KAMAL KUMAR
Part 1 of 2 parts
My Father told me "Kamal if you are not going to change. If you are not going to listen to us and want to become this western man and follow this western God, we will cut you out. We will disown you. You have no part in our family. You are dead to us. You must pick either us your family, or your new God". I said to him "I love you my family but I cannot deny Jesus".
Kamal grew up in a family of 5 in Ramewal, Jalandhar [district in Punjab, state of India]. Born the first son of "very religious parents" with ancestry firmly rooted in both Hindu and Sikh caste and traditions. Kamal never questioned what his family believed, how they prayed or lived their daily lives. "Most of our time we served our gods by cleaning temple or whatever was needed". It just was. His Mother woke him 4.30 every morning to attend prayers at the massive and very beautiful Sikh temple just a few minutes walk from his home. "I felt I had everything I needed in my life. I believed my religion was the best in the world as we used to do a lot of good deeds and things to help others." No one in the village of 5,000 people knew Jesus Christ. All were staunch believers in the many gods, following reverent prayer rituals established over centuries.
In 2011, the 12 year old beloved "sister of my best friend who I played cricket with, became very ill". She was taken to every doctor, specialist and temple for healing. Gravely ill, "unable to eat or carry out normal bodily functions, she looked like a skeleton". Over time the distraught family tried everything to find the cause of this illness and save her life. "When I went to their house I could smell the stench of a rotting body". The Mother was given the phone number of a Christian preacher in another village. "Here is the number of a church pastor as we have heard when he prays things happen" she was told. The family were against this, adamant they had their own religion and gods and if they couldn't heal her, nothing could. "It was widely believed Jesus Christ was a western foreign God, blond, blue eyed and not a God of the people of India". "Two days later when the Mother went to check on her daughter, she found her dead. The Mother began screaming and wailing and the village quickly learnt of the tragic situation. The Mother was not prepared to give up and because she loved her daughter so much, decided to try the one thing she had not tried. Even though her daughter was confirmed dead by the Doctor, in desperation she phoned the Christian pastor. He came that same day, on his scooter from 6 villages away and arrived to find a number of distraught people. He asked the people to be quiet telling them "I believe Jesus is a God of miracles and can do anything". He prayed over the dead body. The daughter came back to life. She got up, went to the toilet and ate food. Healed in the name of Jesus. The shocked family gratefully received their beloved daughter back and with the help of the Christian pastor, all gave their lives to Jesus Christ.
"It was a miracle but I was not believing it. When my friend told me his whole family were now Christians, I became very angry. I took my cricket bat and wanted to hit him. "How can you change your religion? You came to temple with me and my family". I said to my friend, "unless I see her alive with my own eyes, I cannot believe you". He told me Jesus is the real God and challenged me by saying, "if Jesus was not real then how come my sister is alive and healed today?" I was so outraged. Later he picked me up and took me to a church to see his sister. I had never been to a church in my life and had to go in secret as I knew my parents would be angry. "Compared to our big temple, the church was really simple and small. I thought this God must be a really small God cause He doesn't even have a proper temple or place to meet. It was nothing in comparison. After a few minutes those there began singing and clapping and saying hallelujah. I was shocked and started laughing at them. These people are crazy! It was like a circus. Nobody does things like that in our temple, we cover our heads, sit down and read the book and listen quietly. I demanded my friend took me home but he insisted we wait for his sister to arrive. When I saw his sister walk into the church, in good health, hair washed and shining and smiling, I was stunned. Shocked. When the Pastor arrived he started talking about spirits and the Holy Ghost. Suddenly I thought I knew what had happened. Black magic and spells had been cast and cured the sister. When I arrived home, my Father had found out I was in church, was furious and slapped me". I had brought disgrace on the family and he banned my friend and me from being friends any more. "If we see you with him again, we will break your legs".
In March 2012 I moved to New Zealand to begin IT level computer study, staying with my uncle and aunty. "A fresh life and fresh journey, still going to temple regularly". I got a great job, my circle of friends expanded and I filled me life with parties, girls and excessive drinking. I became a very angry person always wanting to fight someone. Life was great. But in 2017 I realised my life was "really distant" and although I was still going to temple, I was not being the person I knew should be. On 19 July I had taken the day off work following a big party the night before. I slept in and eventually went out into the lounge alone. "While I was making a cuppa tea a thought came in my heart. Kamal you haven't been to temple for a long time and need to pray to god. I was feeling really strange but thought it was because I had not been following the ways of my religion. I prayed a brief prayer, but dissatisfied with my effort decided to call on all the names of the gods and gurus I could remember. I felt a strange presence in the room. I had never experienced this before, not in temple and not in India. I felt uncomfortable. I was scared. Afraid, I asked the presence in the room 'whoever it is, who are you'? I could not escape from this strong presence. I was on my knees crying when I heard a powerful and clear voice 'I am Jesus Christ'. The moment I heard the voice of Jesus there was nothing left in my body. I thought surely today I am going to die because I knew I had made fun of Christians and sworn against Jesus Christ. I had said bad things. I thought he was here to punish me, and kill me. I thought today I am dead. He showed me a flashback, like a movie of all I had done in my whole life. In front of my eyes I could see all the bad things and instantly I knew, I was a sinner. These things I had done were totally against God. I started to ask Him for forgiveness and was crying out to him. Over and over again I cried out for forgiveness. I felt the touch of a physical hand upon my shoulder. The moment His hand touched me I felt a perfect peace and He said 'son I forgive you. I love you. No religion can save you, only me. I am the way, the truth and the life. Without me nobody can come to heaven, nobody can receive forgiveness and come to God. You need me. I paid for all sin'. He spoke to me for a couple of hours, explaining everything. Then He said 'son, do you believe?' He did not force me. He simply asked me. "Yes Lord" I said. 'Come follow me' he replied. That encounter changed my life.
