30 March 2010
A Whole Night Prayer Meeting
We are going to have another whole-night prayer meeting at the house and church of Bro. Ashorio Rony Biswas on March 30, 2010. We are starting our journey from Dhaka just 7 hours later. I alone with my brother Supon am attending the meeting and we also preach there with our bro. Biswas. I am intended to preach on the subject of 'The Death of Christ on the Cross of Calvary'. Please pray for us so that we can preach there and by our preaching lost souls can understand their sate and receive Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Amen
06 January 2010
First Tiffin Carried in the Class.
Something has happened for the first time in my life. Though it is very common and simple but it hasn’t happened in my life yet. I can’t seize myself without sharing it to you. What was it? It was a Tiffin box that I carried in my class.
Today after getting up in the morning, I found Sister Ripa had made delicious breakfast. She has come here yesterday with her husband Bro. Suride and their four year son Arnob to study Theology to Bro. Nathaniel. When I was leaving for college, she came with a Tiffin box and gave it to me and told me to eat it after my classes. It never happened in my life. When I was a child I used to go to a village school which was about 100 yards far from our house. I never saw anyone carrying Tiffin at school. Moreover my family is very poor. My mother was unable to give any Tiffin. I read up to class seven living with my parents. Then I was sent to a seminary which was in another district. I read up to class ten and completed my SSC there. We were given our lunch at 9:30am and then at 10am we went to school and stayed there up to 4pm. We weren’t given any Tiffin and we had to stay at school 6 hours without any food. As a teenage boy, I was very hungry and after coming back from school we were given a loaf of hand maid bread and a tea spoonful sugar which was nothing to that burning hunger. We were given supper at 7:30pm, 10 hours after the lunch. How distressing it was for a boy of that age! However, I have completed my HSC without having any Tiffin at school and college. But today, when I am a 26 year young man and in the end of my BA (honors) Course, for the first time someone has put a Tiffin box in my bag and bid me to have it after my classes. Oh, what a complex feeling I had on that time! I can’t explain it properly. I felt joy and grief at the same time. Joy for the love and care of Sister Ripa and grief for it hadn’t happened in my whole student life. Though any drop of tear didn’t fall from my eyes but my heart was flowed in tears which no one but my Lord God could see.
I carried the box in my class. We were 6 students altogether. There were two Muslim, two Catholic and a Hindu student. After the classes were taken, I told them that I had carried my first Tiffin from home and I would be very happy if they took part with me. They burst into laughing and took part with me. Though the Tiffin was for one man but we enjoyed it together. It was a small matter but it was a great thing to me because I got chance to tell about Jesus Christ to my Classmates. After opening the box, I gave thanks and prayed to my Lord. My Muslim classmates attentively heard the words of my prayer which were new to them. While having the Tiffin I told them how my Lord Jesus Christ fed five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes. They were astonished to hear the miracle of my Lord. Oh, how happy I was to share my Tiffin and tell about my Lord Jesus Christ!
I wonder at the love and mercy of my Lord. I see His blessings even in every small matter. My heart dances in joy and feels His presence always. Thank God for His loving mercy. Thank also Sister Ripa and Bro. Suride. Thank you for stopping by and reading my post.
Today after getting up in the morning, I found Sister Ripa had made delicious breakfast. She has come here yesterday with her husband Bro. Suride and their four year son Arnob to study Theology to Bro. Nathaniel. When I was leaving for college, she came with a Tiffin box and gave it to me and told me to eat it after my classes. It never happened in my life. When I was a child I used to go to a village school which was about 100 yards far from our house. I never saw anyone carrying Tiffin at school. Moreover my family is very poor. My mother was unable to give any Tiffin. I read up to class seven living with my parents. Then I was sent to a seminary which was in another district. I read up to class ten and completed my SSC there. We were given our lunch at 9:30am and then at 10am we went to school and stayed there up to 4pm. We weren’t given any Tiffin and we had to stay at school 6 hours without any food. As a teenage boy, I was very hungry and after coming back from school we were given a loaf of hand maid bread and a tea spoonful sugar which was nothing to that burning hunger. We were given supper at 7:30pm, 10 hours after the lunch. How distressing it was for a boy of that age! However, I have completed my HSC without having any Tiffin at school and college. But today, when I am a 26 year young man and in the end of my BA (honors) Course, for the first time someone has put a Tiffin box in my bag and bid me to have it after my classes. Oh, what a complex feeling I had on that time! I can’t explain it properly. I felt joy and grief at the same time. Joy for the love and care of Sister Ripa and grief for it hadn’t happened in my whole student life. Though any drop of tear didn’t fall from my eyes but my heart was flowed in tears which no one but my Lord God could see.
