This week on the Persecution Blog we’re sharing excerpts from At The Foot of the Snows: A Journey of Faith and Words Among the Kham-Speaking People of Nepal by David E. Watters with Steve and Daniel Watters. (Read more about the book in Tuesday’s post.)
We have shared about a low point in the Watters ministry, and then about the moment the Kham people began to come to Christ. But their new-found faith came with a price. In this final excerpt we’ll hear how the believers suffered arrest and imprisonment, but more importantly how they responded and how God used it to grow the Kham church.
First an excerpt from a letter from Bishnu, one of seven Kham believers arrested and put in prison for their faith:
“We’re a little bit concerned, wondering what will happen to us. But whatever it be, we have cast ourselves upon God. Whatever he wants to do is his will. He knows. Thanks be to God. Up until the time that we have written this letter we are sitting in the gloom of the police fortress. But God’s glory is with us.
Regardless of what suffering comes in the name of our Lord Jesus, we will endure it. Do not concern yourself. Be of good confidence. We can never repay the debt for all that we have received from our Lord. This present suffering is of no significance. What is it compared to the suffering our Lord endured?”
* * * * *
The men began talking of about their dark, gloomy prison cell as “the house of God,” and their chains as “the ornaments of God.” Amazing! These were unlettered, unschooled men, but they stood like the giants before and after them…
* * * * *
We discovered quickly that the men’s imprisonment was the number one topic of discussion in every Kham village. Around every hearth the gospel was being discussed, by believers and unbelievers alike. “What does the gospel say, and why is it so bad?” All seven men were considered model citizens, and it baffled everybody that the government should wish to put such men into prison. “Why?” they asked. “What in those booklets is so terrible that it would put a man in prison?” So they began beating a path to Hasta Ram’s village to buy booklets and find out for themselves.
Nancy and I have often commented since that if we had hired those seven men to preach the gospel in every village, it would not have been nearly so effective as having them go to prison.
* * * * *
Later, Karna Bahadur would say with a grin on his face, “How stupid could they be? They thought they could beat God out of us with a stick!”
* * * * *
I am thankful for the legacy of David Watters and these bold Kham believers. And I'm thankful for great books like At the Foot of the Snows, that inspire us to seek God's will for our own lives and to boldly serve Him wherever He may call us. I encourage you to read the book, and to read it to your children and grandchildren.
[YOUR TURN:] What biographies have inspired you in your Christian faith and in your desire to serve Jesus more fully? Share thoughts in the comments to this post.
Todd Nettleton has served with The Voice of the Martyrs for 16 years. He’s travelled to more than 20 restricted and hostile nations and interviewed hundreds of believers who’ve faced persecution for their Christian witness. As VOM’s principle media spokesperson, Todd has done more than 2,000 interviews with media outlets ranging from Moody Radio to the BBC and Los Angeles Times. He is the principle author of Restricted Nations: North Korea and was part of the writing team for four other VOM books. You can see all 26 books that Todd read in 2014 on his personal blog.
Disclosure: VOM is part of the Amazon Associates program. If you click on the links in this post and purchase the book from Amazon, VOM will receive a very small percentage of your purchase as a referral fee.
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