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Pentecost Power
K. Jiwan Lal’s devout Hindu family sent him to the Mennonite Garjan Memorial School in Balodgahan, India, because they wanted him to get the best education available. They certainly never intended for him to become a Christian. One day, Mary Good, the school principal, called Jiwan Lal into her office and said, “As I’ve watched you playing at recess, God keeps telling me that I should pray for you in a special way and tell you about Jesus.” Young Jiwan Lal listened politely to his missionary principal from Tennessee but tried to shrug off the conversation, eager to return to his friends. Good’s words confused him so much, however, that he finally returned to her and asked, “How does God speak to you in your office? In my religion, God only speaks in the temple.” Good explained Jesus’ love and desire for a personal relationship with each person. When Jiwan Lal decided to commit his life to such a God, his shocked family abandoned him. They even held a burial service for him.
His eldest son, Sharad Jiwan Lal, has lived in Wichita, Kan., for more than 20 years and serves as vice-president of human resources for Raytheon Aircraft Company, a corporation with 8,400 employees. Sharad Jiwan Lal speaks with great appreciation of the sacrifices and courage shown by Mennonite missionaries and the first Indian Christians. "I feel fortunate that I grew up in a Christian home and have a strong sense of obligation to keep alive the faith the missionaries and my father paid such sacrifices for," Sharad Jiwan Lal said. "I did not feel a sense of cultural loss in India. Growing up as Christians, we were able to preserve the core parts of Indian culture, such as respect for elders — those wise people who guide our lives — hospitality and humility." Also in this issue: Features Highlights Highlights |