I carried the box in my class. We were 6 students altogether. There were two Muslim, two Catholic and a Hindu student. After the classes were taken, I told them that I had carried my first Tiffin from home and I would be very happy if they took part with me. They burst into laughing and took part with me. Though the Tiffin was for one man but we enjoyed it together. It was a small matter but it was a great thing to me because I got chance to tell about Jesus Christ to my Classmates. After opening the box, I gave thanks and prayed to my Lord. My Muslim classmates attentively heard the words of my prayer which were new to them. While having the Tiffin I told them how my Lord Jesus Christ fed five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes. They were astonished to hear the miracle of my Lord. Oh, how happy I was to share my Tiffin and tell about my Lord Jesus Christ!
I wonder at the love and mercy of my Lord. I see His blessings even in every small matter. My heart dances in joy and feels His presence always. Thank God for His loving mercy. Thank also Sister Ripa and Bro. Suride. Thank you for stopping by and reading my post.
03 January 2010
A Tour of Blessing
Ah! Welcome to everybody. I'm now in Dhaka city and have my PC before me. I've come back from my village yesterday. In my last post, I called my visit to my parents in my village a Tour of Blessing during the Christmas time. It was really so. I went there in 17th December, 2009 and stayed there for over 15 days. Bro. Nathaniel asked me to arrange a preaching meeting at our house and I was successful to arrange it.
On 19th December 2009 I went to every home of my village to invite them to come at the evening preaching meeting at our house. Everybody told me that they would come at the meeting.
While I was visiting the homes and inviting them, I entered into the house of the sister of my Grandma. She was sitting alone on a mat on the earthen floor of their house. When I told her from a mete distance 'How are you, Granny?' she just looked at me without replying. Her daughter-in-law came forward from the kitchen to see who was talking to her. I asked their welfare. I heard from her that she (my Grandma's sister)had got a stroke and become paralyzed. She was very weak and thin. Her eyes were full with sordid. She hadn't sufficient clothes on her body and they kept her there for getting warm in the sun. I was so sad to see her awful condition. I sat down beside her and stretched my head to her ear and then said her 'Can you hear me, Granny?' She shook her head up and down slowly and asked me in a very low voice, 'Who are you?' After the exchange of some words I asked, 'Granny, Do you know where you will go after your death?' First she couldn't understand my question and then she said, 'No, I don't.' I had a sigh. This is a common picture of our country. People who born in a Christian family call themselves Christians but they are not sure about their Eternity. They don't know about their Salvation. They don't feel necessity of getting Saved. I felt a deep sympathy for her. How poor, how wretched, how sorrowful condition she had! Sitting on the earth, getting cold, having no sufficient clothes to become warm, what could she think? Without having proper food, any treatment what could she long for? When I asked 'Granny, what do want?' She replied 'Some tasty food.' Oh! What could I do for her! I had some pieces of chocolates in my pocket and I put one in her mouth. And oh, how eagerly she chewed it! I haven't any camera. If I had one, I would take a picture and you would clearly understand her condition.
Then I said to her, 'Granny, everybody has to be sure about their Eternity before their death. Because Jesus Christ shed His blood and sacrificed His life for our sins. Can you understand?' She looked at me indifferently. I then preached to her in some other words and prayed for her.
