How God welcomed me in his kingdom.

It pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace. [Galatians 1:15a paraphrase]

I was a Hindu by birth, belonging to a Brahmin family. My family belonged to the religious family. Since my childhood I was interested in Hinduism and used to watch many of the Hindu movies and dramas. My mother used to tell many story. Thus, I grew up a devoted believer and a hater of Christianity. I still remember one neighbor auntie who became a Christian. I argued against her and made her speechless. She said that she went to church because she found out Jesus is a healer. I argued against her for I knew that believing God is an ignorant when we have doctors and hospitals.

After some years, my maternal uncle and aunt became Christians. Of course, they never argued with me because they knew I would destroy them in an instant. But my maternal auntie would always say like this, “Nephew, whatever happens in your life, if you turn to God he will help you.” These words however gave me no meaning at that time. I would laugh at her ignorance for I knew that there is no creator in the world-no purpose-no meaning. Yet, I had the burden of existential questions within me
that I never found answer to. Every time I went to maternal uncle house, there’d be lot of Christian story books and other books. I read them all before I was even a Christian! That mean, I knew about the Bible before I know Lord. I still remember going to church (because my maternal uncle said it would be fun) and I sat in Sunday school class/children fellowship classes. One sister gave us few verses to memorize. It was about love in 1^st Corinthians 13 and I was first one to memorize. I used to go to different house fellowships, church programme and yet never cared about the Lord.  I knew many details about both Hinduism and Christianity and I concluded that these two stories are somehow similar and maybe one authors must have copied from another.

As usual, I’d go to maternal uncle’s house during the time of Dashain. The days were normal. My maternal uncle and other Christian uncles were praying outside the room which I found to be boring and I chose to stay with my cousin in the next room and taught them mathematics. All of sudden, one uncle stood from prayer and entered our room. I could remember every detail incident at that instance. He shook his hand with my cousin sister and brother and then shook with me. As my hand came in contact with his hand, I felt something. Now I literally have no word to describe what that was. But I heard a voice saying,”What are you doing in this body?” But it was neither the voice of uncle nor the voice spoke to me. I felt as if it was warning something within me. I felt uneasy and removed my hand, opened the door and ran out of my room. It was raining outside and I wanted to run knowing not where I should go. I was afraid and yet it’s not I who was afraid. Maternal uncle saw me and caught me with the hand. Uncle came outside and took me into the groups where every Christians were praying. He hold me, touched my head and prayed for me. That was it! I felt Holy Spirit for the first time! When they prayed, I felt so peaceful. It’s like I felt God. My life changed from that very instances. I knew God exists because he exists.

But I wasn’t however totally converted to Christianity. I avoided going to the church. Let’s say, I was in a middle ground. In the month of Chaitra, all Christians of Kathmandu valley planned to organize a walking event throughout Ring Road (Every Christian knows this). I also participated because I was on Holiday. I don’t know how it all happened but after participating in this rally, my heart changed completely. I came to my home with a Bible and started reading New Testament. I prayed to God and studied Christianity a lot. My parents, realizing that I was converting into Christianity, threw my bible away. Then I started using my mobile to read bible online. I grew up in the knowledge of Christ and then accepted Christ as my personal Lord and my Savior after watching a programme in GODTV where the pastor asked us to pray for accepting Christ as the Lord. This is how it all began.

I didn’t go to church because I wasn’t allowed. The more persecution began, the more I started growing in Lord. I finished my New Testament, read many books just to make sure that what I’m believing and following is the right path. My questions were difficult even to my maternal aunt and uncle. That’s why I started studying the Bible because I wanted to learn more and there were no one to help me. Books were my teacher, God was my guidance. Later when I came into my Bachelor I met a Christian friend and then I started going to church and have been going even to this day.

Sabin Panta

Shankhamul, New Baneshwar

Patan Koinonia Church

Pulchowk Engineering College, Bachelor in Civil Engineering.