Sometimes
becoming a disciple entails real sacrifice, even at a young age…
Annie
visited her aunt in New Delhi last year during her summer vacation. Her aunt
Sheila has been a disciple for a few years. She is the principal of one of the HOPE schools. Annie attended church with her aunt. She loved the fellowship, she loved the
sermons… Annie started studying the Bible but she had to go back to her native
place which is in another state of India where we don’t have a church. Annie was only fifteen at the time.
Annie
desperately wanted to become a disciple so she spoke to her family about
letting her move to New Delhi to live with her aunt. It was a tough decision for a young woman in a country where
women live at home until they get married. For Annie that also meant leaving her younger brother as
well as her parents. She would
also be leaving behind all her friends, a challenging prospect for a teenager,
and move to the capital city where life is very different, fast paced, and
intense. The city she lived in was
very far from Delhi and she would only see her family once a year.
Annie
prayed and decided that was what she wanted to do. It was heart wrenching for her. Fortunately her parents were supportive; they trusted Sheila
to take care of Annie. This summer
Annie came back to Delhi. She is now sixteen. She studied the Bible; there were many tears as she realized
the seriousness of her decision, as well as all the normal challenges
associated with becoming a disciple.
In
July Annie was baptized. She is now enrolled in a school here in Delhi. She has
started her new life with the support of her aunt Sheila. She loved the church and is already
active in the teen ministry.
What
sacrifices do we have to make to become disciples? Annie literally left her family behind to follow Jesus. “In the same way, any if you who does
not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33
