Testimony of

Tony V.

Church Planter, Pastor in India

My name is Tony V. and I am from a neighboring country of India. I grew up in a Hindu family, but I was never interested or involved in any religion. I considered myself an atheist, as I believed strictly in science. I was not at all worried about my life. I was living my life as a spiritually blind person. As I was born in a poor family, I used to disdain my life. What was the point of living like this? It seemed to me that it would be better to die than to live in this broken world. I did not want to live, because there was so much injustice in society. Before the age of 20, I was married. I used to think about how I could get rid of all these problems in my life.  

There was a group of Maoists in our community. This socialist organization was fighting the Government on behalf of the poor people. I was met by one of these men, and he encouraged me to join them. I was very excited to join them. For 3 years and I went along with them and was involved in many fights, trouble, and pain. Soon I realized that they too are not much different than the world, and they too did much injustice. I was very sad. I was thinking about how I could get out of this group when I fell sick. I was not well for some time and my mother talked me into going to India for treatment. That is what I did. In 2005, I was on my death bed and longing for death. 

In the next house next to the place I was staying, there was a believer. During my time there, she shared the gospel with me and talked about Jesus Christ. My heart was opened, and I was excited to hear what she had to say. I wanted to go to church with her, so she took me. It was there that I heard God’s Word clearly, saw my sin before the Lord, repented, and sought forgiveness. God forgave me and helped me put my trust in Him. I surrendered my life to the Lord and decided to live for Him alone. Though facing opposition, the Lord has helped me to love him, follow him, and serve him. To God be the Glory!