God is got an appointment with You!!!

We were busy returning back to St.Petersburg after our business meeting from Moscow. When we reached the airport we found we are early and we wanted to have a coffee. There was no empty table so Natasha our voice went asked one of the lady who was seated alone in a table. As we sat there we were discussing about how the meeting went and what we could do further in the business proposal.

There was a man who was sitting in the next table was showing some interest and I started speaking to him. He was asking about me and then I had an open chance to share my testimony and he heard about my testimony through someone and he nearly ready to accept the Lord his wife came back and said its time for their flight, so they departed.

Meanwhile the lady who was sitting in our table I started speaking to her through Natasha, the only source of our voice!! God gave a revelation knowledge about her life, Divorce and the children so on.. So I shared about her then the gospel. I asked her she would like to receive Jesus into her life. She immediately responded yes!!!

She said the sinners prayer in the coffee shop of the busy airport of Moscow in front of multitudes!! What a joy came upon her face and her life!!! Her face was radiant after she had accepted the Lord and she felt the burden is just loosened from her life.

The amazing part of the story is that God will go any extend to save one soul. Our flight was delayed so hers too... it was out of all the table we decided to go to her table.... though we were busy discussing about the business yet God had her in the whole plan. When we look back and see how God has orchestrated the whole things for one soul to be get saved!!!

So God has a plan and and an appointment with YOU!!!

Amazing Trip at st.Petersburg

Hello All,

God is doing amazing things in this part of the World. I am witnessing such a hunger for God in Russia. We had our first church meeting in the Source of Life Church in St.Petersburg in their mid week service on Thursday 18th December 2008. Over 300 people attended the service, ministered to them about Why and How to leading from the Holy Spirit?

When the ministry time came after the message God gave a word of knowledge for those who hurt in the accident and people with stomach problem. Over 60 people came forward for prayer and most of them came under the power of God and got healed. Since we did not have the time we could not take testimony after the service.

Many of them came for the last night dinner hosted by Businessmen Fellowship and shared their testimony about their healing and touch from God.

About 45 people attended the Dinner and four of them gave their life to Jesus as usual one of them is the waitress. Many healing took place of the people physical bodies apart from the spiritual healing. Praise God!!

Please do continue to pray for this trip!!

The W in christmas???

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience.

I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending.

Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old.

For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant."

I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation.

All parents unable to at tend that evening were welcome to come then.

Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats.


As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.

So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads.

Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song.

As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down - totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W".


The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W".

Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together.

A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.

In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities.

For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

     "C H R I S T  W A S  L O V E"

-author unknown

Jesus & Santa???

Jesus is Better than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole.

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited

JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"

JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO

JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"

JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys

JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree

JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.

We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in Christmas.

Jesus is still the reason for the season.

Turbocam- Business by Bible!

I have immense pleasure and Joy in writing about Turbocam, a Business founded and run by Mr.Marian Noronha. Turbocam exists as a business for the purpose of honouring God in everything they do!!

I have filed the latest company brochure at the regular files place you can have a look at this by clicking the below link.

http://sites.google.com/site/worldchristianfellowshipsite/turbocam

Today Turbocam has over 100  5-Axis Milling machines at 11 Locations in 9 Countries on 4 Continents producing over 1 million parts per year. How this is possible? Let us hear from Marian, what he says,

"I learned that I  needed to put God first in all that I did. When that happens, the rest falls into place"

If you are in Business and struggling at this time of financial crisis, once again read that statement! God will help you to overcome.

We are a people who have received mercy and forgiveness and God's amazing grace. Created in His image, we seek to imitate Him by innovating to overcome  what obstacles and develop solutions, so as to build better products and communities. This is what Turbocam believes in it and practices it. 

Would you??

Prayer request for Trip to St.Petersburg, Russia

John Watt and me are planing to travel to St.Petersburg, Russia from the 16th December for six days. We will be having series of meeting with Businessmen and also in churches.

God willing we will be ministering at BMF dinners at St.Petersburg, Wyborg, and Seminar. Apart from this we will minister at Misha Kotov church, which is the largest on Thursday and in Sunday at Good News Church.

Please pray that God will pour out His Holy Spirit on us and will use us for His Glory!

Love and Blessings to all!!

Someone Needs YOU!!

A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. 'Your son is here,' she said to the old man.She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened,  

Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack,he dimly saw the young Uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.

The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.

  

He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.

Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night. Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.

Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her. 

