Silas graduated from a seminary in North India in 2010 and returned to Nepal in order to work alongside his father. He has a great desire to see Nepalese believers grow in their understanding of the Scriptures. Pray for him as he serves the church in Nepal.
Testimony of Conversion
I was born and brought up in a Buddhist family. Though I was born in a Buddhist family, I didn’t know about Buddhism. I never visited a monastery, and I never worshiped Buddha. I only knew that I was a Buddhist. When the time passed, my father received Christ as his personal Savior. He used to go to church every worship day. He always encouraged and forced us to go to church, also. Sometimes I used to go because of fear of my father. On the day of worship, I would run and play games with my fellow friends. At that time my age was around 15 or 16. As the time passed, I started going to church more than before. Going to church for me was a formality. I was involved in the youth fellowship and other church activities, but there was no inner conversion. I was not fully convinced and didn’t realize the love of Christ. I used to think Christianity was simply a tradition. Our relatives accused us because my father had become a Christian, and I didn’t try to see the truth because I was not interested.
When I was studying in the 12th standard, I had good friends and enjoyed passing time with them. I always escaped from home and enjoyed time with them. I spent more time with them rather than with my family or in devotion. It was in the month of July 2001 that I lost my mom because of cancer. Because of this event my life slowly turned more to God. I suffered a lot in every area of my life. I had to work hard to survive and also to help run my family. At that time my father left home for the sake of the gospel. He ministered in far places from home. So everything depended on me. My brothers were not serious about our family’s suffering. Slowly the suffering drew me closer to God. When the difficulties and trials came, I asked God and prayed for His mercy and grace in my life. Then, I started to depend more on God. Day by day I was growing strong in the Lord. I was more encouraged from Job 1:21, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” And also Job 2:10, “Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?” These verses encouraged me a lot to trust and depend on God. Though I knew about Christ, that he died for sinful people, this life event helped me to understand the real purpose of my life. It was a slow process of conversion in my life.
After my conversion, I depended more on God. I tried to live a more faithful life than before. Though I accepted Christ fully in my life, I struggled a lot because of worldly things. There were many trials and temptations; some temptations I overcame and some I was unable because of remaining sinful desires. I fall again and again in many areas, but God by His holy Word lifted me up, guiding and sanctifying me with His Holy Spirit. My life was growing in the Lord with a repentant heart daily. God by His Holy Spirit enabled me to trust Him more and more. I was encouraged from my father to go for theological study and I was convinced that I needed to do this. I wanted to know the deep knowledge of God and grow in His Spirit to serve His people. Then, in 2006, I went to Presbyterian Theological Seminary and I finished my bachelor of theology course in 2010. God poured out His Spirit on me to serve among a common people right after my theological studies. I am now serving alongside my father. I am working with the youth and also preaching and teaching the congregation.
