January 31, 2005
By Marilyn Stewart
Sometimes called “the most lost place on earth,” South Asia outdistances even China in the number of people per square mile who do not know Christ.
David Platt, instructor of evangelism at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, led a ministry team of NOBTS students to the heavily Muslim and Hindu populated city of Hyderabad, India in January.
The world’s attention has been riveted to the area ravaged by the tsunami, but the dangers posed to professing Christians there is often overlooked. The NOBTS team came to know “Ramesh,” a man who knows the high cost of discipleship.
Ramesh is a converted Muslim who dreams of seeing the largest mosque in his city transformed into a Christian church. Ramesh was beaten and thrown out on the street by his family when he began to investigate Christianity. Six months later his family legally severed all ties with him.
Missionaries befriended Ramesh, helping him turn his discouragement into determination to reach his people. Platt told that Ramesh came to accept and even embrace the hatred of his people.
“As Osama bin Laden is a wanted man in America,” Ramesh said, “I want to be a wanted man here because I am penetrating the Muslim world with the gospel of peace.”
Christine Wright was one of three women in the nine member NOBTS team. Wright felt a special concern for the children who are trapped in intense poverty and idolatry.
While visiting a Hindu temple in Hyderabad, the team walked among people who were praying and kneeling before idols. Wright said the Lord burdened her heart to pray for the children. She said “this could be the generation through which God breaks the stronghold of idolatry.”
Christians in other parts of the world have also endured great persecution and loss. Two decades of civil war and ethnic cleansing in Sudan have claimed the lives of many Christians. Last November, Platt and NOBTS student, Nate Bauman, traveled to the Sudan with another mission team.
“Everybody there has a story of lost loved ones, of terror, of physical persecution,” Platt explained. “But they never complain about it.”
The persecution of the Sudanese has defined them, not by their loss, but by their gain. Bauman described the Sudanese as a joyful people, having a tenacious faith that has been refined by fire.
“The words I heard most from these precious people were words of hope, forgiveness and mission,” Bauman said. “Many desire to go where the fighting is the fiercest, to make disciples of the very people who have caused them so much suffering.”
“They know they have a God who has walked with them through suffering,” Platt said. “When they relate to each other stories of God’s provision they always respond, ‘That is great love!’”
Seventeen year old Bullen was taken from his parents when he was three and believes he will never see them again. Baumann explained that Bullen is determined to impact the world for Christ. Bullen has envisioned a ten year plan, making disciples in Ethiopia and Somalia, then pushing through northern Africa and into the Middle East.
A favorite saying of the Sudanese, Platt said, is “God is greater.” Circumstances can not deter their fervent commitment. Repent, a Sudanese man in his late 60's, walked 75 miles to bring the gospel to a village who had never heard of Christ.
The determination of the Sudanese and Indian Christians to withhold nothing from God should convict us, Platt said. The desperate need in Sudan and India has led Platt to believe that God is calling Christians to “wake-up,” and answer the calling of the Great Commission.
“God does not bless according to our motives, even God-honoring motives, but according to His plan,” Platt said. “The need is too great to build our homes and careers around plans that we make for ourselves.”
Amy Carmichael, an early 20th century missionary, served in India for more than 50 years helping children freed from Hindu temple prostitution. Platt quotes Amy Carmichael to illustrate the depth of commitment needed if the Great Commission is to be fulfilled.
“Go. Let go. Help go,” Carmichael wrote. “Never, never, never think that anything short of this can be considered being interested in missions.”
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