Choosing baptism is a monumental step for Asian believers. After the baptism they are often ostracized by friends and families who do not understand the change that has taken place in their hearts.
The Mahli family’s worst nightmare appeared to be repeating itself. One year earlier, Sharat Mahli had contracted a strange illness and died. Now, Sharat’s younger brother, Kirtin, had the same illness. The left side of Kirtin’s body was swollen from the top of his head all the way to the very tips of his toes. The unusual and unexplained illness left this 30-year-old father of two completely bedridden and suffering excruciating pain.

The sudden appearance of this strange illness was a startling turn of events for the affluent Mahli family. Sharat and Kirtin, along with their brother and three sisters, had attended the best schools, thanks to their family’s wealth. The family operated a farm and ran a shop in their village. Now it looked as if their hope for the future was dying.

“They resigned themselves to the horror of watching a second son die.
After seeing the power of God at work, Darpan and his whole family—16 people in all—received Jesus as their Savior and were baptized. ” Kirtin’s parents were understandably distraught. The first thing they did was pray to the gods and goddesses they had traditionally worshipped, seeking healing for their son. They took him to several hospitals for various medical treatments. Also, in keeping with Asian custom, they sought help from a traditional healer known as a kobiraj.

But it did not take long for everyone in the Mahli family to realize that neither modern medicine nor folkloric healing techniques were going to make Kirtin get better. They resigned themselves to the horror of watching a second son die.

The Mahlis live in a village in the far eastern Indian state of Assam, India where there are many Christians. Kirtin’s family decided to venture outside their own religious beliefs to seek help from their Christian neighbors. They contacted Turanya Kahn, a believer from a Gospel for Asia-affiliated church who leads a prayer ministry in the area.

As Turanya was praying for Kirtin, she sensed that his physical problems had spiritual origins. Turanya and some of her prayer partners fasted and prayed for Kirtin for three days, asking God to free him from the evil spirits which had taken over his body. God answered their prayers, and Kirtin was healed completely.

Gospel for Asia missionaries rely on the power of prayer, and God is blessing them in spectacular ways because of it.
When Kirtin’s father, Darpan, saw the miracle, he began to weep bitterly. He expressed regret that he had not come to know the love of Jesus before his older son, Sharat, had died.

After seeing the power of God at work, Darpan and his whole family—16 people in all—received Jesus as their Savior and were baptized. All of this happened because Turanya took time to pray.

Missionaries in this area of Assam ask that you pray for the Mahli family as they grow in their relationship with the Lord. These missionaries are also praising God for the 24 other people who recently received Jesus as their Savior and joined the GFA-affiliated church in the village.

What’s behind the healings taking place in Asia today?

Read about Gospel for Asia’s native missionaries.

Assam lies at the foot of the Himalayas in northeast India. Read more about the state and its 26 million people.