Unloved

“I will establish My people in the land and make them prosper. I will show love to those who were called ‘Unloved,’ and to those who were called ‘Not-My-People’ I will say, ‘You are my people,’ and they will answer, ‘You are our God.’” Hosea 2:23, TEV.

I was born in Singapore, but moved to Southern India at the age of two. My father was Indian born, and my mother is Singaporean. I did well in school, but my father would beat me regularly whenever I disappointed him with poor performance at school or at home. I remember crying out to God at night through my tears and pain. Where are You? Does anyone love me? I felt a void in my heart. I later learned that God did hear my cry, though as a Hindu I didn’t yet know Him.

When I was seven, my Grandmother suggested that I move back to Singapore, since I was Singaporean born. My parents agreed. Initially the move brought more pain. After living five years in India, my language was Hindi, not English. Bullies at the local school picked on me because of my bad English, and I also did poorly at school. When I’d come home with an “F” on a paper or exam, my mother would beat me with a stick. When my Father lost his job in India and moved back to Singapore, the beatings only got worse. I felt so lost. I just wanted to escape.

During Primary 6 (6th grade) I took the Primary School Leaving Exam (PSLE). As the result was not good I was labeled a “slow learner” and was placed into a normal learning stream. My family was so disappointed with me. Around the same time I was invited to a meeting that changed my life. My uncle, who is a Christian, invited me to a church meeting at an indoor stadium. After hearing the message about the love and forgiveness of Jesus, I got to pray with Christians for the first time. I asked them to pray that my grades would improve and my parents would be happy with me. God honored those prayers and gave me a teacher who took an interest in me. He helped me learn new study habits and my grades did improve. And my parents were happy.

I knew the Christian God had answered my prayer for better grades, but I still did not know much about Jesus. However, I met a friend at school named Ben. Ben was a Christian. Over the next two years, he answered questions. Ben helped me see that my relationship to Jesus needed to be deeper than just asking Him for answers to prayer. I needed to commit my life to Jesus as my only Lord. I knew he was right. He led me in a sinner’s prayer, and I asked Jesus to save me. The Holy Spirit convicted me to confess many sins and to pray for the spiritual condition of my family.

Around my birthday, Ben invited me to go to a week long series of church meetings at Queenstown Baptist Church. My parents refused to give me permission because they feared that Ben was trying to convert me away from my Hindu beliefs and family heritage. After much debate I was allowed to attend one night. It was Tuesday, the night that the gospel was presented. I felt even more drawn to follow Jesus. At that point I had no Bible, and nothing on which to ground my faith. Ben gave me a Bible and started studying it with me.

As my life changed, both friends and family became hostile. My friends pushed me around and called me crazy. My parents took my hand phone and hid my Bible. They threatened to kick me out of the house if they caught me talking with Ben. I felt lost all over again. I even considered suicide. Yet Christ reminded me of His forgiveness of my sin and convicted me that I needed to forgive my parents and friends.

After some time my parents calmed down. I found the Bible they had hidden and was careful to only read it at night after they had gone to bed. Unfortunately, they discovered that I was reading the Bible again. They confronted me and asked, “Are you a Christian?” I told them I was. My father beat me and ordered me to throw away my Bible. I refused. I told them how Jesus had changed my life for the better. Both my parents mocked Jesus and threatened to withhold money for food and education. I told them that they could keep my Bible, but I would not stop following Jesus.

That same month one of my relatives committed suicide. I grieved deeply, as I knew that he did not know Christ. I began to pray even more intensely for the salvation of my family. While my parents had taken my Bible, I had learned that I could still quench my thirst for God’s Word on the internet. I was also encouraged and strengthened by many believers online.

My parents announced to me that I must return to India to undergo a Hindu ritual. I begged them not to force me to do it. They insisted saying, “You are losing your roots. This is necessary for you and us.” I finally relented and agreed to go. I prayed to God that by honoring my parents I would still be able to honor Him. Again, He answered my prayer, but that is another story.

Pray that:

God will strengthen new believers all over the Pacific Rim who face persecution from friends and family for following Jesus.

This young man’s family and friends will come to faith in Jesus.

Efforts to start a Baptist church among the over 191,000 Singaporean Indians will be successful.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.