In the Cubicle Next Door

Each Sunday morning, Kumar sits in a folding chair, waiting for the rock band to start up, and the preacher to give a seeker-sensitve sermon.  The chairs are partly filled, in a school gymnasium, just outside Washington, D.C.

He's a small man, from Chennai, India, and here, in the rows for the audience, he's part of someone's Big Vision.  Like many others, the church start-up has a visionary, who hopes it becomes the next Willow Creek, even hoping to buy 40 acres in suburban D.C.  (Anyone got a half-bil for that?)

And Kumar, who's 36, drives each day to his office job at Sun Microsystems, where he spends a lot of time checking urgent email from very far away.

Friday night, I walked with Kumar, and our mutual friend, Woody, to a crowded Whole Foods Market in Alexandria.  I made a salad about four times bigger than his, but when we got back to the hotel room, it took him a couple hours to finish.  I kept asking questions.  He kept answering.

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Kumar was on a crowded bus in Chennai, India.  He heard God's voice.  "Unmistakably," he says.  I heard God say, twice, 'Seek Me.'  That was it.  Twice." 

Just "Seek Me"?

"Just 'Seek Me'.  And I knew it was God, but which God?  I was Hindu.  Was it Vishnu?  Calli...?  No idea.  I just knew it was God.  Somehow, I knew it.  Unmistakable."

And Kumar isn't the gullible type.  He has multiple advanced degrees in Aero Engineering and Physics, for starters, from the M.I.T.-equivalent in India.

He studied and researched, but just wasn't satisfied that it was one of his familiar gods, and eventually found a friend with a Bible -- a "good luck charm" -- and traded a textbook for it.  He started reading, got confused, but eventually was pointed to Jesus.

He became a Jesus-follower.  Costly decision.

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His parents weren't happy.  They scheduled an arranged marriage.  Kumar met his wife-to-be on Friday, told her and his parents on Saturday about his Jesus decision, and got married on Sunday.  "They thought it would blow over," he says.  It didn't.

Six months later, there was an intervention.  Her family, his family, neighbors, friends -- 150 people strong -- all telling him to repudiate his faith.  He refused.  His parents, fearing for their reputation, said he should leave the area immediately.  They would tell everyone that he was dead.

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Kumar took a job in the states.  He drove to a big church building.  "I didn't know what else to do," he says.  "Nice cars everywhere.  I liked that."

He walked in, and was taken aback.  "It was a fancy church, and everyone was a black person, and they were quite animated.  They were walking on their chairs around the room.  I was confused, but they were happy.

"They had a testimony time, and I like microphones, so I got up and told them, 'I am so happy about Jesus!  I do not want a Mercedes or a BMW!  I want to go back to India to tell people about Jesus!'  Everyone applauded me!  I was the center of attention!  But I had just lied!  I did not want to go back.  Actually, I did want to be rich.  I did want a Mercedes."

But some brothers took him to a room and prayed with him, that his return to India would happen.  "I did not want to go back to India..."

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A few years later, he went back to India.  Kumar took his vacation from Sun, and headed over with no plan.  He just went door-to-door, and told people about Jesus.

The first day, 45 people decided to become Jesus-followers.  How'd THAT happen?

"I don't know.  I just went door to door, and neighbors would introduce me to others, and I was amazed."

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Kumar still takes his vacations, two weeks a year, and heads to India.  But things have grown.  From those first 45, and from his trips over the past seven years...

More than 100,000 conversions.  139 communities.  More than 100 pastors.  Model orphanages for children suffering from AIDS  Schools for Dalit children, the lowest-of-the-low in India.  Shelters for little girls, now rescued from prostitution.  Food.  Medicine.  Jesus.

They want to name projects after Kumar.  He does not allow them.  He spends hours every day, after work, praying and communicating and wondering what the next move is.  He doesn't raise financial support.  Not his style.

"God always provides.  Children are dying in a project, because all we have is rice for them, and not much.  Woody gave us some money for a down-payment on four acres with hundreds of coconut trees, and then several families who know us each called me, unaware of what we were doing.  'God woke us up last night, and we can't get you off our mind.  Here's five thousand dollars...here's a thousand dollars...we got the forty-thousand we needed to buy the land.  I am always amazed."

