to watch Shivdhan, Simon thought about his own life: Having no peace, he squandered much of his meager earnings on alcohol and other addictions. He kept thinking that maybe, just maybe, these things would bring rest to his wearied heart. But so far they had not.
He knew he had to talk to this man; maybe he could help. As he poured out his heart to Shivdhan, he heard the words of assurance he so desperately needed to hear—Jesus loved him!
Drawn by Jesus’ love that flowed through Shivdhan, Simon began attending the local church Shivdhan pastored. He continued to experience God’s all-surpassing love, and realized this was the answer he’d been looking for.
Simon received Christ as Savior. And to his delight, God completely delivered him from his addictions. Witnessing the change in Simon, his family also trusted in Christ for salvation.
“Please pray for them, that they may be very strong in the Lord,” Shivdhan asks.
Shivdhan has been privileged to see others come to Christ in recent months as well, and writes that all these new believers are regularly attending church and growing in the Lord. Please join him in prayer for his heart’s desire—that all in his village come to experience God’s love and put their faith in Him as Simon did.