SEND! magazine Third Quarter 2006: No 'Untouchables' in Jesus Christ

No 'Untouchables' in Jesus Christ

Before knowing Christ, Suresh Kishore lived according to the dictates of the Hindu caste system. As a high-caste Brahmin, he kept his distance from Dalits and other low-class villagers. He never shared a plate or cup with them. He never sat near them. Then he met Christ.

Suresh had spent hours praying to his deity for his sick granddaughter. But the goddess he thought was so powerful did nothing.

Then a neighbor told Suresh how his wife had been healed after a local pastor prayed for her.

"Why don't you go to him?" he suggested.

So Suresh sought out GFA native missionary Niranjan and asked him to pray to the God who healed on behalf of his granddaughter.

Niranjan explained to Suresh about Christ's redemptive work on the cross. And when he prayed for Suresh's granddaughter, the Lord completely restored her to health.

Suresh's interest became belief, and he surrendered his life to Christ. Knowing Jesus began to radically change his perspective, and he realized that no one is untouchable in the kingdom of God.

"Before receiving Jesus, I always kept the low-caste people away from me," he explains, "and tried to have nothing in common with them. But when I received Jesus, the Lord told me that in Him, there is no caste."

Suresh now worships the Lord every Sunday alongside dozens of Dalit believers—men and women with whom he would never associate previously. Labels don't matter to him anymore. Whether Dalit or Brahmin, rich or poor, Jesus' love unifies all, says Suresh.

"Now I don't see anyone as a high or low person. All are the same in my eyes. When they come to my house, I share the same cups and plates with everyone. Jesus died for everyone. Why then should we keep differences among the people?"

Read more about Niranjan's ministry here.

Millions of men and women just like Suresh still haven't heard of the transforming love of God. Go to www.gfa.org/sponsor and link your life with a native missionary who will tell them!