(February 20, 2025… Editorial Note: Posting date only, article was written some weeks ago) Sam Selva Raj shares another of his ministry experiences, encouraging believers to rely on God, fully trusting Him…

Most of the time whenever we had started a new ministry for the expansion of the kingdom of God, we had to face various types of oppositions and difficulties. Sometimes troubles came from the devil directly… and sometimes troubles came through people.

And on several occasions, I have had to face such adversities alone!

Disturbing Neighbours
When we were constructing the main mission building, people who were living in the locality were very unhappy. They tried to disturb me with maximum troubles when the construction was in progress. The workers involved also were heavily disturbed and because of the mental torture inflicted on them by certain people, most of them left the job and I found it very difficult to proceed further.

Then, on top on that, on seeing the tremendous opposition againgst me and God’s work, the building contractor (who was a Christian) took back his workers and ran away from the scene.

Some of the people who were against God and His work approached me— very subtly at first— asking me to stop the work of the Lord in that particular place, and move to another Christian locality. They even offered to give me any amount of money if I did so!

Now I was very stubborn in my calling and told them humbly that I couldn’t hear their voices and explained that it was the work of the living God and requested them not to stand against His work in any way. But they continued to cause me physical strain.

Deterrence Avoided
During this time of trial, I approached various Christian leaders in the city and Christian advocates asking them to join hands with me in this time of trouble, opposition and difficulty. Unfortunately nobody came to my rescue!

Although disappointed, I was not deterred! I determined to spend much time in prayer asking the Lord to be with me and did so. And I found peace to proceed further by faith.

Nevertheless opposition continued! For example, one day the concrete flooring work had started and the readily-mixed concrete trucks arrived. Some neighbours from nearby buildings came over and started shouting against me and the work. I didn’t know what to do and I had to send the mixed concrete trucks back to the company concerned— and I had to pay the cost of the unused concrete!

But, praise God, after few days the Lord helped me to complete the work! And not only that particular aspect of the building but all of it in God’s good time! Yes, finally the entire work was complete and I immediately started sending invitation letters to my friends and well-wishers, requesting them to attend the dedication service of the building.

Defeated Troublemakers
Interestingly, by that time all the people who had stood against me and the work of the Lord had disappeared! Some had to leave the locality due to family problems; some had sold their property and moved away; overall many sad things happened in the lives of the people who had stood against the work of the Lord.

But… the saddest thing was that I was unable to trace their whereabouts, or their families’ when I searched for them to humbly and genuinely give invitations to attend our dedication service. Some of the buildings were demolished; others emptied and kept locked even to this day; overall nobody has been living there for a long time.

The reality is that there is no one who can go on standing against the Lord! Our premises today is the busiest one in the locality. People worship the Lord there liberally. A lot of activities are going on day and night for the expansion of the kingdom of God.

Interestingly the Bible assures that the Lord ‘has our backs!’ Know these scripture promises—

• ‘The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways’ (Deuteronomy 28:7).
• ‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go’ (Joshua 1:9).
• ‘You shall seek them— and not find them those who contended with you. Those who war against you shall be as nothing, as a nonexistent thing’ (Isaiah 41:12).
• ‘What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?’(Romans 8:31).
• God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”’ (Hebrews 13:5).

Dear readers: If anyone is going undergoing great calamities and disturbances in life, even though you try to do good work, I encourage you this way: You’re not alone! Know that the Lord is with you. Be patient and keep looking to and believing in God.

Even if you have lost everything in your life, the future is still remaining ahead for you… especially when you’re about the Lord’s business, whatever it maybe be, even a less onerous ministry.
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Dr Sam Selva Raj founded India’s Echo of His Call some 50+ years ago reaching Chennai and other centres in India. He oversees many community outreaches that bless thousands, the Chennai church, Bible colleges, and postal and online Bible correspondence/theological courses. Links: sam@echoofhiscall.org / His daughter Pastor Angeline Selvakumari’s February article Run to Win.

EDITORIAL NOTE: Sadly we report that our beloved friend Dr Sam and his dear wife Jesy have just lost their precious son, Pastor Alex (Joshua), brother of Pastor Angeline. Faithful co-worker in Echo of His Call and the Chennai Church, Alex is in glory! We ask that readers please pray God’s ongoing incredible comfort for this special family. As you’ll realise from the testimony above, the family’s faith is strongly set on honouring our blessed Lord, His word and His ministry! (YouTube Church Funeral Service https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcsmn_xQNWg /Cemetery Funeral Service https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haQtAdTmczE / Thanksgiving Meeting https://youtube.com/live/SNQbvxHSE4w?feature=share)
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