'Who was that man?' he asked. 

The nurse was startled, 'He was your father,' she answered. 

'No, he wasn't,' the Marine replied. 'I never saw him before in my life..

' 'Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him? 

'I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son,knowing how much he needed me, I stayed.'

The next time someone needs you ... just be there. Stay.

WE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.

WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY HUMAN EXPERIENCE!!

courtesy an email author unkown!

BMF Cheltanham- 22nd November Breakfast

We had a wonderful Breakfast meeting at the Gardeners Arm, Twekesbury. Over 20 people had come for this Breakfast, I had travelled with Stanley and we had reached at around 8.15 in the morning, well in advance for the 8.30 meeting. 

In Gods providence this gave us an opportunity to chat with the waitress of the restaurant. We all enjoyed a lovely English Breakfast and afterwards I had shared my testimony to those who assembled.

One lady and another Gentleman accepted the Lord as their saviour! While I was calling for the commitment of their lives to Jesus, the waitress, whom we spoke earlier, she also said the prayer!  So all together there were 3 people gave their life to Jesus! Praise God! 

God is amazing! When we were driving back, the thought came is that as Jesus said " The harvest is plentiful, the labourers are few"

I want you to think what the Lord is asking you to do today???

Praise Report of Latvian Trip

Hello All,

First of all I would like to thank each and everyone of you who has been praying for me sincerely during this trip.

During this five day trip I had the privilege to lead 15 people in total committed their life's to follow Jesus as their Lord and saviour!

On Sunday I had preached in the largest church in Riga, Latvia. Many people were touched by the Lord and we have seen many people over 50 of them got healed only in the main building. Unfortunately we did not have time to take testimony. In the coming weeks when I hear testimony I will publish them for you.

Sunday 16th November 2008, evening we had the banquet for Businessmen Fellowship Riga chapter. Over 70 people came so it was very crowded. In fact some of us have to eat early to provide place for others! after we finished at 7.30 pm I had stared ministering to people, God spoke very clearly through me about the people and their problems. People were crying as the Lord spoke and set free from their afflictions! Everyone who came for the meeting were touched by the Spirit of God. I was praying for people who were standing in line to be prayed over. It took nearly 4 hours to finish ministering! I have seen such a hunger and people waiting for such a long time to be ministered in my life time!!

On Monday 17th Nov, we had the Businessmen Fellowship one day conference for Businessmen on how to do business according to Bible. over 60 people were present from 9.30 am. the seminar ended at 6 pm. Again God ministered to people with power, prophecy, healing and setting people free was very evident. Many people who were hurt has been released of their problems. Here again Business community waited until 4 hours for their turn to be ministered!! Amazing!!!  

On Wednesday 19th we had the dinner at Julgava, about 50 kilometers from Riga, amazing things God did here. Businessmen who has got healed on Monday again drove back to this meeting for four hours to be with us. 

So when I look back what an amazing thing god did through me!! I am humbled by the way our Lord is leading us into glory realms!

I take this opportunity to thank everyone of you for making this trip possible. I would like to make special thanks to Gints, Aivars, Hino, Patrick, Sulev and others in Latvia and also back home John Gooddall and his family and Stanley family. Ever thankful for my praying partners all around the world!!

 

  

Praise God for this Testimony!!

During my trip to Latvia, I had the privilege of having Mr. Ivan as my interpreter. He is a wonderful brother in Christ and doing this as his job for the last 17 years. He has done this ministry with many many prominent speakers. I have received this message from him which I will publish for you!

Dear Abraham,

It was both honour and fun to meet you and assist with interpretation. Thank you for your prayer and inspired words of knowledge and wisdom. You are the first person of this kind that I ever met throughout my Christian life. This is inspiring because the wisdom gifts are what God emphasises and uses in my life to lead and use me. Thus, your testimony and ministry provided a very inspiring example, marking the direction.

Ivan 

Healed of Kidney failure!!

Hereby we furnish the Testimony of Jesus for you!!!!

I was not keeping well for the last one week because of the continuation of my kidney disease. My Stomach was swollen and my legs and I was having a high fever. I could not move out of my bed for the last one week. 

On Sunday 16th November 2008 my sister went for the morning service at New Generation church, Riga. She saw one o the man of God was preaching and she felt that the anointing is very high and I will get healed. She stepped away from the service for a minute to call me to watch the service if I cant make it to the church. So with the help of my father we tune into the web for the service.