"I felt so completely changed and wanted to share the truth I knew was real. I phoned my parents in India. I now knew their gods and religion would not help us. At first they thought I was joking but something in my voice convinced them it was a reality. They were very unhappy with me and angry. They phoned my uncle where I was staying and he told them not to worry as I was not very serious, always drinking and partying. I began to read my new Bible from page one, hungry for all God had to teach me. My family were not willing to listen. When I read about the God who created the heavens and the earth, and when I prayed, I felt such peace. I felt so good. I was surprised to meet a Christian family from Punjab. I still believed Jesus Christ was a God for westerners only, and this meeting really changed my thinking. My journey started with this Christian family. I felt surrounded by acceptance, love and understanding. My own family so angry at me for renouncing their beliefs, renounced me. My Father told me "Kamal if you are not going to change. If you are not going to listen to us and want to become this western man and follow this western God, we will cut you out. We will disown you. You have no part in our family. You are dead to us. You must pick either us your family, or your new God". I said to him "I love you my family but I cannot deny Jesus. He is real. He loves you and loves us all." I thought the truth of my encounter would honour them and they would respect that. All my worldly friends dropped out of my life. Although my uncle and aunty saw changes in my life they believed, given time, I would still return to the old beliefs.
KAMAL KUMAR
Part 2 of 2 parts
Kamal said "Mother, God has sent me to pray for your family". She started crying and said 'come in servant of God. Last night God showed me your face and told me you would come to my house and pray for my husband who is paralyzed'. This big island [Samoan] man lay on the bed unable to move. "Joined now by my other 3 Christian brothers, we prayed for this man to be healed in the name of Jesus. The man got up out of bed, stood, and started walking".
I joined Christian brothers and sisters also from India in a Friday night fellowship. Hungry for more my day would take me to work, then Bible study and meeting with other believers. I was still reading in the Old Testament and did not know about being Baptised. "When this was explained to me I was keen and on 13 September 2017 I was Baptised. I knew this is what Jesus wanted and I fully surrendered knowing there was no going back. I wanted to live every day for Jesus. My parents had disowned me, my aunty and uncle were happy I was no longer drinking and staying out late at night, but they too were not happy with my choice. When the grief for my family threatened to overwhelm me, God's love surrounded me and kept me going".
"In the fellowship meetings I heard people speaking in tongues [when an individual utters mysteries with his spirit in a language he or she does not know]and was curious. When the language of Holy Spirit was explained to me through verses in the bible, I prayed with them for this precious gift to be given to me too. Nothing happened. We tried several times but nothing happened. They taught me about fasting and praying. This was new to me and hard as I love eating. I decided on a 3 day fast just having tea and liquids. I was really challenged by this. Although I was praying, I was hungry and growing frustrated as the gift of speaking in tongues just didn't happen. I want my Baptism of water and fire to be complete Lord. My fast was to finish on the Friday night at 8.30pm when I would have a meal together with my group, pray, sing and fellowship. I was tired, and feeling angry and hungry. I kept checking my watch to see when I could finish my fast and eat. At 8.25pm I had the alarming thought, if I am not given this gift, then I might have to continue my fast. If not, then I have achieved nothing and this is all in vain. At 8.27pm I said to God 'if you dont give me this gift now, then I am giving them back the Bible and never coming back. What is wrong with me? Why will you not do this God'? Quickly I repented of these thoughts and said 'God you know I love you and I do not want to leave but please fill me with the Holy Spirit'. I heard a clear voice say to me 'open your mouth'. I did not open my mouth I opened my eyes as I thought someone in the room was speaking to me. But nothing in the room had changed. Again the voice said to me 'open your mouth'. Again I opened my eyes to see who it was speaking to me. Then I felt a hot sharp touch on my throat and the language of Holy Spirit came like a fire. I was shouting out this new langauage and didn't care that everyone was looking at me. It went on and on like all the pent up words and praise in me just had to come out. I asked God to stop the voice as I thought I might explode. This was a powerful gift".
