The disciples of Lord Jesus Christ asked whose sin was responsible (his or his parents) for the born blind man. Lord Jesus said it was neither, but the blindness happened for the glory of God to be revealed. (John 9:1-3) The Church’s history is full of models and examples of how the saints of God took on themselves to bring the glory of God amid misery. Missionaries toiled and brought succor for lepers, the blind, the mentally retarded, and others. Paul Brand was one of the outstanding missionary doctors who pioneered the treatment and management of insensitivity to pain caused by Hansen’s disease, which caused injuries to patients. He served at Christian Medical College, Vellore. Other missionaries were Graham Staines and his family. He and his two sons were burnt alive. Following these models, Christian doctors from India also served such causes. All Christians should be grateful to such builders of the Church.
Congregation: There is a congregation that emerged from rehabilitated people of this notorious disease in the outskirts of Hyderabad. With their contribution, they bought a place and built a beautiful church.
Fatalism to victory: These people were thrown out of society to beg and die. However, missionaries lived among them and served. As the Lord incarnated and dwelt among humans, these missionaries dwelt among the lepers. Their service of love brought healing, and their medical skills healing and rehabilitation. They are not victims, but redeemed and victorious.
Gratefulness: Ten lepers were healed by the Lord, and only one came back to give thanks. (Luke 17:11-19) Nine were only physically healed, and only one was healed both physically and spiritually. One of the pieces of evidence of spiritual healing is gratefulness. The healed lepers and their families expressed their gratefulness by building a church and worshipping Him.
Empowered: Fatalism makes lepers beggars; the gospel transforms them as contributing and generous disciples in society. Many young people in the congregation were reading their English bibles. They are college-educated and working in many private companies and the government.
Am I grateful, witnessing for the Lord?