Too Poor for Suicide: Gospel for Asia Pastor Introduces Widowed Mother to New Life

WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World and affiliates like Gospel for Asia Canada) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan – Discussing widowed mother Chamudi, the sickness and hunger, sheer hopelessness unto thoughts of suicide, and the encounter with one of our pastors that God use to bring life.

A Hole in the Broken Heart of a Widowed Mother

Twice in 10 years, illnesses turned Chamudi’s world upside down. First, her husband died from a brain tumor, thrusting her into the life of a single mother in a culture that often looked down upon widows. Second, Chamudi received terrible news: She had a hole in her heart.

The doctors told her she should not do hard labor or get tired, and unless she received an operation, she would soon die. Desperate for a way to provide for her children, but severely limited in what she could do, Chamudi searched for any light work she could find. She washed dishes and served as a maid, but hunger crept into her home and became a consistent part of life. If she was unable to regularly put food on the table for her precious children, then there was no way she could buy medication to help her condition.

Chamudi was in turmoil. She was going to die, and misery would taint however many more days she had left. Her stomach ached unbearably. She thought of her young children—if enduring hunger caused such agony for her, a grown woman, how much more difficult it must be for her young, confused children? And once she was gone, her children would suffer even more. They would be alone, vulnerable against any who would seek to exploit them.

As bleak as the present was, the future looked even worse to Chamudi.

Buying Death

One morning, Chamudi again found no food for her children’s breakfast and could bear it no longer. She knew of only one way to end all their pain—suicide. If she couldn’t help her children live with peace, she could give them peace through death.

They would drink poison and be free from pain together. Yes, that was the solution. She found no help from her gods, and she had no one to turn to. Better to end it all now, she thought.

Through her cloud of hopelessness, she realized she didn’t even have money to buy poison. Chamudi slumped onto the only bench she had in her house and thought about how she could earn enough to bring about her family’s death.

Life Comes Knocking

From her position on her bench, Chamudi watched in surprise as a man dressed in black pants and a white shirt came walking toward her house. She didn’t recognize the middle-aged stranger. Rising from her seat, Chamudi curiously approached him.

He introduced himself as Alak, the Gospel for Asia (GFA) pastor of a local congregation. He offered the disheartened woman some literature, which sparked a conversation about Jesus and the new life Christ offers.

As they talked, Chamudi shared about her poverty and hopeless situation, and she eventually disclosed to him her intention of killing herself and her children that very day. Taking the timely opportunity God provided to minister to Chamudi, Pastor Alak prayed earnestly for her and encouraged her to trust in Jesus.

Chamudi’s religious convictions forbad her from going to a Christian worship service, but as she learned more about God’s redeeming love and listened to Pastor Alak’s prayer, peace entered her heart. She found a dose of hope that day, and she decided to learn more about the One who sent someone to her to keep her from death.

The Restoring Power of God

Chamudi and her children started visiting Pastor Alak’s congregation, bringing their troubles and sorrows to the Lord. Soon, Chamudi found a small business she could run from her home! She received cloth from a factory and sewed children’s clothing. The work was gentle, and her new income enabled her to feed her children.

Hope filled Chamudi’s heart, as well as love for the God who provided for her family. She continued learning about the Lord through the local church, and her love for Jesus impelled her to ask Him to adopt her into His family and give her new life.

Finding work was just the beginning of the answers to prayer Chamudi received. When Chamudi went to the hospital to buy medication with her new earnings, the doctors said her condition had improved! And just as the Lord sent Pastor Alak to Chamudi’s house on the day she planned to die, He later sent another man to impact Chamudi’s life—except this one married her. Athula, who worked at the factory where Chamudi received her cloth, linked his life with Chamudi and her children, helping support them and walking alongside them as they journey closer to Jesus together as a family.

A Vessel for God’s Use

Chamudi experienced God’s restoring power in incredible ways, all because one national missionary made himself available to be used by God to touch lives.

You can help send more missionaries who are ready to minister to hurting and disheartened families in Asia. Who knows, God may use them to hinder suicide plans, like He did through Pastor Alak.

Learn more about the Widows Ministry, how you can help widows not only hear that Christ cares for them, but that they may also experience His love firsthand and see how He gives them dignity, peace and eternal life.

*Names of people and places may have been changed for privacy and security reasons. Images are Gospel for Asia stock photos used for representation purposes and are not the actual person/location, unless otherwise noted.