Later that same night I met my future pastor who taught me about healing and deliverance. Every Saturday with 3 other brothers we would go into the community and pray for people, spreading God's love. "One Saturday I felt the Lord telling me to drive to another part of town. My friends made me drive and the Lord directed me where to turn and which house to stop outside. One of the brothers and I walked up the driveway towards the garage and we could hear loud music. There was a big Samoan man drinking and smoking. I went to him and he asked me what I wanted. 'Brother I'm here to pray for someone'. He just pointed to the back door. When I knocked on the door it was opened by an older Samoan lady. I said 'Mother, God has sent me to pray for your family'. She started crying and said 'come in servant of God. Last night God showed me your face and told me you would come to my house and pray for my husband who is paralyzed'. This big island man lay on the bed unable to move. Joined now by my other 3 Christian brothers, we prayed for this man to be healed in the name of Jesus. The man got up out of bed, stood and started walking. The first healing miracle I had ever witnessed with my own eyes. After the Mother was delivered, the daughters encountered God. The son in the garage hadn't seen what happened as he was in his own world outside. "When we returned that same evening I told him [the son] 'God wants you to surrender your life to him'. I said 'God has a calling on your life and does not want you to keep living in pain like this'. He was happy for us to pray for him and the first time he received prayer, the Holy Spirit touched him in such a mighty way he fell to the ground. The whole family started coming to church and were all Baptised".
Miracle after miracle, healing after healing. About 8 months later I was surprised to receive a call from India. "I miss you all" I said. They replied "Kamal we want to tell you something. We have stopped going to temple, we go to church now. Jesus is real". I asked who came to them to tell them about Jesus. "No one, just the prayers of many in the church for us" they replied.
I was on a work Visa in New Zealand and 3 times my work Visa was declined meaning my time in New Zealand was quickly running out. It was most unusual and even the immigration lawyer I was paying was surprised. "Oh Lord what is happening? Next the deportation letter arrived. I was upset not knowing what or why this was happening, but also because God had just provided a church building for our growing numbers and I wanted to be there for the first service. God I have just one week before I have to leave New Zealand, but the first church meeting is one month away. 'Please God I want to stay'. I took the letter to my senior Pastor. We prayed and praised the God of miracles. One Pastor had prophesied over me 'you are like a branch that's been cut and God is grafting into His vine. He is giving you a new start'. I didn't really understand what he was saying as I was being deported. I felt I was a failure and wondered why God wouldn't intervene and perform a miracle. I spoke to the lawyer and he explained I was out of options and I could not apply for yet another Visa. We all prayed and God gave us a word 'let him serve'. I had no official qualifications to serve in the church. To apply for a Visa as pastoral care in a church I needed qualifications, and 2 years minimum experience. I had only been a Christian for 18 months. It seemed impossible and the lawyer agreed it was impossible. He was very unhappy. But if you still want I will apply once and this might give you one more month so you can be here for your church opening, but I will charge you NZ$5K which I did not have. All my money had already gone on lawyers and Visas and legal costs".
Romans 6:14 you are not under law, you are under grace. "This verse was given to me by a brother praying. The church board met and agreed to employ me as Assistant Pastor but I needed also to prove to Immigration New Zealand I was not trying to dupe them. When asked what had I learnt from serving in the church I spoke of evangelism, healings, prayer and many meetings. Certificates were duly produced. When the Visa application was submitted they asked also for a Certificate of Ordination [official document confirming an individuals status as an ordained member of religious community]. I knew God was doing something but I didn't know what. I attended several services in the new church but still one stumbling block remained. Immigration asked: 'Where is you work experience? You've only been a Christian for 18 months so you don't qualify for the 2 year requirement. We want clarification on that before we give you the final outcome'. I thought that's it! We cannot lie, there's nothing we can do. One of the Pastors praying phoned me and asked me to meet with him immediately. We had one day left to give our response. God had spoken to him at work saying 'do not count the years. Count the days and the hours'. 'Can you tell me in the past 18 months the time you have been serving God'? When it was all added up, I had 4000 hours and I needed 3000 hours. Submit, send and pray. At midday the very next day, an email arrived. When I saw there was an email from the Immigration department I was so nervous I couldn't read it, but just prayed, Lord my life is in your hands. Congratulations you have been granted a 2 year work visa. I forwarded the email to my brother in Christ and together we cried and marvelled at the goodness and miraculous hand of God".
God then provided me with a small unit to live in. "All I had were some clothes. I didn't have a bed or knife or spoon. Within 2 days God furnished my house, if I asked for a spoon He gave me 100 spoons!. Then God arranged for me to visit India in January 2020 to see my family and meet my future wife. For the first time ever in my village a thanksgiving meeting was held to celebrate Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. About 100 people came to rejoice. Many in my village had been touched, healed and delivered. My friend who I was forbidden to see again [see part 1] had helped build a Christian school in my village. His sister who was raised from death to life [see part 1], was now married and had a family of her own and serves the Lord".
God used my home to welcome and pray and share. So many different nationalities crammed into a tiny space. "We all agreed on one thing, Jesus is real. From a persecutor and rebellious person into the light and life of Jesus Christ. I feel so blessed. God loves us so much He has already done and given us everything. We do not have to strive for His love, it is freely given. From persecutor to a pastor".