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Goddess Worshiper Finds Prince of Peace
Like the woman pictured here, many people in Asia are finding true peace in Christ through GFA's ministry.
(4 February 2009)
Thinking her religion had given her what she most longed for, Lali ardently worshipped a goddess. But the woman living in Andhra Pradesh, India, would soon find that it brought her anything but peace.
Lali had a difficult life from an early age. Her mother passed away when she was a child, leaving her to be raised by her stepmother. No one cared for Lali, and she grew up much like an orphan.
She married very young to a man who owned a delivery truck and tractors and made good money. For a brief moment, Lali may have thought she was getting a good break in life. But she began to face rejection again—this time from her in-laws.
Lali seemed unable to bear children, and in India's culture, this is a shameful situation and brings scorn upon a woman.
One day, her husband's family took her to see a witch doctor. After the woman performed witchcraft on Lali, she became pregnant and had children. It may seem Lali's hopes and dreams were answered, but then the witchcraft began to manifest itself in other forms.
Around this time, Lali began to engage heavily in idol worship and started acting like the goddess Ellamma. Lali became possessed by an evil spirit, and people in her village began worshipping her as the human representative of Ellamma.
And other things were going on. The family lost peace and began to lose their belongings—such as their truck and tractors—and even their land. Their physical bodies were attacked as well. Every day, someone in the family was sick. Lali suffered from stomach pain.
That was when hope reached them . . . through a Christian in a local church led by Tanvir, a Gospel for Asia missionary.
Finally, it became clear that the witch doctor had done something against their family—and that she even had a relationship with Lali's husband.
The family seemed helpless to climb out of their dark pit. That was when hope reached them . . . through a Christian in a local church led by Tanvir, a Gospel for Asia missionary. The believer visited Lali's family and listened as she shared their struggles. Then the Christian shared the Gospel with Lali and invited her to church.
When Lali came to church one day, GFA missionary Tanvir shared more about Jesus. Lali began to believe in Jesus and attend the church regularly. She started praying to Jesus.
Within three months, Lali was healed completely of her stomach pain. She was also encouraged to see changes in the family and found her trust in Jesus strengthened.
Lali even opened her home for a prayer meeting. However, her husband asked her not to host any more prayer meetings there. But he did give Lali permission to keep attending church, since Jesus had healed her—and even instructed all the relatives not to say anything against his wife's new faith.
Today Lali is an active believer in Jesus, worshipping with other Christians at the church led by Tanvir. Pray she will continue to grow in her faith—and for the salvation of her husband and family.
Andhra Pradesh has 374 miles of coastline (Int'l Site) >
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