“They declared that from now on, those believers
couldn’t participate in their death and burial rituals,
nor participate in marriage celebrations,” Suraj
recalled. “They wouldn’t drink any water touched
by a Christian. They said that they would not help
Christians under any circumstances.
“They wrote these statements on a piece of paper
and made a list of believers and declared that from
that day on, the Christians were excommunicated.
They made two copies of the document. I asked them
to make a third copy as well so that one can be with
them, another could go to the village governing body
and a third copy could be kept with us.”
All the Christians were forced to sign the
excommunication order. Taking this stand for Christ
made their everyday lives very difficult in a small,
remote village where people were very dependent on
each other. The new Christians found it difficult to
buy basic supplies. They were forced to travel to
another village, a two-day walk away, just to get their
necessities. Their own families would not even share a
cup of tea with them or participate in marriage
celebrations that took place at the church.
For two years, the villagers stood by the
excommunication order, but then their hearts began
to soften. They saw how the Gospel had strengthened
the fiber of their village and not weakened it as they
had feared.
“The leaders came to us and said they wanted to
reconcile,” Suraj said. “They came to know that there
is nothing evil in Christianity. They saw the Christian
families and the community being transformed. They
saw that the believers’ lives are changed because they
follow the Bible and God’s commands.”
Village leaders ceremonially destroyed two copies
of the excommunication document. Suraj kept the
third copy, however, to serve as a witness to the
struggles they went through on behalf of Christ.
DID YOU
KNOW?
Close Ties
Today, Tienbeh is the site of a thriving church.
Kavin Rushil, a Tienbeh native who came to know
the Lord through Suraj’s ministry, is leading the
ministry. He shares Christ and disciples the 25
Christians who regularly meet for worship.
After eight years in Tienbeh, Suraj was reassigned
to take the Gospel to another unreached area of
Nepal. Although Suraj was confident in handing the
duties of growing God’s work in Tienbeh over to his
protégé, he still maintains a spiritual connection to
the villagers, especially the believers. And his heart is
closely tied to this special place too.
“I love Tienbeh and feel as if it is my hometown,”
Suraj says. “I have been personally praying for our
believers and missionaries working in Tienbeh and
its neighboring villages so that they will become
effective tools in God’s hands and bring many souls
to Him.”
Suraj is one of
thousands of
missionaries who
are committed
to taking the love
of Jesus Christ to
communities that
have never before
heard His name.
They serve in 11
countries in South
Asia, including
Nepal, Sri Lanka,
Myanmar and
Bangladesh.
More on the Web: To link your life with a native
missionary like Suraj, visit www.gfa.org/sponsor
and learn more about how your gifts and prayers
can help extend God’s kingdom in Asia.
