Pastor Joseph C C continues his testimony

My wife is ANITA, she was a good embroider. I met her accidently .
After almost a year I wrote to my Parents, and with their permission and blessings I married her at Calcutta , and the next day, we went to home to Kerala .

She was 16 and I was 22 and it was in the year 1968 May 6. She was a CNI Church Member and was converted to Catholic Church,

Marriage was solemnized by Fr. Daniel OC at CIT road Fathima Church

After we became Adventists we did not have any problem to keep SABBATH, because my office worked only five days a week – Monday to Friday.

I was working as a purchase assistant in IPL Ltd. (of Birla Brothers) at 20th floor of “industry house” 1 0 Camec Street. about 1 KM from Park Street. So I was able to go to Church directly from my office

I remember that time Mr.& Mrs. Macenzee was starting a school. I used to go there in the evenings to help them to clean and maintain the toilets etc. That is the famous Higher Secondary School now.

Almost a year went by. In the year 1973 Two students came from Spicer College for Evangelism.They were Malayalies, My Pastor asked me to help them and Translate for them. I took leave from office and was with them for about 40 days.

As they were about to go back, one of them asked me,"Why don't you become a Pastor / Evangelist?". That question touched me .

I went to my Pastor W G Jenson, discussed with him. Things went very fast . I got admission at Spicer. I resigned my job. Got lots of money, which I never expected; gratuity, provident fund and other benefits.

Pr. WG Jenson arranged Sponsorship, and a house to stay at Spicer.

So we, now we are FOUR – me my, wife, Thomas and Sunita. at Spicer. I took 16 to 19 hours class load and 40 hours work load , which College rarely allow, with good GPA Stayed exactly FOUR years, completed 128 hours, no more or no less to complete Theology Degree.

We came back to Calcutta. My pocket became empty. I had no money. I became the poorest of the poor. I was given advance from the East India Section, like other workers and, as I wanted, I was asked me to go to a remote village called Chapra, Nadia Dist., About 125 KM from Calcutta.

There a Miracles happened .
No friends. No Adventists. Unknown place, custom language, everything was different.

But my LORD worked in me. We stayed in a small hut; the roof was of grass, a one room house, the floor was of mud, but God was present there.

That was our Church on Sabbath. Can you Imagine this, Me, my wife and two small children keeping Sabbath in that small room completely opened, surrounded by non Christians.

We felt the presence of our Lord there.

Two months passed.

One afternoon the neighbor lady ran and came to me. She needed Rs. 40.Her house had collapsed. It was going to rain. If house is not repaired, the family with small children Will be in trouble. I checked my pocket.

There was exactly Rs. 40. which I gave to her.

Then my wife told me we had no food at home.

We had no friends. Who would help us.

That night I could not sleep properly.

Early morning I got up, I saw an young man coming towards me. He was one of my old friend’s son (who was a sales manager of Bata Co)

As soon as he came near me, he gave me a cover and said; “ A telegram money order came in our address, and my father asked to give this you “.

I opened the cover. It was full of money. When I turned and looked I could not see the young man. Who was he…?

We continued evangelism there in that village.
Established a Church and school, only with the kind help of my Lord.

That story I will tell you after a day or two

In one way the LOCKDOWN is a blessing. We, our family members meet Friday evening as well as Sabbath with the help of ZOOM ( video conferencing ). Yes, my son, Dr.Thomas studied at KMC Manipal, and now is in New Zealand.

Is it not a blessing to have Bible studies with FOUR generations together, whom all I have the privilege to baptize ??

It took 15 years to bring my parents, brothers and their families to the fold of my Lord

That story will tell you soon.

That is the real meaning of Math 5:4 “ Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”

mourn: for Evangelism, not for personal loss or anything else
mourn: for Evangelism is the responsibility of an Adventist.

Thank you , may our Almighty God Bless you all with enough money, good health sound spirit.

Pr Joseph CC

PICTURE OF HUT

KOLKATA CHURCH  AND SDA HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL BEHIND

SPICER MEMORIAL COLLEGE