TESTIMONY

From the monastery to the mission field - C.V. Vadavana

Before my conversion, I was a Roman Catholic monk for eleven (11) years as a follower of St. Francis of Assissi. I was born and brought up in a Roman Catholic family. After completing my secular study I joined the seminary. After four years of training I took the vows for obedience, celibacy and poverty as a follower of St. Francis of Assissi. In 1980, I took the final vows in the presence of the Provincial of our congregation. While I was continuing my life as a monk in 1984, by God's providence I read a Gospel tract and was convicted of my sins. I realized my need for my salvation through Jesus Christ. I understood that salvation is by grace alone and not by works. I made my decision for Christ and His Gospel and then I decided to leave the monastery. 

When I left the priesthood of the Roman Catholic Church in 1985, my superior priest gave me 153 Indian rupees ($4) as a gift. That was the initial investment of Sathyam Ministries. With that money the first tract was printed and distributed. That was the beginning of a revolution in the Christian Ministry.

The Lord gave me a deep urge to proclaim the truth to as many as I can. I sought fellowship with mature Christians. Then I wanted to obey the Lord in the waters of baptism and joined the local assembly and continued my study of the Word. I was convinced of the power of the printed page and the Lord gave me the motto of my mission: "Winning Souls through God's Word".

I was burdened by the Lord to go on a wider outreach. So the ministry was registered in India and governed by a body of five like-minded brethren as trustees. So far the Lord enabled us to publish 282 solid books, numerous Gospel tracts and booklets. On May 8, 1988, we officially launched Truth Ministries International, Inc. with the determination to reach out on a much wider scale.

Further, Sathyam Ministries ventured into other venues of evangelization such as book exhibitions, Gospel meetings, musical programs and seminars attracting hundreds to the Gospel. Despite the growing persecutions in India, Sathyam ministries continues to do its ministry in the most treacherous parts of India.

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