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Have you heard familiar sayings like, 'the best gifts come in small packages,' or 'never judge a book by its cover'? These simple sayings may help to express my first encounters with C.V. He is a very humble man, who conceals an amazing surprise of character and faith… beneath the surface.
I remember my first impressions of C.V. Being the pastor of a growing church I was used to the dynamics of seeing people come and go. C.V. came, visited us, and seemed to be just a quiet man who seemingly attended our church without the least attention. He never paraded himself or openly talked about anything with which he was engaged in his homeland, India.
I soon learned that he was a student at BIOLA University. I was touched by his sincerity and his desire to partner with others in their love for Christ to reach the lost.
It was later that first year with us that he invited me to a dinner he put together to spread awareness of the great needs of India. About a hundred people came, and 21 of them were speakers. He had all 21 speak! I remember C.V.'s introduction as he spoke with passion, 'We need your prayers, not your money, but your prayers. India needs prayer more than anything else.' That really struck me. I was so accustomed to hearing primarily financial appeals that his appeal drew me all the more to him. It was obvious that this unpretentious man was committed to prayer. Just listening to his heart and love for the souls of India impacted me, and yet, he had not unveiled either his importance nor his respected influence back home.
It wasn't until much later, when he invited me to come to India and participate in the training of the pastors and in the preaching of the Gospel through crusades, that the true identity of C.V. was revealed. When he invited me, I remember asking him, 'How many pastors are we talking about?' He replied without a change in his expression, 'Over three hundred.' I was stunned! He could easily gather over three hundred pastors for training? I continued, 'And how many will attend the evangelistic meetings?' Again he responded without even wrinkling his brow, 'Over five thousand each night.' I could not believe that this unassuming brother had such great, open opportunity for the Gospel to be spread in India.
Two men and I went to India that year, and during that trip we experienced C.V. first hand. It was there that we began to understand the widespread scope of his ministry. We were truly overwhelmed at how much this man was doing in his homeland! As one business man from Orange County, California expressed in response to what he saw, 'C.V.'s ministry is ten times greater than we were told!"
It is hard to choose from all the stories that I have collected over my years of friendship and ministry with C.V., but I think the one that stands out the most is my trip to the southeastern coast of India, after the terrible tsunami devastation of December, 2004.
Thousands died and thousands more were left homeless. We went to the devastated area and walked among the ruins. We saw fishermen who were sitting on the ground playing cards because they had nothing else to do. Fishing industries were at a standstill and they would not be able to fish for months…or more.
C.V. listened to their sorrows, played with their children, and strategized how to alleviate some of the misery they were experiencing. Later, with recruited funds, he took them new fishing nets in order to resume their employment, rebuild their community, and gain back some hope. His cheerful love, hopeful encouragement and wise strategy all resulted in an effective display of Christ's love.
I will tell you that C.V. is a man who truly loves India and wants nothing more than to lift a loving hand of help and truth to his countrymen. He applies what Mahatma Gandhi has said, 'We must become the change we want to see.'
When you join a man like C.V. you are joining a force of love. Not just any kind of love, but the love of Christ which transforms nations. Christ's love controls and constrains, moves and directs men's hearts and minds. Christ's love stirs dreams, calls for sacrifices to be made, motivates the most passionate labors to take place. Christ's love is unstoppable, and it renders men and their movements unstoppable.
One night, last year, we had the opportunity to teach about a thousand leaders. We were meeting in a rented Hindu temple (that is a whole story in itself). During this time, the spiritual leaders of India were experiencing intimidation from radical anti-conversion laws that were sweeping parts of their country- spreading and intensifying. Many of the leaders were afraid, intimidated, and were even silently backing down. I remember C.V. standing before them and boldly calling out, 'the men of Israel said, 'we became like grasshoppers in our own sight and so we were in their sight.' (Numbers 13:33) Are you grasshoppers? We are not grasshoppers, but the very army of God called to transform India!' It was powerful to watch as C.V.'s timing, courage and call stirred those thousand leaders from more than 17 states to rise up and courageously continue preaching the gospel, even in the face of great pressures. He was a leader among leaders!
I have heard C.V. continuously say, 'We are doing God's work, not the work of men, God's work! God's work will not fail! Men's work may fail, but we are doing God's work!' This is the conviction that has taken C.V. to over 20 of the 28 states of India and has reached over 5 million souls each year.
I believe that this 'unassuming package of a man' is a mighty gift to India! He brings the gift of Christ to a needy nation. He has built orphanages, organized relief work, developed several sewing trade schools for women, and distributed hundreds of wheelchairs to the handicapped. Along with that, he has founded and guides the leaders of slum churches, village churches, several bookstores in different cities; as well as founding a seminary that has seen its first graduating class send out pastors to these needy places of India. C.V. is extremely skilled at organizing and overseeing evangelism events that reach thousands at a time. These platforms proclaim God's grace to literally hundreds of thousands. These, along with conferences that provide training for pastors and leaders, are impacting lives! He is truly unleashing a flood of God's activity in India!
Isn't that grace defined? What God is doing for us, in us, through us and with us.
C.V.'s story is all about God's amazing grace. You literally will watch God at work, and I am sure that you will respond with rejoicing, and then possibly the prayer, 'Lord, send more laborers to India.' Try. Maybe, if God is willing, you will even conclude this powerful testimonial with the question, 'Lord, what would you have ME to do?'
Many prayers and blessings to you. |
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TRUTH IS A MOUNTAIN MOVER
The cold winter morning I left Colorado for India, the pine trees outside my home were crystal white with frost and snow. Arriving in Mumbai, I stepped into a warm and tropical land, lush with stately palm trees, and into another world. I had arrived in India with my host, C.V. Vadavana, president and founder of Sathyam Literature Service, and Lindsey Wolter, a student at Wheaton College in the USA.
Sathyam Literature Service is a ' mountain-mover ' in India. When I first met C.V. at one of Cook Communications' international publishing institutes, I was immediately impressed with his optimistic view of Christian publishing in India. Our staff met with the institute delegates from India and one of the delegates told us all the reasons why, in his opinion, Christian publishing in India was next to impossible. However, C.V. quietly explained how Sathyam had faced each hurdle in its path and proceeded to overcome them. Where bookstores could not thrive in small, outlying villages, Sathyam had created ' bookmobiles '- buses filled with books, which took the printed word to the people along with music, tapes, preaching, and opportunities for salvation. Where one man saw insurmountable problems, Sathyam saw great opportunities.
God has given a vision to many in India and Sathyam has been instrumental in encouraging, supporting, and bringing together Christian organizations for furthering the Gospel. God has always raised many to complete the work, but only a few to lead the many. Sathyam has stayed focused on the work it is to do for God's kingdom, while at the same time supported the visions of other organizations, exhorting them to not give up, but see the overall plan of God and their part in it. Visionaries, such as the Sathyam leadership, who are centered and stable can accomplish this.
What is the vision God has given your organization? Are you focused on it or are you distracted and pulled in many directions by all the needs calling out for help? India is truly a land of paradoxes, but the call on your life and the work you are called to do need not be.
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