BYM ONLINE DESK Jan 2019 Blessing E-magazine | Page 13

Candles In The Night
(Testimonies of Native Missionaries of Blessing Youth Mission)
Darshan Santa was born in a small interior village
in southern part of Odisha in the year 1973. He belongs
to Kuvi tribe which is one of the major people groups
found in India. They are basically farmers and earn their
livelihood through agriculture. He has two brothers and
two sisters. He is the youngest in his family. He went to a
primary school nearby but discontinued his schooling
and started involving in agriculture, helping his father.
In the year 1993, he got married to Tulbati who is
also from the same tribe. After two years of marriage,
Tulbati conceived and a child was born to them. But
unfortunately, the baby died within four months. After
that, she conceived again and gave birth to her second
child, but that child too died within five months. The
couple were heartbroken. They lived in a place where
darkness reigned. There were neither hospitals nearby
nor schools nor sound counselors. They were advised to
go to a witch-doctor, which they did. But their problem
was not solved. In the process, they also learned sorcery.
Darshan and his wife started to practice sorcery. They
became quite popular as witch-doctors. But God has
separated them from the womb.
In the year 2001, missionaries from Blessing
Youth Mission, BilodMandi and late missionary
Jhituku Santa visited that village. They preached about
the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. To Darshan, a loving
God was a new concept. He was astonished when he
heard that Jesus died for him and his sufferings. The
whole family believed in the name of Jesus Christ and
came to Him. Soon they were blessed with a baby girl.
There were no Christians at all in the vicinity.
They were the first to believe in Jesus. All the hell broke
loose. There was a severe persecution against Darshan
and his family. They were expelled from their village
and were forbidden to take water from the well. False
cases were charged against them and they had to fight it
in the court. Even then, they stood strong. Their faith
was fortified from above and God strengthened them.
They took shelter in another place. They grew steadily
in the Lord. Seeing his faith in the Lord, some of the
other people in the village started to come to the Lord. A
small congregation was formed. Later it started to grow.
A Church was also built in their village. The gates of
Hell shall not overcome the Church.
Darshan felt that he cannot remain in the village.
He had to take the Gospel to the interiors. Woe unto him
if he does not preach the Good News. That is the one
which gave him hope. It was the light which lit up the
dark areas. He cannot remain silent. So in the year 2005,
he committed his life for full time ministry and started
serving the Lord. Today, they visit villages and pray for
needy people.
By God's grace, Darshan is blessed with two
daughters and two sons. Elder daughter Bichitra is
doing Nursing and the younger daughter Chanchala is
studying in10th standard. Sons Ashish is studying in
8th standard & Johnson is studying in 4th. All glory to
Him alone!
January 2019 | www.bymonline.org
Page 13