I recently went on vacation to Kerala, India with my family.  This was my first trip to India in 22 years.  Even though I was born and raised in the United States, I had the privilege of going back to India on several occasions when I was growing up.  But as a child and teenager visiting India, I didn’t understand the significance of how much my heritage from Kerala played such a big role in me knowing Christ.

You see, it all started with Thomas.

You know Thomas, right?  The one who has infamously been named “doubting Thomas”?

Thomas was one of the original 12 disciples, hand picked by Jesus himself.  

But Thomas unfairly gets a bad rap.  The scripture records Thomas as having doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead because he apparently missed the meeting where Jesus visited his disciples after his resurrection.  Thomas voiced his doubt that unless he saw Jesus and touched his hands and his side, he would not believe.

So Jesus made another visit to his disciples.  This time it was for Thomas.  He lovingly let Thomas see him and touch his wounds.  And Thomas doubted no more.  His encounter with Jesus forever changed him.  Thomas spent the rest of his life boldly preaching the gospel of Christ to those who had not yet heard the good news.

And so in AD 52, Thomas set sail and landed in the small southern state of Kerala, India….the land of my ancestors.  

He shared the love of Jesus to Hindu and Jewish settlers there and as a result, many gave their lives to Christ.  During his time in India, Thomas established 7 churches, which are still in existence today.

Thomas’ zeal for sharing the gospel led him to pay the ultimate price as he was martyred in India for his faith.

But Thomas’ work in India did not stop when he died.  Thomas’ work there changed the trajectory of generations of Indian people, including my own.

As a result, my life is forever changed because I have had the opportunity to know Christ as my Lord and Saviour.

On my recent trip to India, I had the privilege of visiting one of the churches that Thomas started in Kerala in AD 54. As I stood in front of that church, my heart was overwhelmed with gratitude for the sacrifice that was made for me.  

I am so grateful to Thomas for bringing the gospel to a land he did not know so that generations down the line, I would have the privilege of knowing Christ.

I pray that you and I would not be discouraged if we don’t see results as we think we should.   Just as Thomas did, I pray that our lives and our work would make an impact for generations to come.

~ Vijoy