In the evening of 21st December people gathered at the yard of our house and we preached to them. Bro. Nathaniel had to work hard for he traveled almost 7 hours and then walked a mile to reach at our house.
This is a picture of our house at the daylight.The house is made of tin and wood. It's floor is earthen. There is the grave of my Grandpa in front of our house. Here are some pictures of the evening preaching meeting.
I'm preaching in front or our house in the evening. We had to light a lamp using kerosene oil and make a shade using a canopy. People were quivering at the cold. I'm very thankful to Bro. Nathaniel for he had taken these pictures.
People are listening our preaching. There were some Hindu women.
We also preached in many other places. I thank God that we got chance to preach to the Hindu people also. Here are some pictures of that preaching meeting.
I also passed a few days with my parents and relatives. I enjoyed the days very much. After getting up early in the morning, finishing my morning prayer and Bible reading I played Racket with my brothers. In the afternoon we played Caroms.
It was really a blessed visit. Please pray for the people to whom we preached and specially for my Grandma's sister so that they can be Saved.
Thank you for reading.
On 19th December 2009 I went to every home of my village to invite them to come at the evening preaching meeting at our house. Everybody told me that they would come at the meeting.
While I was visiting the homes and inviting them, I entered into the house of the sister of my Grandma. She was sitting alone on a mat on the earthen floor of their house. When I told her from a mete distance 'How are you, Granny?' she just looked at me without replying. Her daughter-in-law came forward from the kitchen to see who was talking to her. I asked their welfare. I heard from her that she (my Grandma's sister)had got a stroke and become paralyzed. She was very weak and thin. Her eyes were full with sordid. She hadn't sufficient clothes on her body and they kept her there for getting warm in the sun. I was so sad to see her awful condition. I sat down beside her and stretched my head to her ear and then said her 'Can you hear me, Granny?' She shook her head up and down slowly and asked me in a very low voice, 'Who are you?' After the exchange of some words I asked, 'Granny, Do you know where you will go after your death?' First she couldn't understand my question and then she said, 'No, I don't.' I had a sigh. This is a common picture of our country. People who born in a Christian family call themselves Christians but they are not sure about their Eternity. They don't know about their Salvation. They don't feel necessity of getting Saved. I felt a deep sympathy for her. How poor, how wretched, how sorrowful condition she had! Sitting on the earth, getting cold, having no sufficient clothes to become warm, what could she think? Without having proper food, any treatment what could she long for? When I asked 'Granny, what do want?' She replied 'Some tasty food.' Oh! What could I do for her! I had some pieces of chocolates in my pocket and I put one in her mouth. And oh, how eagerly she chewed it! I haven't any camera. If I had one, I would take a picture and you would clearly understand her condition.
Then I said to her, 'Granny, everybody has to be sure about their Eternity before their death. Because Jesus Christ shed His blood and sacrificed His life for our sins. Can you understand?' She looked at me indifferently. I then preached to her in some other words and prayed for her.
In the evening of 21st December people gathered at the yard of our house and we preached to them. Bro. Nathaniel had to work hard for he traveled almost 7 hours and then walked a mile to reach at our house.
This is a picture of our house at the daylight.The house is made of tin and wood. It's floor is earthen. There is the grave of my Grandpa in front of our house. Here are some pictures of the evening preaching meeting.
I'm preaching in front or our house in the evening. We had to light a lamp using kerosene oil and make a shade using a canopy. People were quivering at the cold. I'm very thankful to Bro. Nathaniel for he had taken these pictures.
People are listening our preaching. There were some Hindu women.
We also preached in many other places. I thank God that we got chance to preach to the Hindu people also. Here are some pictures of that preaching meeting.
I also passed a few days with my parents and relatives. I enjoyed the days very much. After getting up early in the morning, finishing my morning prayer and Bible reading I played Racket with my brothers. In the afternoon we played Caroms.
It was really a blessed visit. Please pray for the people to whom we preached and specially for my Grandma's sister so that they can be Saved.
Thank you for reading.