By the time we got into the internet the message was almost halfway! Also I could not get the video only audio was streaming. I was listening to the message. During the end of prayer I heard the prayer from the preacher. That time the power of God came upon me when he called on the diseases to be healed. I was instantly healed! thank you Jesus for healing me.

After that I have heard his name is Abraham David John who had come from London. I have also heard that he is speaking at Julgava on the 19th November we travelled with our family to be prayed with him. During his testimony he invited people to commit their lives to Christ. My mother gave her heart to the Lord. Praise you Jesus!! The speaker Abraham called me and prayed over me and the power of God came and healed me!

I thank God and thank Abraham for faithful in His service!! Amen!!!

Edwaards, Riga, Latvia. 

God is Amazing in Riga!!

Hi All,

What a wonderful day at Riga!!! God is awesome!!

Preached in the morning at New Generation church, the largest church in Latvia! God poured out His spirit on all people, God healed many people of their physical sickness and Many were touched by the presence of the Lord!

You can listen to the sermon on video by clicking the link,

http://newgeneration.lv/rus/video_i_audio_materiali/videomateriali/?doc=6776

This link has full service so you need to click to 150 minutes to begin the message alone or else at Google video by clicking this link for only message,

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=5753369769584779707&ei=EIgqSaj-ApOQiQL7_vDtBg&q=rlbc+tamil

Also this evening we had the banquet dinner with Businessmen Fellowship International over 70 people attended. 6 of them got saved and God ministered to people in healing and prophetic.

What a wonderful day in presence of the Lord! Thanks for all you guys are praying for me.

Blessings

Abraham 

You too Become an Encourager!

Very thought provoking and life changing Bible study passage on encouragement was sent to me by one of my dear brother on 1 Thessalonians 5:11-24. I was compelled to go thru the checklist provided in that page of my Bible with suggestions for practical application of the same. It is reproduced hereunder for your study.

Click the link for the verses:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20thessalonians%205:11-24;&version=51;

Checklist for Encouragers

Ref	Example	Suggested Application
5:11	Build each other up	Point out to someone a quality you appreciate in him or her.
5:12	Respect leaders	Look for ways to cooperate.
5:13	Hold leaders in highest regard	Hold back you next critical comments about those in positions of responsibility. Say “thank you” to your leaders for their efforts.
5:13	Live in peace	Search for ways to get along with others.
5:14	Warn the lazy	Challenge someone to join you in a project.
5:14	Encourage the timid	Encourage those who are timid by reminding them of God’s promises.
5:14	Help the weak	Support those who are weak by loving them and praying for them.
5:14	Be patient	Think of a situation that tries your patience, and plan ahead of time how you can stay calm.
5:15	Resist revenge	Instead of planning to get even with those who mistreat you, do good to them.
5:16	Be joyful	Remember that even in the midst of turmoil, God is in control.
5:17	Pray continually	Our God answers your prayer – talk to him and wait for an answer.
5:18	Give thanks	Make a list of all the gifts God has given you, giving thanks to God for each one.
5:19	Don not stifle the Holy Spirit	Cooperate with the Spirit the next time He prompts you to participate in a Christian meeting.
5:20	Do not scoff at prophecies	Receive God’s words from those who speak for Him.
5:22	Avoid every kind of evil	Avoid situation where you will be drawn into temptation.
5:23-24	Count on God’s constant help	Realise that the Christian life is to be lived not in your own strength but through God’s power.

In response to the challenge to be an encourager all the time I resolved to apply on myself and then personally write to all my friends – who are a source of encouragement. 

The consequence is:

 

1. First let me apologize and say sorry to you have I wronged or hurt you in anyway; forgive me if I had been arrogant. On my part I’ve forgiven all and don’t hold any grudge against anyone.

2. Whenever I encounter a crisis or problem in business or ministry I pray to solve / overcome it. Knowing you too would be facing a similar problem I’ve praying the LORD give you strength, wisdom & understanding to overcome it. And I continue to pray and bless you and all of yours.

3. I also acknowledge and appreciate all that you did to me ever since we came to know each other. On several occasions your support & cooperation helped me in many ways and Im greatly thankful to you for that you did.

I pray that you prosper in every way as your soul prospers. Continue to be an encourager to be a source of blessing to all.

Flyer for Latvia Meetings

Please find enclosed the advertisement I had received today for this event. Your prayers on this will be highly appreciated.

