These men work hard to get their generator going for their sound equipment so they can conduct an open-air meeting. |
At what seemed like the worst time possible, Gospel for Asia-supported missionary Paavan Dutta’s generator fizzled out. Dozens of villagers had gathered to watch a film on the life of Jesus Christ. They had heard about the Savior of the world earlier that day during a one-day “salvation camp” and were eager to learn more about this Man who loved them, but Paavan couldn’t get the generator to start up.
He didn’t want to give in and call it a night after seeing the people’s interest, so he pressed on and prayed. Paavan finally discovered that the problem was in the carburetor—it was blocked by dust and dirt. By the time he cleaned it out, it was 11 p.m. To his amazement, though, the villagers had waited patiently for him to fix the machine and then stayed until the very end of the movie. Even the children stayed awake.
After a long day of events, the people asserted that they were blessed by the messages that day at the “salvation camp.” The movie was the finishing touch to make what they had heard a reality—three people came to the saving knowledge of Christ that day!
A two-day “salvation camp” was also conducted a few weeks earlier at a neighboring village. GFA-supported missionaries put together a Vacation Bible School hoping to reach out to the children in the village. The children were known to live reckless, undisciplined lives. They knew nothing about Jesus, and no one had reached out to them with the Gospel.
It was during the VBS program that they finally learned about a God who loved them deeply. The missionaries also organized film shows to help the youth and children understand the grace and love of God in their lives, but it wasn’t only the young villagers who watched the film with excitement—the older men and women joined in, too. Twenty-five children and a few elderly people decided to worship the true Creator instead of their traditional gods.
There were some who decided to stick with their own religion and beliefs, thinking that all gods were the same, only existing in different forms and with different names. They didn’t grasp the message of Christ’s redemptive love.
“Salvation camps” and film ministries are only a couple of the ways to reach people and teach them about the mighty power of God—sometimes it’s the first time villagers hear about the Savior of the world.
These missionaries ask for prayer for those who hardened their hearts, that they will seek to know the true and living God. The new believers also need prayer, that they will remain strong in the Lord and grow in their spiritual life.
