"In My Life Be Lifted High"
As I sit down to write, a very familiar song plays “randomly” from the Pandora station on my iPod. The song takes me back about six years, when “Came to the Rescue”played every night before I slept in the guest room at Jubilee 4. “In my life be lifted high” rings the plea of a song written for the desperately rescued. What else is left to pray when you have been lifted from the deepest pit?
My first visit to India, six years ago, opened my eyes to a more profound level of poverty than I experienced in previous travels. The depth of pain, darkness, and lacking, vividly painted a picture of my own soul before Christ clothed me in His righteous robe. It took a twelve year old young girl, rescued from the train station where she was put up to beg, who cried out in a prayer time “oh God, You are my best friend, the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want...” to open my eyes to the richness that is mine in Christ.
Fast-forwarding throughout the years, God has used BTC’s ministry to shape my heart to lavish mercy on others. This summer was an extra special time for me as my husband finally met all my sisters he’s heard about since we were dating. They connected instantly and welcomed him into the family by calling him jiju (brother-in-law).
Of course, we had a wedding party with the girls and kids...cake, music, and all.
Throughout the week, we set up a portable recording studio and captured their beautiful voices as they sang praises to our God, an experience that gives you a glimpse of heaven.
As we were recording the young children, a few of the older girls took the responsibility to manage such a task. The night before we recorded, we had our wedding party... so needless to say it was a bit chaotic in the room! Kids were laughing, squealing, running, and playing games. All of a sudden, you could hear a pin drop in the usually noise-bearing room. We turned around to see all the kids around Kushi, the natural-born leader, listening to her as she explained the next game. We knew then that she would be instrumental in the recording process. She ended up singing as a lead vocalist in the intro of the Children’s song. But more important than leading the charge at a party or in choir is the fostering of the children’s natural abilities and giftings.
I’ve seen the progression of girls Kushi’s age grow into young women making an impact in their world whether by serving in full time ministry or entering the professional work force. All praise to God, our Redeemer, for using Bombay Teen Challenge in redirecting the course of so many lives and creating change agents to touch the world.
As founder, Devaraj says, “Poverty has no end and social work is a bottomless pit, but God is reconciling individuals to Himself through the mercy ministry of Bombay Teen Challenge.”In my life be lifted high. In my world be lifted high.By Grace Ghazarian