Jossy Chacko

A faithful area leader in India has paid the ultimate sacrifice in his work to save the unreached.        

For the last three months Babulal had been working in an unreached village, not far from his own village. Then, on 24^th November, as he and some other believers left this village and headed for home, they  innocently accepted a lift on a tractor laden with heavy rock. As the tractor climbed a steep hill, the driver released the hydraulic lever. The tractor trolley tipped backward and rocks tumbled down on the passengers.  Babulal was killed instantly.  The sister of another Church Planter died on the way to hospital, and eight new believers were seriously wounded by the falling rock.

Babulal was a victim of his own faith in the Lord. A group of Hindu right wing militants had been watching him, and had paid the tractor driver to kill him off, and stop him from spreading the word of the Jesus.

In Rajasthan, killing believers under the pretence of an accident is the latest strategy of religious fundamentalists. While the militants may have succeeded in taking two precious lives, they can never take the love of the Lord from the hearts of the people Babulal introduced to Him. Empart worker, Saroj said, “They may try to kill all of us, and yes, they have taken Pastor Babulal but they have not taken his vision. We will fulfil his vision”.

Babulal was crushed to death only four days before he was to baptise 25 new believers. Yet Babulal’s work is far from over.  His legacy of his love for the Lord remains. Since graduating from the Empart training centre in 2007, Babulal planted three churches with 225 members, he had already raised up four other workers and had had inspired many others with a great vision to see his whole region reached with the love of Christ.

In his own village, Babulal was well respected as a great leader and a strong organiser. His villagers loved him because of all the opportunities he brought them. He is survived by his wife, Hugli and three children.  To prevent his children facing an uncertain future just because of their father’s love for Jesus, I’ve established a special fund to help them, and other families who have suffered for their faith.  If you feel moved to contribute, log onto www.empart.org

In October, I had the joy of spending three days with Babulal.  Even then, as I left Babulal and these other heroes, I was mindful that this could be the last time we meet.  Now I look forward to the day I see Babulal again, in heaven.

Each day, families, leaders and workers risk their lives for the sake of the millions of people who have never heard of Jesus. Please, remember them in your prayers. Never forget them.