I’m Sukant Ku. Panda, presently working in World Vision at Rajnandgaon. I come from a Hindu family and my family has strong faith in Hindu gods. I have three brothers and four sisters. My father who was a strong Vedic priest expired in 2004. During my early childhood I was habituated to idol worship. The question in my mind was whether I’m worshipping the true God?
During my school days I watched a Christmas programme on TV, which introduced Jesus to me. The school syllabus taught me the story of Good Samaritan which inspired me to respect Jesus and also to know more about Him. During my high school days I had little information about Christianity and that too from the history book. There was a desire to know more.
During my BA, 1st year, I could feel the urge to respect, revere Jesus though I had no more information about Him. In the final year at college one of my village friends brought me a small Gideons English New Testament with Psalms from an Engineering College hostel. He was working as an assistant warden in the College hostel. As I was sharing my passion and my desire to know about Jesus, he helped to read the New Testament. Without my knowledge that I was reading God’s Word, I started going over the New Testament and the Psalms were touching my heart. I felt connected with heavenly Father. Slowly I realized that I am being changed, my heart got renewed and my soul enlightened every day. People around me noticed the change in me and it was at that juncture I got an opportunity to meet a pastor and his wife.
The pastor was from Cuttack, Orissa (my place) and I had three years of close fellowship wherein I learned about Jesus, through books, conferences and personal counseling. Finally in 1998, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I had to face many problems from my family as my family couldn’t accept my decision. I joined Operation Mobilization in India and worked for 6 years. Thereafter God brought me to World Vision in October 2008. My God sustains me and I’m happy and blessed to know and believe in Him.
I’m thankful to The Gideons International in India for that New Testament which sowed the seed of faith in my life. Amen.
Testimony received from
K.T. Rajan Bilaspur