In Christ Alone

Pastor 8 and His Son

When pastor 8* was 12 years old, an evangelist came to his village. For the first time, he and others heard about Jesus! His community joyfully received the Gospel, and 25 families professed Christ. But two years later, when severe persecution broke out, all of those same “Christians” quickly rejected Jesus. Everyone, that is—except for Pastor 8 (then 14 years old). Because he alone clung to his faith in Jesus Christ, Pastor 8 was shunned by his family and excommunicated from his village and whole tribe. Amazingly, this didn’t hinder his fervent desire to continue spreading the Good News of Jesus!

Years later, God blessed Pastor 8 with a precious Christian wife who worked by his side, as they told people about Jesus. Saving Grace’s lead pastor in his country (Pastor 15) took Pastor 8, his wife, and his three-year-old son under his wing. God blessed Pastor 8’s ministry! Hearts turned to Jesus! A church started!

Last summer, Pastor 8’s dearly-loved wife and baby passed away in childbirth. Despite wrongly being told time and time again that this was a result of him turning away from the Hindu “gods,” Pastor 8 once again stood strong in his faith.

Seeing Pastor 8’s deep sadness over losing his wife and unborn child, Pastor 15, the director of Saving Grace’s Pastors School, invited him to attend the school and be encouraged in the Lord.

A Place of Learning

Pastor 8 Evangelizing

In villages where pastors and evangelists like Pastor 8 live, every aspect of life is dictated by Hindu culture. In the morning, they wake up to the sound of chants, as people worship and offer sacrifices to their fruit trees. Idols, the only decorations, plaster the walls of homes, representing death and all sorts of evil. Each month, the whole village comes together for Hindu festivals worshiping things like cobras. Afterward, children play on the mountain cliffs, excitedly acting out the supernatural, demonic activities they saw at the festival. Almost no one has heard of Jesus. If anyone has heard of a Christian, they most likely think of them as “those who drink the blood of cows” (Hinduism’s most cherished of all gods). Being the only Christian around, it is easy for them to feel alone.

Like Paul in the book of Acts, at Saving Grace’s Pastors School, these eager evangelists come away to intensely study the Bible—away from the pressure of others to do idol worship. They delve into each book of the Bible and memorize God’s Word extensively. Then, they are “ready with an answer” for those who have questions, and they can correctly teach others.

Pastor 8 attended and graduated from Saving Grace’s Pastors School, where he was encouraged in the Lord. He was thoroughly educated by the professors, especially Pastor 15, with the truths of God’s Word.

In the Lord’s Army

Pastor 8 Studying at the Pastors School

Only the Pastors Schools’ graduates who are the most dedicated, well-versed, and mature in the Lord are asked to stay on as Calvary Chapel Saving Grace Church Planters. Pastor 8 was tested and found to have an exceptional knowledge of God’s Word! After graduating as a Pastor, the leaders at Saving Grace World Missions asked Pastor 8 to become a Saving Grace Church Planter.

Pastor 8 desperately wants to continue fully devoting his life to telling people about the one and only true God. He will be ministering in an area that is enslaved by the bondage of evil witch doctors; where the average person is heavily superstitious, underprivileged, and anti-Christian. This area is too dangerous for an American even to come and visit.

But Pastor 8 is now joining a family of laborers: a graduate of Calvary Chapel California, Pastor 9, who travels, sometimes by foot, encouraging others with the story of how God has changed his heart; a seasoned pastor, Pastor 11, who tirelessly reaches out to orphans, the poor, and the hurting; and still others like them, who are giving their all to get the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who have never heard it!

These Church Planters are fired up in the Lord as American pastors and missionaries from SGWM frequently visit and teach.