17 December 2009
A Long Absence For A Great Purpose
My heart feels pain and joy at the same time. It is because I'm going to leave Dhaka tomorrow for over 15 days. It is painful for me because I'll be away from all kinds of communication with you through internet. And of course I'll miss all of your new posts. Anyway, I'll read them after coming back. On the other hand, it is joyful for me because I'm going to my own village, to my parents. It is almost 150 km from Dhaka, the capital city of our country. It will take 6 hours bus journey as our road and transport quality is very undeveloped. My village is very small and remote. Even there is no electricity. However, it is the place, where I've been brought up. When I was a little boy, I played there, ran in the open field, sought bird's nest, rowed boats.I've many memories over there.
Here are some scenes of my Village.
Farmers are collecting jute to get fiber which is called 'the golden fiber of Bangladesh'.
Boat racing
Our Pets
My nephew with a kid in his lap
It ought to be mentioned that I'm leaving for my village with our Bro. Ashario Rony Biswas. He preaches God's Word in our locality. He also lives with his family beside our village. Bro. Nathaniel will also follow us in 21th December. He will preach the Word of God in many places there. It will be a great task for us. Please pray for us.
It's Bro. Rony. He is preaching.
I've become nostalgic on remembering my childhood memories. However it is not just a Christmas vacation, it is a trip of blessing also. So will I call it because I'll have the taste of a vacation with the task of preaching Gospel. Bro. Nathaniel has planed and asked me to arrange a evening preaching meeting at our house. He will also preach there. There will be many people of our village. Please pray for us and them also.
Here are some scenes of my Village.
Farmers are collecting jute to get fiber which is called 'the golden fiber of Bangladesh'.
Boat racing
Our Pets
My nephew with a kid in his lap
It ought to be mentioned that I'm leaving for my village with our Bro. Ashario Rony Biswas. He preaches God's Word in our locality. He also lives with his family beside our village. Bro. Nathaniel will also follow us in 21th December. He will preach the Word of God in many places there. It will be a great task for us. Please pray for us.
It's Bro. Rony. He is preaching.
I've become nostalgic on remembering my childhood memories. However it is not just a Christmas vacation, it is a trip of blessing also. So will I call it because I'll have the taste of a vacation with the task of preaching Gospel. Bro. Nathaniel has planed and asked me to arrange a evening preaching meeting at our house. He will also preach there. There will be many people of our village. Please pray for us and them also.
15 December 2009
Some Blessed Moments With Pastor John Graf
There were really some blessed moments for me when pastor John Graf visited our country last month. I like to start with an interesting experience!
It was November 18, 2009. I was eagerly waiting for him. At 6pm the door bell was rung. I hastened to open the gate. A very tall man was standing there with Bro. Nathaniel with a smiling face. Can you guess who that man was? Yes, he was no one but loving pastor John Graf. He entered into the gate. I stretched forth my hand to shake his hand. He shook my hand and then suddenly came forward to hug me. Oh! what an embarrassing situation it was for me! He was 6'4" tall and I am 5'3". Oh! what a scene it was! lol! He had to bend down his body and I had to stand on my toes to reach him. And then, finally we made it. It was so sudden to me that I wasn't aware what had happened. But after the first hug, whenever he came to hug me, I really enjoyed them.
Here are some pictures with him.
Pastor Graf presents me a new, leather bound King James Version Bible.
I'm sharing my Testimony.
Pastor is sharing from the Bible.
I'm commenting and asking questions after pastor's preaching.
Really these few days were very graceful to me. Pastor's jovial present always remembered me a tension free Christian life which I also have. His preaching was so much encouraging and supportive to my Born Again Christian life. Thank God for pastor John Graf. Thank Pastor Graf also. I'm waiting for his next visit.
