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By Rev. S. David Anbu, INDIA
When I was a small boy I asked my father why he named me David. My father replied, “Son, you asked me a good question. I will explain it to you. When I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I began reading the Book of Psalms. One verse touched my heart in a special way: ‘David sang many songs.’ That’s why I wanted to name you David. I prayed when you were a small boy, ‘Lord touch my son, so he would become a David to sing for the Lord and play some instruments.’ ”
My family came from a Hindu background. My grandfather, who was employed by a British company, was an educated man and was able to provide for his family. My grandmother was the first Christian in our family and through her my father came to the Lord early in life. My father became a pastor and was in ministry for forty years before he went to be with his Lord. My mother, a housewife, was also a good Christian. She stayed home to look after us four children (two boys and two girls) while my father traveled widely to preach the gospel.
I was just ten years old when my mother died. My father was away in another state preaching, so we children stayed with different relatives. Because we were not together as a family anymore, I felt all alone in the world. Sometimes I asked God why I was alone.
As a small child my late mother taught me the Word of God and prayed for me. When I lived at my uncle’s house, he and my aunt also taught me about Jesus Christ and the Scriptures. They, too, prayed for me. So I grew in the knowledge of the Word of God and prayer.
Although I was well cared for by godly relatives, I did not have peace of mind as a young boy. My father did not remarry and was always away in ministry, so I thought he did not care about me. I felt so unloved, I wanted to die. As a teenager I wanted to commit suicide.
When I was seventeen, God spoke to my troubled heart at a gospel meeting. The preaching was good. The verses of Scripture the speaker read spoke to my heart. He quoted the words of Jesus saying, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:28). Then he read the words of the Apostle Paul, “...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:15).
As he continued to preach, the minister asked, “If you died today, where would you go?” I didn’t know. Then he invited people who wanted to know Jesus to come to the altar. I went forward. All the sins from my childhood to my teenage years passed before me like a movie film. I cried and confessed my sins. The Lord spoke to my heart saying, “If you ask me, I will forgive you and make you holy.”
The minister prayed for me and then led me in a prayer to ask God for forgiveness and to invite Him into my heart and life to be my Savior and Lord. The next day I was baptized in water.
The following week I spent in prayer. I prayed, “Lord, I need You. Fill me with the anointing of your Holy Spirit.” I had been taught about the Holy Spirit from the time I was a child, but I had not prayed to receive Him. After a week of waiting on the Lord, He answered my prayer.
I began to pray for God to show me His will for my life. One day I sensed the Lord say to me, “David, I have chosen you to preach the gospel. I am going to bless you and use you in the nation of India and in many nations of the world.”
I wasn’t surprised at God’s call because my father had dedicated me from childhood for ministry. I wanted to be a Christian, but I did not want to be a minister. Having observed my father’s life, I knew that pastors go through much suffering. However, I made a choice to obey the Lord and enrolled in a Bible college when I finished my high school.
After three years of training as an evangelist, I traveled to many towns throughout India to preach the gospel. God not only gave me a gift of preaching, but also of music. He gave me a singing talent and ability to play several instruments. When I sing for the Lord and play the instruments, I am reminded that my father named me David after the Old Testament psalmist, David, who served the Lord with music. How wonderful it is to have the blessing and example of godly parents.
I married my wife, Gladys, in 1985. My wife is an educator. She has degrees to qualify her to teach in a college, but she helps me in ministry. The Lord has blessed our marriage with two daughters, Janet and Jennifer.
In January 1992, we started Harvest Evangelical Church. We want to plant many churches because thousands here in India are dying without Christ. At present we have planted seven churches and have ordained four elders. Our people are poor since we are a developing country with a population of one billion. Unemployment is high. Many of our believers don’t have jobs. We are teaching the congregation to tithe, but they are poor and have not much to give.
We have opened an orphanage for orphaned, destitute children and have one school. We have a vision to do much more. Our aim is to establish 200 churches. The Lord has instructed me to build a Bible College to train pastors who will be ambassadors of Christ to our nation. I don’t know when He will bring that to pass. Our work is interdenominational and a faith work, so we appreciate financial help.
We are praying for our country. It is an idol-worshiping nation. Everyday we are facing idol worship and witchcraft. Many people are suffering from witchcraft. I have a burden on my heart to reach many more souls for Christ and want to do much more for the people in India.
The prophecy to preach to the nations has yet to come. However, I do go to America every two years to speak at conferences and in churches. I go for spiritual restoration as well, for I am always in ministry in India. I am also learning more about church government. I am the supervising pastor, so I need more knowledge and wisdom.
I rejoice that my father’s prayers have been answered for his orphaned children. We are all serving the Lord. My brother has the privilege of being a witness for Christ at his secular employment. One sister is in ministry helping a pastor. The other sister and her husband attend our church. She is in charge of youth ministry, and he is in charge of children’s ministry. We praise God for their help.
In closing, I would like to address the young people:
Youth is a good time of life, but it is also a dangerous time. The Lord knows your teen years. He will provide all that you need, but you must be patient and wait for His timing. If you do not obey the Word of God now, you will suffer in the future.
Sports are a good discipline for young lives, but drugs, alcohol and sexual immorality are things a young person must run from. They are destructive forces in a life. In these last evil days, you need to follow the Word of God and pray. The Lord will lead you into an adult life that He can bless and fulfill.
I thank the Lord that I allowed Him to come into my life in my teen years. Through my 27 years of ministry He has touched the lives of many people.
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