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"Kumar...I don't get it.  We made a quantum leap in your story.  45 people decide to follow Jesus, and now more than 100 thousand.  Wha...?  How...?"

We sit at our table in our hotel room, and Kumar starts laughing.  I laugh, too! -- and then, I realize, he's not laughing.  He's crying, and he can't speak. 

"So many have died..."

Who has died?

"So many of our pastors, so many of our people..."

I look at Woody, who knows the stories, and he bites his lip and nods.

"They are beaten to death, they are killed, because they are talking about Jesus.  It happens all the time in India, but the country is very concerned about image, very concerned about foreign investment, they pretend it doesn't happen.

"They are the reason this growth has happened.  Their blood.  I ask God, 'Why do you let this happen to these people who love you?'  They have nothing.  Our pastors are not paid.  There is no money.  But I realized, God is releasing them, at last.  They have nothing, they are beaten, they are hungry, they live on the ground, in the streets, and God finally releases them to go home."

Pause.  And I can't talk, either.

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Woody, who met Kumar at that seeker-sensitive church in suburban D.C., says I should let Kumar eat his salad.  He's right.   It's getting late.

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If you're reading this on a weekday, Kumar is sitting in a little room at Sun and doing his job, and answering far-flung emails while he prays.  And on Sundays, he sits on a folding chair in a high school gym, and hears about the church's big plans.  It will be costly, but just think what could happen, with a new building!

He admits he wonders sometimes...

"They have now added us to their missions budget.  They give $1,000 per year.   I guess I am happy for that, but..."  and his voice trails.

But...the church has other priorities, and a Big Vision for an another affluent suburb that, need we remind, needs Jesus, too.

Comments

[Joel]

Thank you... as a church planter who is pastoring a small church, I have been told (on numerous occasions) that we need to find a leader who is more of a "visionary" than I am... that we are not really a "church" because we are not financially successful, and because we only have 35-50 people each week.

It's hard not to feel like a failure in the US church planting atmosphere if you don't have a church of 1000, and if you don't have a strategic 5-year business plan that includes a building and a staff of 20+ people.

These kind of stories sound a lot more like Paul than most of the "Pauline" church planting methodology taught here.

Once again... thank you.

[From Brant: I think we need fewer visionaries. We need faithfulness. Then, the story is about God, not the "visionary".

I'm going to give some more examples of this very soon. The best "ideas" aren't ideas at all, they are responses, borne in love, in normal life. And then God takes them over.]

[Sam Jones]

Jesus is amazing. Consistently, gloriously-graciously amazing. And from the world's perspective: quietly, subtly. I think we often miss this, and as an African missionary kid my heart breaks with you and others about the big visionary institution that is the western church.

Still, there are big churches who remember what's important. My parents' main sending church gave 40% of their budget to missions annually. There's hope, and Jesus will keep on using the little guy to do big things. Praise the Lord!

[karenkool]

The story about Kumar resonates deep within me. It was may years ago... but India was my very first "missionary" experience. I was there with 11 other college-age cronies for two months. It completely changed my life.

The way your story was told was very much the way I remember it. When we were there it was easy to leave behind all the material things we so desperately depended on at home.

In the neighborhoods of India--the outskirts of Pune, Bombay, Madurai, Madras, New Dehli, Augra--we quickly discovered how we could begin telling people about Jesus and after walking only 100 yards there would be a crowd of 250+ people, all wanting to know more. We literally saw blind eyes healed, migraine headaches instantly gone and deformed limbs grow back--something I've never experienced back in the USA before or since.

One man became a new believer after we shared the gospel at a small gas station way out in the middle of somewhere/nowhere, and without knowing anything about church growth or Christianity, he started a church in his village. Through letters we heard that he had started 3 more churches within the year in order to accomodate all the new believers from the surrounding villages.

On my second visit back I remember times that my group had to quickly leave an area because an angry mob was approaching--a mob known for brutalizing and killing. Of course, we were never hurt, but sadly many locals are. India is a completely different world than what we know or can even imagine, here in the states.

It's also easy to forget. Thanks for the reminder.

[brian]

it is always a blessing to hear of God's work today and see He is still faithful and doing what He always has. May God continue to bless Kumar.

