A STAR IN THE NIGHT
Mytheen received salvation experience while he did P.U.C. at Madurai. He was very eager to share his spiritual experience with others He joined other prayer group students and Omar in street preaching of surrounding villages and invited people to enjoy the free gift of salvation. During annual vacation, Omar, Mytheen, Shahjahan and Saleem were united with pastor Stephen, pastor Paulraj and their congregation in evangelism. Both congregations were fervent in spirit and zealous for Jesus Christ.
During one such summer vacation, Mytheen suggested, "We should systematically out reach all villages and cities in Periyakulam region" and mom added, "Evangelism should be number one priority in our life and it glorifies God". Both pastors and believers agreed together to undertake this endeavor. They traveled to approximately fifteen to twenty villages and cities and proclaimed gospel in streets, houses and shops They traveled by bicycles and walking in the hot sun as they did not have means to use public transport. Generally they started in the morning and finished late in the night. The Lord enabled them to get permission from school principals to share Bible stories with students. In each school, students and teachers gathered in meeting hall and received God's word and Christian literature. Even though people were Hindus, they wonderfully offered support. They also provided them with food and drink. According to Hindu philosophy, "To serve God's servant is serving God". Jesus Christ taught his disciples, "For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, verily I say to you, he shall not lose his reward" (Mar 9: 41). They spread good news to few villages each day. Almighty granted mercy to accomplish mission as planned. Jesus Christ filled them with grace, Holy Ghost strength and unspeakable joy during this ministry. Mom supported it through prayer.
After successful completion of P.U.C., Mytheen was offered admission in B.Sc., in Madurai Thiyagarajar College affiliated to Madurai University. He met Omar at S.V.N. College and informed, "Mom does not have funds to pay for admission now; let us ask principal one week time to make payment". When they requested principal, he instructed "Go to students residence warden and check with him"; as they discussed with warden, he decisively told, "No. There are many applicants waiting to get admission; we can not give you one week time and if you want to secure admission, you must pay admission fee today". They left campus with distress and Omar said, "We are caught up in difficult situation; we lost even the two days time according to admission notice; initially problem was like a pebble and now it became like a mountain; what shall we do at this moment?....may be you should ask dad to help you. If you are successful...bring it before evening and we will pay the fee. Let us commit it in God's hands and pray; He will meet our need". "If it is God's will...I will not loose this admission" replied Mytheen and left for Thiruvadhavur rejoicing in the Lord. He did not return.
Dad intended to send him to do physiotherapy at Madras Medical College with his niece help. During selection interview for physiotherapy, he witnessed to selection committee, "You also should accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and lead holy life pleasing to the Lord". He believed it was more important to tell them gospel than just securing admission. Probably all of them could be non-Christians. He was not offered admission.
He lived with dad at Thiruvadhavur and attended type writing institute at Melur. Dad's ancestors lived at Melur for many generations, had relatives and closely knitted Muslim community all over the city and region. Secretly Mytheen attended Sunday service at Melur CPM church and had close fellowship with saints of God. His love for Jesus and zeal to follow Him took any risks of persecution. Mom and siblings were shocked to know his courage and prayed God should hide him from Muslim community. Truly Jesus covered him with His wings.
Omar joined them at Thiruvadhavur after his final year B.Sc., exams. One day dad had wine party with his friends which Omar and Mytheen could not tolerate, resulting in dad scolding them and chasing them out of house. Immediately they went to Vadugapatti after meeting Sounderapandian family and sister Radha at Madurai who prayed for them. Mom was exceedingly glad to see them back and thanked God for it. Mytheen challenged brothers and believers as well as pastors to spread gospel with vigor. He was fearless about possible consequences from dad. He joined Kodaikanal Bible school telling mom, "I want to study Bible more thorough and the word of God is treasure above all". Mom was delighted about his decision. The following academic year, he planned to go for B.Com., with meager funds mom could find. Competition for B.Com., was very tough and mom prayed earnestly, "Lord! Please go before him as he approaches various university college principals; he does not have influential people to help him". Some students got admission through bribing. Finally Jesus blessed him with admission in Thiruppathur Arumugam Pillai Seethai Ammal College. "Though it is very difficult without strong recommendation, God got it for him" emphasized mom to Mytheen. He stayed in student's residence.
On summer vacation, he returned to Vadugapatti and mom struggled arduously to pay next year tuition fee. There was not much at home to borrow from pawn brokers. In addition she was constrained by house owners for rent arrears. One day postman handed in a money order and mom exclaimed, "Who could have sent it to us as we don't know anyone of this sort". It was exactly Rs.30 for that month rent from Coimbatore CPM church pastor Russel Rose. Mom glorified God for His loving care. Later she learnt that Jesus Christ revealed to this pastor in prayer mom needed this money. Mom strengthened Mytheen with words of faith, "Don't be anxious! The Lord will definitely provide for your education....Didn't He feed Israelites with manna? He will send blessings from heaven!". One day pastor Stephen organized night prayer meeting in Vadugapatti Christian Church. Margaret and June came to this meeting from Kodaikanal and after the meeting visited mom at home. As they left, they handed over an envelop saying, "The Lord told us....you are in need of this money". There was exactly Rs.400 for tuition fee.
