TWO missionary pastors from Short Street Tamil Methodist Church came back recently on home leave. JASMINE DANIELS spoke to them to find out what they had been doing these past years.
Rev George Barathan:
Journeying on God's ships
HE LIVED on a tear-drop shaped island
in the Indian Ocean, south of India. But the Rev George Barathan's
real voyage began with the arrival of a ship named Logos.
"I
saw many people living together -- on the ship -- and boldly sharing
the Lord's Word. I wanted to be part of them," he said. Three
months later, the young Sri Lankan's wish came true as he went
on board the vessel that changed his destiny. The Hindu youth
went on to become a Christian missionary who travelled the world
and transformed people's lives.
Currently working as a facilitator in promoting missions for Operation
Mobilization (OM), he has spent the last 25 years on both the
Doulos and Logos, ship projects that promote international understanding
and worldwide education.
The Rev Barathan with wife Janet and daughter
Sara.
During an interview,
the sprightly 51-year-old rushed down the stairs of the Short
Street Tamil Methodist Church function hall to bring back pamphlets
of the many countries that these ships visit. On board these ships,
he too has travelled the globe and has brought many ordinary people
in touch with cultures of other nations.
One such expedition was to North India, particularly to the cities
of Bhopal, Calcutta, Lucknow and Bihar.
"It was a tough experience for some of the Chinese Christians
in the group to adjust to India. Others took the opportunity to
learn. One of them, a doctor, wants to go back to India. Another
doctor has gone on to a similar mission to China."
The Rev Barathan too has experienced daunting circumstances on
his missions.
"Two years ago, the Doulos went to Vietnam. It was a tough
assignment as the authorities were communist. We kept a low profile
and built a relationship with them. Even 24 hours before, we did
not know whether they would allow us in. The officials met at
a closed-door session. They let us through. We spent eight days
in Ho Chi Minh City.
"God opened Vietnam to the 20,000 books we had on board.
Thousands of hygiene packages were sent to orphanages there. It
was a miracle of God. It made me realise that we believe in a
big God who can handle anything."
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'Getting people to know Jesus Christ is what keeps me going' |
Closer to home, he faces trials of another kind. The Rev Barathan
who lives with his wife, Janet, and children Sara, 18, and Peter,
16, in Vancouver, reveals that one of the greatest challenges
is encouraging his children to walk with God. "My son is under much pressure in a materialistic, Western society like Canada. It can be cold and apathetic. I would like to see godliness in my children's lives. |