It’s a distance to travel from worshiping the Hindu god Tirupathi Venkatachalapathy - via the condemnation of your parents - to a Christian baptism.

But this is the route taken by 30-year-old Bakthan as he introduces people to Christ, motivating them to listen to the Gospel through Feba radio programmes.

Bakthan, an office security guard in the small district of Dharmapuri (Tamil Nadu), listened to Feba’s radio programmes. He pursued his interest in Christianity through contact with the Audience Relations’ department, and they supported him through correspondence, sending Bibles and literature, and counselling.

While reading his Bible, he came across the verse: “Prepare to meet your God” (Amos:4:12Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; [and] because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.), and believed that he should prepare to meet Jesus by earnestly seeking him.

His parents, having burnt his Bible and intercepted his correspondence, arranged for him to marry Poongodi, but she too was unable to prevent Bakthan from accepting Jesus as his personal Saviour.

Unwavering faith
A serious accident left Bakthan hospitalised and unable to walk. But his faith didn’t waver, instead it grew stronger. And in answer to his prayers, Bakthan walked from hospital, to his doctors’ amazement. At home he continued listening to Feba’s programmes, the stories, dramas and messages ministered to his needs.

Together - with the realisation of how Jesus suffered on the cross to redeem us from sin - Bakthan and Poongodi sought further study to enable them to be baptised.

Feba India staff visited their home, motivated them and linked them with a local church for nurture and growth. Seeing his enthusiasm in following Christ, the pastor baptised him and his wife. He has joined the Bible College to study the Bible thoroughly.

Today Bakthan serves the Lord by sharing the Gospel through villages in Tamil Nadu. He shares his testimony with people of other faiths, and prays for their problems.

God has turned our listener into an evangelist. Please uphold Bakthan, Poongodi and their two daughters in your prayers.

[This name has been changed. For security reasons photos do not necessarily relate to the text]