It was November 18, 2009. I was eagerly waiting for him. At 6pm the door bell was rung. I hastened to open the gate. A very tall man was standing there with Bro. Nathaniel with a smiling face. Can you guess who that man was? Yes, he was no one but loving pastor John Graf. He entered into the gate. I stretched forth my hand to shake his hand. He shook my hand and then suddenly came forward to hug me. Oh! what an embarrassing situation it was for me! He was 6'4" tall and I am 5'3". Oh! what a scene it was! lol! He had to bend down his body and I had to stand on my toes to reach him. And then, finally we made it. It was so sudden to me that I wasn't aware what had happened. But after the first hug, whenever he came to hug me, I really enjoyed them.
Here are some pictures with him.
Pastor Graf presents me a new, leather bound King James Version Bible.
I'm sharing my Testimony.
Pastor is sharing from the Bible.
I'm commenting and asking questions after pastor's preaching.
Really these few days were very graceful to me. Pastor's jovial present always remembered me a tension free Christian life which I also have. His preaching was so much encouraging and supportive to my Born Again Christian life. Thank God for pastor John Graf. Thank Pastor Graf also. I'm waiting for his next visit.
13 December 2009
Guiding Star
This evening when Bro. Nathaniel was preaching at the Church, a thought came on my mind. His subject was the Visit of the Wise Men (Matthew 2:1-12). When he was preaching that the star which led the wise men to Christ symbolizes the Bible that leads men to Christ. This idea came in my mind with some new points. They are given bellow:
1. The wise men understood that a King was born when they saw a new star.
People today also know about the King when they come to the Bible.
2. The star brought the wise men to Christ.
Today the Bible brings people to Christ.
3. There were many other stars - they weren't the right star which God gave to them.
Today there are many books - they aren't the Book that God has given us.
4. Among all stars, God gave only a bright, powerful, new star.
Among all books - God has given only a bright, powerful, new and fresh (never becomes old)Book.
5. All other stars would misguide them, if they followed them.
All other books will misguide us, if we follow them.
6. The star was incomparable and unique.
Bible is the unique Book, which is published, sold, delivered and read over all other books in the world.
7. When the wise men was unable to reach to Christ by using their own wit (for they went to Herod's palace to find Him)the star led them where Christ was.
We are also unable to reach to Christ by using our own wit. Only the Bible can lead us to Christ.
8. They were really wise men, for they found and worshiped Christ.
Today they are the real wise men, who find and receive Christ as their Saviour and Lord.
That's all I've understood. Please don't forget to comment and pray for me.
02 December 2009
Testimony of my Salvation
I have been born in a Catholic family in 20th June, 1983. I was very naughty in my childhood. But at the same time I had a deep attraction towards God. I used to read my Bible everyday. As a child, I loved to read the stories of Old Testament. I used to attend at church services and various prayer meetings in different Churches. Being very interested in God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Bible, I decided to become a priest and entered into a Catholic seminary when I was in the high school. I stayed there almost four years. But soon the hollow and false doctrines of Catholicism became clear to me. As I used to read my Bible, I understood the false practices of Catholicism. I argued with the priests, who used to teach me the false teachings which are not in the Bible. They said me, ‘The things you are talking about are in the Bible of Baptists. But they are not in our Bible. You shouldn’t follow the Baptists’ Bible.’ But their answer did not satisfy me and I left the seminary.
Though I left the Catholic Seminary without becoming a priest, I was involved with the Catholic Church. In early 2003 I attended a preaching meeting of Bro. Nathaniel Hazra at the house of Bro. Ashorio Rony Biswas in our locality. On this meeting, for the first time, I had come to know about one’s Salvation and it shocked me greatly. I became so interested that I wanted to know more about Salvation and so I continued my consultation with them.
On 4th October, 2003 I came at the house of Bro. Nathaniel Hazra and stayed there for few days. In those days he showed me God’s plan for a sinner. He taught me about Sin, Repentance, Faith and Believing in Jesus Christ. That time I had a false notion that ‘I read my Bible, I attend at Church services, I pray to God. So that’s enough. If I die today, God will of course take me Heaven.’ I thought like that because I hadn’t any clear idea about sin, repentance and faith. I thought ‘Those people, who do good things, must go to Heaven and they needn’t anything else.’ But as I continued my discussion with Bro. Nathaniel soon I found that I was wrong. The Scripture says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23). And the reward of sin is death. “For the wages of sin is death;” (Romans 6:23a). Being religious one cannot erase his sins. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6).
