Gideon was a convicted criminal. His crime? Preaching the Gospel - a forbidden activity in the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, India’s tiny neighbor state to the northeast. He was leading a secret worship service for some recent converts when the police busted in. Didn’t he know it was illegal to hold worship services in Bhutan, they asked him? I know it is illegal, Gideon replied, but as Christians we cannot help but praise the Lord. The police snickered. In that case, pastor, start praying for your boys now. They beat several of the young boys, then dragged Gideon off to prison. Behind bars, Gideon prayed that he, like the Apostle Paul, might have the joy of leading his jailer to Christ. The Lord heard the prayer of His faithful servant: Gideon led his jailer to Christ.
After his release, he organized a secret baptismal service for a number of recent Buddhist converts at a Himalayan alpine lake. The water was very chilly, and Gideon was worried: Lord, I don’t want these new converts to get sick. You parted the Red Sea for your people back then. Could you also make this water warm for your people today? Gideon stepped into the lake, expecting to be assaulted by the cold. Instead, he felt a strange warmth. Thinking that perhaps his mind was playing tricks on him, he kept quiet. One by one, he called the baptism candidates into the lake and immersed them. When he was through, he stepped out of the lake and asked the newly baptized believers if they were freezing. No, pastor, they replied, because you picked a heated lake. Gideon quietly walked back to the lake and put his hand in the water. It was frigid. I give all glory to the Lord! he exclaimed.
Gideon’s story was not unique. There were thousands of Gideons all over the Indian subcontinent who had never seen the inside of a Bible school. But they were the front-line soldiers of the Gospel in lands closed to foreign missionaries. Some were known as "walking Bibles". Others had lost family members for the sake of the Gospel. Many had endured horrible persecution and/or imprisonment. Forsaking all security and comfort, and toiling among the most downtrodden people on earth, they had given up everything to become "fools for Christ". What did Gideon and others like him need most, apart from fervent prayer? Nourishment and encouragement. They were pastoring multiple village congregations. They were feeding masses of sheep in their own lands. But seldom if ever did they themselves get spiritually fed. Few had the opportunities that C.V. and Indira had of attending Bible college or seminary. Few could financially afford to attend a Christian conference for the purpose of spiritual refreshment. So that is what we had come for: to feed the shepherds, to encourage the soldiers. I trembled at my unworthiness: Lord, I don’t know why you’ve chosen me for this task. The thongs of their sandals I am not worthy to untie. Give me grace to feed them.