[Kelly @ Love Well]

I think I'm in love with this post. What a beautiful, captivating picture of God's love and shatter-the-mold-ness. (Can't think of a better word right now.) I love how He works.

I look forward to hearing more about your crazy week.

[Scott]

Thanks for sharing this Brant. I'm rejoicing and sad too.

[Kevin Leggett]

how very awesome is He!

[Brian]

And Kumar is not the only one. Several years ago an Indian family came to the states to seek medical attention for their daughter. During that trip to Cincinnati, they somehow(and I don't even remember how) got hooked up with someone from our small church in Tennessee. Bro. Caleb also became a Christian and was outcast from his family but he continues to minister in India. Dental clinics, medical relief, equipping evangelists, etc. The government tries to shut him down and they are in physical danger but he keeps on going.

What could he do with $500M? Given that they can build a house for about $400 and put on a VBS for 1200 kids for about $900.... I'd say about anything he wanted to.

[Pieces]

Wow. Do I hear God when He only has two words for me? And if I did, would lives be changed like this?

[Sandy]

Whenever I read beautiful and inspiring stories like Kumar's, I tend to get the guilts -- like "I should sell everything and go to India. What a pampered loser I am." But then I remind myself that God saves us personally. God reached down, breathed life back into my dead spirit and placed His Spirit inside of me. He speaks to us, like He spoke to Kumar, personally. Every day, if we are listening, God speaks to us and gives us the opportunity to make Jesus known. The question is: Am I receptive to His voice? Do I obey when He says "Do this, even though it will cost you"? Kumar heard, and he was compelled to act on what he heard. We are all called to do the same, whether in Cushy World or Third World. The Kingdom is built one person, one heart, one choice, at a time.

[Mark]

Thanks for sharing, Brant, and God Bless, Kumar!

I challenge anyone to read this before you go into you next building planning meeting. We had a similar "discussion" at our last church regarding the next "phase" of a 4 phase building plan in contrast to our piddly missions budget. One man put it bluntly: "How much do we spend on a community that has heard the gospel multiple times(in the form of a bigger church) versus those people overseas who maybe have NEVER heard it?" I am also convicted, because I have not yet gone to my neighbors and shared my faith. I'm a wretch.

[Brady]

Amazing what a person can accomplish, when he listens to God's word and hasn't been confused by 1000 years of church traditions.

[Elmo Q. Shangnaster]

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things by the power of an incredible God.

Thanks, Brant, for reminding us.

[rich]

Justin, you are so right. We want to think someone from our neck of the woods can lead the next reformation, but it looks increasingly unlikely. We need a Kumar. What a story. I feel full and empty at the same time after reading this.

[nancy]

i hope that the churches in america do not cause him to become bitter or keep him from looking to God for what he needs and for his direction.

[Mr. Hussel]

I am humbled by the amount of time and effort I put into making myself safe and comfortable in a place that is not my “home”. The faithful and obedient who quietly persevere in service to their King will be the true celebrities in the culture that matters. Thanks for helping to re-set my sights on the right target.

[Sam]

Brant,
How can I give a donation to Kumar? I live in Sterling, Virginia.
-Sam

[Judy]

I agree with Bill - best post ever, by anyone!

[wilsonian]

Thinking about this all day...
So, does he still pay his own ticket, or does he have support?

[Donna W]

Ah yes, all the money that goes into the huge buildings; and all the money it takes to heat them and cool them. That IS a problem, isn't it? I wish somebody would give me some answers.

[M.E.]

Matthew 13

A Prophet Without Honor

53When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. 55"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor."
58And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

When I read Karen Kool's witness to the miracles she saw God do in India...and the fact we do not see such miracles here in the States, I was reminded of the above verses from Matthew. Miracles happen in places where people believe they will happen.

Matthew 13

1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
2When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"

4Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."

Amen!

[Dave Carrol]

Fantastic Brant...

I was in Ghana for 7 months a number of years ago and there are stories like there all over the world (where God is exploding)...

we
just
don't
get it

But God is so good man
Dave

[Grub]

Thanks Brant...

Its stries like this that help my faith in times of doubt...

[Grafted Branch@Restoring the Years]

*sigh* My heart is heavy.

[Dave Block]

Inspiring and challenging. A story well told. A reminder that I'm a spiritual lightweight. Thanks, Brant.