Many GFA missionaries in Goa, like Mahabir and his mother, visit house-to-house sharing the Gospel with everyone who will listen.

"Unless you deny Jesus and come back to our religion, you can never stay in my home again," Mahabir's father shouted.

Although Mahabir and his mother were forced out of their village in Karnataka, India, they were ready to sacrifice everything to follow Christ.

Mahabir's father had not always despised and rejected his wife and son. Mahabir grew up worshipping many gods. Both of his parents were ardent in their beliefs, and his mother devoted herself completely to the goddess she worshipped. Each day, she would carry the statue on her head and travel from village to village begging for money to give as an offering to the goddess.

During this time, polio attacked Mahabir and crippled one of his legs. Fighting through his infirmity, Mahabir continued to go to school and work each day. He also visited his close friend, Bandhu, in the evenings. Two of Bandhu's family members were Christians, and they began praying daily for Mahabir.

Mahabir's friend, Bandhu, was a very poor Dalit, and his family was illiterate. When they found out that Mahabir attended school, they asked him to read the Bible to them each time he visited. The Lord began softening Mahabir's heart through His Word, and soon, Mahabir received Jesus as His Savior.

Excited about how Jesus had transformed his life, Mahabir regularly attended worship services at a local church and shared the Gospel with his mother.

"I have a ministry devoted to my goddess Yellamma, and I follow her," Mahabir's mother told him. She was completely closed to Christ's salvation, but after three months of watching Mahabir's new life, she realized that he worshipped the one true God. She received Christ and began going to church as well.

Mahabir's father still clung to his old faith and refused to accept Christ. Later, Mahabir was baptized. Feeling the call of God's service, Mahabir left his home to study at a GFA Bible college.

Mahabir brought only one drinking glass, one plate and a bed sheet to the Bible college. When his father realized that Mahabir had gone to study God's Word, he persecuted his wife and tried to keep her from attending church.

After his attempts to keep his wife away from church failed, he kicked her out of their home. However, even though she faced many hardships and much persecution, she remained faithful to Jesus.

Mahabir encouraged his mother to stay strong in her faith. When he completed college, he went back to his village and tried to convince his father to take his mother back into their home. His father agreed to take her back and give Mahabir an inheritance, but only if they rejected Christ.

They stood firmly for Christ, so Mahabir's father disowned them, and the village head even excommunicated them from the town. To this day, they are not allowed to step foot in the village.

Trusting that God would take care of them, Mahabir and his mother set out to start a ministry in a village in Goa, India. Mahabir partnered with another missionary named Jaiman, and they began to reach out in the area. This was one of the hardest times for Mahabir because he still did not have any possessions.

Because of GFA missionaries, like Mahabir, who are willing to sacrifice everything, many people in Goa are worshipping the Lord every week at church.

In spite of all the hardships, Mahabir, his mother and Jaiman pressed on, following God's call on their lives, and shared the Gospel with everyone they could. Slowly, God began to change the people's hearts, and after two years of ministry, Mahabir saw the fruits of his labor. A new church formed, and attendance grew each week.

Just as things were looking up for Mahabir and his mother, the people of Mahabir's home town severely beat his sister and brother-in-law. The people also cast them out of the village because they had come to know the Lord. Mahabir took in his sister's family, and now they are all serving the Lord together. Even though they had to forsake all their possessions, friends and family, Mahabir's family is satisfied knowing that they are doing God's will.

As a result of Mahabir's ministry, more than 60 people regularly attend services at his church. Mahabir wants nothing more than to follow Christ for the rest of his life. Please pray that the other members in Mahabir's family will come to know the Lord, and that his ministry will lead many more to Christ. Also pray that God will strengthen Mahabir as he serves the Lord, walking from village-to-village doing outreach with a crippled leg.

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