Coming at this point, I was thunderstruck. “What? Am I a sinner? Because the Scripture says, all have sinned. What? Can’t my religious life able to help me? Because the Scripture says, all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; What? Is my reward death? Because the Scripture says, the wages of sin is death; Oh! What can I do? How can I be saved?” I was very upset about thinking my eternal damnation.
But there was hope for me. Bro. Nathaniel showed me that hope from the Scripture, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23b). And “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10).
Then everything was clear to me. I found myself nothing but a sinner. All my righteousness was fake. I addressed myself as a sinner to God. I repented. I asked Jesus Christ to save me from my sin. And I received Him as my Saviour and Lord. Oh! What joy I got when I realized that all my sins had been forgiven! I have become a son of God. That was my new birth. I have been born again in the family of God. It was 6th October, 2003. Since then I am in Jesus Christ my Lord. I know, for sure I will go to Heaven.
I am receiving Theological courses from Bro. Nathaniel Hazra here. Beside the study of Theology, I am studying for BA (Hons) degree in English Literature at a University so that I can translate many religious books in my native language especially the Authorized King James Version Bible. Please, pray for me so that God may provide my all spiritual, physical and economical needs and I can complete my studies and continue my little works for God.
With great thanks and greetings in Christ
Augustine Sujon Baroi
Though I left the Catholic Seminary without becoming a priest, I was involved with the Catholic Church. In early 2003 I attended a preaching meeting of Bro. Nathaniel Hazra at the house of Bro. Ashorio Rony Biswas in our locality. On this meeting, for the first time, I had come to know about one’s Salvation and it shocked me greatly. I became so interested that I wanted to know more about Salvation and so I continued my consultation with them.
On 4th October, 2003 I came at the house of Bro. Nathaniel Hazra and stayed there for few days. In those days he showed me God’s plan for a sinner. He taught me about Sin, Repentance, Faith and Believing in Jesus Christ. That time I had a false notion that ‘I read my Bible, I attend at Church services, I pray to God. So that’s enough. If I die today, God will of course take me Heaven.’ I thought like that because I hadn’t any clear idea about sin, repentance and faith. I thought ‘Those people, who do good things, must go to Heaven and they needn’t anything else.’ But as I continued my discussion with Bro. Nathaniel soon I found that I was wrong. The Scripture says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23). And the reward of sin is death. “For the wages of sin is death;” (Romans 6:23a). Being religious one cannot erase his sins. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6).
Coming at this point, I was thunderstruck. “What? Am I a sinner? Because the Scripture says, all have sinned. What? Can’t my religious life able to help me? Because the Scripture says, all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; What? Is my reward death? Because the Scripture says, the wages of sin is death; Oh! What can I do? How can I be saved?” I was very upset about thinking my eternal damnation.
But there was hope for me. Bro. Nathaniel showed me that hope from the Scripture, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23b). And “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10).
Then everything was clear to me. I found myself nothing but a sinner. All my righteousness was fake. I addressed myself as a sinner to God. I repented. I asked Jesus Christ to save me from my sin. And I received Him as my Saviour and Lord. Oh! What joy I got when I realized that all my sins had been forgiven! I have become a son of God. That was my new birth. I have been born again in the family of God. It was 6th October, 2003. Since then I am in Jesus Christ my Lord. I know, for sure I will go to Heaven.
I am receiving Theological courses from Bro. Nathaniel Hazra here. Beside the study of Theology, I am studying for BA (Hons) degree in English Literature at a University so that I can translate many religious books in my native language especially the Authorized King James Version Bible. Please, pray for me so that God may provide my all spiritual, physical and economical needs and I can complete my studies and continue my little works for God.
With great thanks and greetings in Christ
Augustine Sujon Baroi
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