Mom stated, "God did not abandon us...Call upon me in time of trouble and I will answer you with great things you never know....so He did this miracle also" (Jer 33: 3).
Mytheen thought, "If I pass Public Service Commission exams I would get a job relatively easy later". During final year B.Com., he wrote PSC exam and the Lord made it a success. Subsequently he was posted in National Highways office at Madurai. Mytheen discussed this situation with principal, got permission to join his work and attend final year exam on his own. This arrangement was nothing short of Lord's miracle. This job meant great blessing to family. Jesus gave him great success in final year exams and he became a B.Com., graduate.
Many new converts could not afford to buy Bibles. Mytheen wanted to solve this problem. He discovered a source in Kodaikanal to purchase Bibles at low price. Every month he bought many from his salary and sold them to believers in various cities. Believers rejoiced in getting these bibles.
He began to minister in various churches while working at Madurai. God endowed him with gift of teaching the truth. Sharing family testimony strengthened believers unto edification. He published the testimony as a tract and distributed to people on the streets. He had burden in his heart for people who are running towards hell. During the weekends and vacation, he preached in special and church meetings. He asked Christian ministers, "We are preaching gospel to various religious people but not to Muslims; why?" and almost all answered the same, "Muslims can not be converted....it is extremely difficult to tell gospel to them; they persecute Christians who attempt to preach". "Jesus commanded us to go to all nations and preach the gospel and how can we neglect Muslims" Mytheen challenged them. "Yes brother...it is true; their scriptures also talk about Jesus Christ and they ask several questions from that point of view which confuse us....it is best if you can tell them gospel because you are a Muslim and you can answer their doubts; we shall support your effort" told Christian ministers. With pressing burden in his heart for Muslims, he prayed, "Lord! If it is your will...I commit myself to evangelize Muslims". He shared his vision where ever he went among churches. The Lord used him mightily in many districts such as Madurai and Tirunelveli. He took leave from his work to do ministry and spent large portion of his salary towards it. When mom inquired, "Mytheen! this month we have much financial difficulty...if you could contribute more to family it is very helpful", he explained, "I don't have enough funds to publish Christian tracts...then how can I give you more money, mom? Jesus Christ told us to seek the kingdom of God first...then all these things shall be added unto you; so the Lord will provide everything we need" (Mat 6: 33). Mom agreed, "OK...we should not hold back anything from God's ministry; do as you wish".
After a period of time, the Lord increased his ministry responsibilities dramatically and it became very difficult to do both his job and ministry. One day he announced mom, "To meet the demands of ministry...I wonder about taking one year leave of absence from job and do the ministry on full time basis".
Mom gently advised, "If you do so...we won't have your income; Jesus gave you the best income in this family and if we don't have even that ....we may suffer more. Perhaps you may do full time ministry after your siblings achieve descent jobs". He firmly argued, "If we forego the job for God's sake ...He will take care of our life" and she consented, "When you are determined to do full time ministry ...what shall I say? I know the Lord will supply our necessities".
He took unpaid leave for an year to perform God's ministry and the Lord developed it. He founded Ishmaelites Salvation Association(ISA). In Islam ISA means Jesus. Family moved to Vellore and was involved deeply in the ministry. He traveled continuously and came home once or twice monthly. Brothers undertook other ministry responsibilities. Omar and Shahjahan worked in CMC Hospital. They realized need for a magazine to share about it with others. Shahjahan published the magazine with God's grace and named it as Call of Calvary. He designed it's emblem also. First Omar and later Shahjahan became treasurer of the association. Saleem labored in it very hard. Mom became back bone of the ministry through intercessory prayer. They put hands together.....like writing hundreds of address by hand and mailing the magazine every month. The Lord multiplied it and there was such great joy. Mytheen pointed out , "Christians who want to share gospel with Muslims need proper training; we should start a ministry training school" and mom with brothers stated, "Those who get training can reach out Muslims in their own community". He rented a house near their home and conducted training program. Later those completed training program joined ISA as ministers of God. They approached only Muslims in various cities and boldly as well as affectionately declared Jesus loves them. The Lord established ISA in different parts of India. God's grace protected the ministers from innumerable encounters of persecution, even to the extent of life threatening. In many cities, they were beaten, stoned and chased out of city. Mom prayed ardent for God's safekeeping.
Later God raised Mytheen to participate in mass crusades such as Perinba Peruvila (Festival of great joy) in which specially gifted prominent ministers with Tamil literature, Hindu, and Christian background declared that Jesus is the God and Savior. They expounded how it was revealed for thousands of years in Thirukural, Vedas, Puranas, Al Quran, Bible and other ancient writings about Jesus Christ as the only Savior of human race. Other religious fanatics including Muslims attacked them in these meetings; they even attempted murder. Almighty God rescued them miraculously from such dangers and expanded the ministry to other countries such as Srilanka, European countries, USA, Canada, Singapore, Israel and Australia. Mytheen lectured in many Bible colleges there. Orphanages, free medical clinics and vocational training centers were operated to spread gospel.