Blessings

Inspiring Story- Outlook, Indian Magazine- 27th October 2008

Salma Ali says she's found her saviour

CONVERSIONS: SOULSPEAK

Yours, Faithfully

When change of religion was all about a deeply personal choice

ANURADHA RAMAN If one goes by popular perception, it’s only people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes who are lured by Christianity. The notion is that they give up their religion to break free from the Hindu caste system and nurture the hope that a better life awaits them after they convert. But it’s not just the oppressed classes who are drawn to Jesus. Highly educated and well-placed upper-caste Hindus and Muslims have also risked censure from their immediate family and community to take the crucial plunge.  They all have their own reasons for giving up one religion for another. As Jesuit sociologist Rudolf C. Heredia puts it in his book, Changing Gods, Rethinking Conversion in India: "Conversion is a question of personal choice, it involves a rejection, a change or an adaptation of one’s identity. A complex set of motivations are involved. The change is the result of a personal quest, which may be more than a religious or spiritual one. Positively, this is experienced as a liberation; negatively, it could be an escape."  So what is it like to switch from one god to another? Outlookspoke to some unlikely converts: Syed Ainul Hadeed, 38 Filmmaker "I was born in a rich Muslim family of Pune. My parents belonged to families with a rich religious heritage. When I was barely four, my parents separated. My mother and I moved in with my aunt in Hyderabad. From an early age I was taught Islamic traditions and I also learnt to read the Quran in Arabic. However, I went to schools run by the Jesuits and did well both in studies and sports. My mother and I shifted to Mumbai when I was in the sixth standard. "It was during this period that I began carefully studying the Quran. However, I found I could not digest the teachings. Yet I did not stop believing in God's existence. This was in the late 1980s. My teenage years and early adult life were difficult—failed relationships, financial hardships and my father's death made me morose. At one point I even decided to end my life by consuming mercury. Luckily, I survived. "It was all very strange. On the one hand I was attempting suicide, but at another level, I had an out-of-body experience. I felt my spirit drift to my old school—to the feet of Jesus Christ. I could feel his presence. After a year, I visited the school and saw the following words engraved on the pedestal on which a statue of Jesus stands to this day: 'I am the resurrection and the Life.' I believe the Holy Spirit had led me to Christ. Today, I am serving the Lord through the gifts that he has endowed me with. "Naturally, some Muslim friends did not approve of my giving up Islam. The clerics questioned my change of faith. However, this only strengthened my resolve to study the Bible, the Quran, and the Hadiths. Finally, I realised that Christianity was my true calling." Rajeev Menon, 42 CEO, N-Able Solutions Information technology companies require a strong process, otherwise there will be a delivery failure. There are proven processes of development and it is for the company to adapt them and standardise them. "This also holds true in life. I was in my twenties and my life was a total messI had no peace of mind. I was going through a personal crisis. It was then that somebody gave me a book on Jesus. It slowly transformed me. My parents saw the change in me but allowed me to choose my faith. I go for prayer meetings regularly and I have renounced all forms of idol worship."  Salma Ali, 33 Advertising and Public Relations consultant "My mother was a Catholic who converted to Islam when she married my father. We performed namaaz regularly. But my faith was shattered when I came across a verse in the Quran that prescribed corporal punishment for stubborn women. I was shocked. I asked my father, who told me that it was like chiding a child for not listening to elders.  "After my parents separated, I moved in with my mother, who had become extremely short-tempered and abusive. At the same time, she started attending church. I used to attend the congregations she went to, at which people danced and sang, something unheard of in Islam. It was then that I started reading the Bible. I found Christianity a far more liberating religion. My life became stable, and I started doing well in my studies. I have been praying every day ever since." Jaya Ramamurthy, 42 V-P (learning & development) with a business process outsourcing firm "Born into a Tamil Brahmin family, I was brought up in an orthodox religious environment. We worshipped numerous gods and observed various rituals. Every Thursday, we also prayed to Sai Baba. At least 150 devotees would turn up at our house for the prayer sessions. Frankly, I could not make any sense of the rituals and yearned for a relationship with a god I could talk to, a god who would listen to me when I spoke to him.  "It was around this time that I was afflicted with scabies. I decided to go for a blind date with Jesus in the hope that I would be cured. To my surprise I was rid of my ailment. Years later, at 27, I decided to read the Bible. My mother threw it out of the window. But I did not give up and discovered a god I could talk to. Ever since, I have become far more friendly, and the love of god has changed my life. Today, when I speak, God speaks to me. My relationship with the Almighty has changed my perspective. I have become more respectful towards others." Prabhu Guptara, 58 Executive Director (organisational development), with Wolfsberg, a UBS subsidiary "I was 14 when I lost my father and our family lost everything in the process. From prosperity to penury—it was difficult to comprehend at that age. I could not understand how there could be so much suffering if god actually existed. How could he allow people to get away with evil acts? A chance encounter with a young man turned me to Jesus. I read the New Testament carefully and realised that evil is the consequence of man not loving god. Jesus presents a challenge to every individual, asking him to acknowledge his own inadequacies. Over the years, I have found myself moving away from being a selfish person to being more sensitive (to the needs of others)."

