Sheltering at Home in India

In recent months, I’ve interacted with many Christian friends around the world about the impact of COVID-19 on their nations and ministries. Some have lost jobs or income. Others struggle to obtain health care or the basic necessities. Many fear losing family or friends to the virus.

But what almost everyone has in common, whether here or abroad, is having to spend increased time at home. Lockdowns in some countries to prevent the virus’s spread are especially severe: in one area of Mozambique, children gathered unlawfully in the street are arrested, and parents must pay a fine to secure their release, a missionary told me.

So, the question arises, how are we spending this confinement at home? And that brings me to silver-haired author and church leader Babu Verghese of India, a long-time friend, prolific author and writer trainer for Media Associates International.

Usually Babu travels nine months out of the year preaching across his nation of 1.35 billion. But since March when COVID-19 set in, he’s had to stay put in Mumbai.

He doesn’t have a lot of room to lounge or spread out in his small, but comfortable home in Mumbai, where the living room triples as a dining area and guest bedroom. But he is spending hours each day on his computer, and the words are flowing.

“By God’s mercy, the shut-in has been a productive time for me,” Babu said in a massive understatement.

In just the past several months, he has finished two book manuscripts and an evangelistic booklet. Plus, he’s almost completed a fourth, with his daughter, Sneha, serving as his editor. Even by Babu’s fast writing standards, this seems like offthe-charts productivity. “The books are powerful conversion/ mission/persecution stories,” he said.

Passion and courage

Babu and his wife, Elsy, have so far avoided infection from the virus, even though Mumbai has the highest number of cases in India and the couple has neighbors with the illness. “But we are most concerned about the millions of precious souls in India who live in shanties and slums,” he said. “May the coronavirus compel us to draw nearer to Christ and share about Him.”

Babu’s passion for evangelism drives his writing, and it sometimes endangers his safety. Several years ago, Babu’s phone rang at about midnight and the voice at the other end was strange and angry. A man introduced himself as a businessman and active member of the World Hindu Council. The furious phone call was prompted because he had received a copy of Babu’s book, Let There Be India: Impact of the Bible on Nation Building.

“We do not want you to distribute this book,” the man said. “We do not want anyone to read the content. It’s dangerous. You are also in danger. You may be killed.”

Babu profusely thanked him for reading the book, or at least part of it. Then he said, “If anyone kills me, the earlier the better. I believe in Jesus and therefore at my death, I will be with Him in heaven.”

He then shared the gospel with the man and also invited him for lunch. “My residence address is in the book. My wife makes very tasty food. After enjoying lunch, you can kill me.” The man didn’t come, but Babu and his wife regularly pray for him.

Looking ahead, Babu’s dream is to produce a series of evangelistic materials that he dubs “Operation Littflood.”

“The plan is to produce five gospel tracts in 12 languages, three booklets, the Gospel of John and one or two conversion testimony books,” he said. “If the Lord tarries, the coming years must be years of evangelism through literature and other media. “

Redeeming the time

I marvel at what God is doing through Babu in his writing during the pandemic. Seeing his energy and output, I can only think of Elijah, when the power of the Lord came upon him and the prophet ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel (1 Kings 18:46). Amazing.

But there are only a few Babus in the world. Maybe you and I can’t write a book, but we can read the one we’ve been putting off. We can’t travel overseas, but we can devote extra time to prayer for our missionaries, the global church, family, neighbors, national leaders, unsaved friends. Let’s take advantage of this pandemic time to find the best way, unique to each of us, to redeem the time in service to the Lord.

When I feel tempted to grumble or grudgingly bide my time until life “opens up” again, I’ll try to remember Babu and how the pandemic may be a one-time opportunity for service rather than a burden.

“What a joy!” Babu said. “Even amidst shut in, we can communicate. Praise God for digital communication technology. The Lord has already predicted that 'stones will speak (Luke 19:40).’ Silica is stone that speaks. Thank him for the 'chip' that can communicate. The Bible is always right.”

About the Author | John Maust

John is the president of Media Associates International, a global ministry that equips and encourages Christian publishers and writers like Babu. He and his wife, Elsa, have been College Church missionaries for 21 years.