From Militant to Missionary

Thomas Raju Khanji once thought he wanted to be part of a rebel group. But now he is training to serve the Lord at a Gospel for Asia Bible College in Northeast India.

Thomas Raju Khanji grew more frightened each day. The teen had spent three months working for one of Assam's militant extremist groups. So far, he had seen them kill 11 people. He feared for his own life but didn't know what to do.

Assam, located in an area of Northeast India nicknamed "The Seven Sister States," is a violent state. Dozens of militant groups can be found here. Their violent actions are thinly veiled in political rhetoric. Despite their repulsive reign of terror, the militant groups routinely attract young men like Thomas. The draw? Steady wages that can't be found elsewhere in this poverty-stricken land.

But Thomas was too young, even by the militants' standards. So, rather than training him for the routine looting and shooting, they made the boy their cook.

Even this job did not keep him far from the violence. The first act of violence Thomas witnessed was a man being shot right in front of his eyes. As the violence continued and the death toll escalated, Thomas knew he must leave.

Having been raised in a nominal Christian family, Thomas turned to this little scrap of faith in his heart. He asked the Lord to redeem his life from the bondage he had given himself over to.

One day he ran away from the camp, but he knew he could not go back to his home. And in fact, that was the first place the militants went looking for him. When they did not find their young cook, they threatened his parents instead, telling them Thomas had three days to return to camp or something awful would happen. Thomas's parents, also returning to their faith, chose to fast and pray for their son's safety.

They saw God answer their prayers when the violent militants did not follow through on their promise to harm them. Yet, they still did not know the fate of their son. Thomas remained in hiding for six months. He wrestled with himself, unable to get hold of the peace he so craved. He even considered suicide to escape from a life which now held no meaning for him.

It was at this time that he met a Gospel for Asia missionary who shared the love of God with him. Thomas realized he needed to make a true commitment to Christ. Yet, this young man's future was still up in the air. He learned about GFA's Bible colleges and begged the missionary to get him admitted.

The missionary told Thomas to pray and wait upon the Lord before he applied for enrollment at the college. Thomas lived with the missionary for six months, during which time he grew in his faith and prayed fervently about the Bible college. At the end of the six months, God affirmed in both of their hearts that Thomas should study at the Bible college.

As Thomas studies the Word of God, he has a singular focus. He wants to return to the militant camp. His goal is to share the love of Christ with his militant friends, who are shedding innocent blood in the name of patriotism.

The missionary asks for prayer that Thomas would finish Bible college successfully and that the Lord would keep him safe as he ventures back to the militants to share Christ.