Inspiring Story- Anand Mahadevan- Editor, Outlook Indian Magazine

OPINION

I, The Convert

My conversion was not a change of religion; it was a change of heart

ANAND MAHADEVAN

I was born a Brahmin and am the grandson of a priest whom I dearly loved. I am educated and my current professional standing indicates that I am reasonably intelligent. I am also affluent and my income would put me distinctly in the upper middle class bracket. I guess that would make me high-caste, rich and smart. In other words, I am not a tribal, or poor or dim-witted. And yet, I chose to become a follower of Jesus Christ. The world would call me a convert to Christianity. I have no problems with that, though I see my faith more as a relationship with God through Jesus Christ than as a religion. And for the record, I can truthfully claim that no one financially induced or threatened or deceived me into converting to Christianity. I am fiercely proud of my national identity as an Indian and I am completely at peace with my cultural identity as a Hindu. I retain the name my parents gave me. My wife, who also shares my faith, continues to go by her Hindu name. We have two children and we have given both distinctly Hindu names. In fact, many of my colleagues and acquaintances who may happen to read this column are likely to be surprised. They have no inkling about my faith, for I generally don't go about announcing it. But if someone does ask me the reason behind the joy and hope that is everpresent in my life, I am always delighted to share it with them. I write this piece to make one point—that my conversion was not a change of religion but a change of heart. To explain this, I need to go back to my childhood in Chennai, similar to that of so many other Tamil Brahmin boys like me. My grandfather, every bit the virtuous priest, had enormous influence over me. I absolutely adored him and as a toddler, always clung to him. He too loved me to a fault. There was no wish of mine that he would not rush to fulfil. But even in my early, formative years I was unable to relate to the religion he fervently practiced. Later, in my school days, I once spent my summer holidays with him in Trichy. Memories of dawn walks with him, for the ritualistic dip in the Cauvery river, cow in tow, are still fresh in my memory. I learnt many shlokas, some of which I still remember. But I never understood any of it and none of it helped me connect with God. When I was 19, a Christian friend with whom I used to play cricket invited me to his house for prayer. If he had invited me to a pub, or party, I would have gone too. At his home, he and his sister prayed for me. It was a simple yet delightful conversation with God that lasted all of five minutes. I don't remember it verbatim, but they articulated a prayer of blessing on my life, future, career and family. It was a simple affair—no miracles, no angels visiting. All they did was utter a deep human cry out to the creator God and His only son Jesus Christ. When they said Amen, I felt in my heart a desire to follow Jesus. It was a faith encounter with God that I shall not even attempt to understand, rationalise or explain. I simply accept it. It is my faith. It is what I choose to believe. That evening I did not change my religion, for in reality I had none. Hinduism was my identity, not my religion. It still is.  The Christianity I acquired that evening is not a religion. On the contrary, it is an intensely intimate relationship with Jesus. Over the past fifteen years, I have come to know this Jesus even closer. I know Him as the pure and sinless Son of a Holy God. And I know Him as a dear friend to whom I pray and talk to every day—about my career, my dreams, successes, failures, finances and even my sexuality. If I read a good book, watch a good movie (Rock On is terrific, mate), or eat a good meal at a new restaurant, I would naturally tell my friends about it.In Jesus, I have discovered a truly amazing friend, guide, leader, saviour and God. How can I not tell all my friends about Him? And if anyone does listen and he too comes to believe in Jesus, I am delighted. The world would call it a conversion; I call it a change of heart, like mine. But I would never force anyone to listen to me, leave alone financially induce, coerce or con him into believing. That to me is pointless and against the very grain of my faith. But I do have a constitutional right to practice my faith and to preach it without deception, force or bribery. It pains to see such basic rights of mankind being cruelly violated every day in this great Hindu nation.  God bless India. (Anand Mahadevan is the editor of Outlook Business.)