Musings at Altitude

In a very different spin on “permission slips”, our church supports an evangelical Pastor in Northern India.  Over the last several months, our missions coordinator worked closely with this Pastor and his wife to schedule a visit here to the States where he could fellowship in person with those churches that support him. 

In the recent past, several folks from our church had gone to visit him in India, and they brought back with them excitement about the ministry he was providing but also concern for the deteriorating conditions for Christians in this Hindu dominated land.  And in the last year, the oppression has grown significantly worse as homes of Christians have been burned and some have lost their lives.  And yet, the ministry continues with great hope and deep faith in its purpose.  This visit was very important for us to hear this direct and to commit ourselves to even further support.

With the details of the planned trip complete, the only thing left was for the Pastor to get a visa allowing him to visit the United States.  Unfortunately, the “permission slip” he needed in order to leave India and visit us was denied.  He and his wife were disheartened but not defeated, and they waited a few weeks and then reapplied.  As before, the visas were denied, and this man and his wife who very honestly disclosed their reasons for wanting to visit the United States were once again left wondering what great work God had in store for them by not allowing them to come visit us.

Today at our church service, what the government had denied them in physical travel was overcome by the use of today’s technology.  Over the Internet, we connected through video with this Pastor and he shared in our church service.  He talked of the danger of being Christian in India, and he shared with us how others were now having to go underground to worship when only months and years ago they could worship openly.  He also talked of the blessings he received from the prayers and financial support of those of us here in this country, and he encouraged us to pray even more fervently for the safety of Christian believers in India and for the faithfulness of those believers in continuing to worship and through example continue to show God’s love through their obedience.

As we listened to this Pastor and his wife share with us today, there was no dejection, no disappointment, and no desperation because of what had been denied.  Instead, we saw elation, and excitement, and abundant anticipation for the great work that God was doing through these two faithful servants.  Though permission was not given for them to visit with us in person, we were blessed and I’m certain they were blessed as well to visit each other through the wonders of modern technology.

After hearing directly from this Pastor today, I will most certainly pray more fervently for him, his family and his awesome ministry.  But I’ll also give thanks for the freedoms we have in this country where we are given permissions that others are so routinely denied.  We often times take those freedoms for granted.  Today, because of the courage and tenacity of this Pastor in India, I was reminded once again how precious those freedoms are.