KP Yohannan: In Christ the Bitter Becomes Sweet

WILLS POINT, TX — Amid the sorrow of millions of believers around the world after it was announced that K.P. Yohannan departed in the presence of God, we wanted to repost these thoughts from our founder, originally written in 2022 in response to a news media filled with heartbreak and uncertainty. Our prayer remains that his legacy will continue to inspire the Church to continue on according to the Great Commission we have received, being faithful to bring the Gospel to our generation, just as Metropolitan K.P. continuously urged.

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In the Book of Exodus, we read about the miraculous deliverance of the children of Israel from their slavery and suffering in ancient Egypt.

They were free! The rejoicing with singing and dancing was heard loud and clear.

Soon after their wonderful experience, they were thirsty while traveling through the desert of Shur. For days they had nothing to drink. Then they came upon a body of water—but it was bitter!

Then God showed Moses a piece of wood and told him to throw it into the bitter water. Instantly, the waters of Marah became sweet.

This wood is a picture of the cross of our Lord and His suffering and death on the wooden cross. If we allow the cross of Christ—His life of suffering—to enter into our grief, the “bitter waters of Marah” become sweet, and we, too, experience joy in the suffering.

When we go through intense loneliness and pain, we can say, “Lord Jesus, I now understand a little of what You suffered for me.”

This is a choice we must all make: to relate what we face to our Lord’s life, His cross, death and resurrection.

This is what we read in God’s Word concerning St. Paul. He chose to suffer and die for his master, Christ. He didn’t regard his life on earth as dear to himself. Jesus became more precious to him than his very own life.

In many of the nations where we serve, suffering has often been faced by new believers.

In that regard, I think of the words of St. John of Avila: “Christ tells us that if we wish to join Him, we shall travel the way He took. It is surely not right that the Son of God should go His way on the path of shame while the sons of men walk the way of worldly honor.”

Suffering, pain, misunderstandings, gossip and the lies people say about us, fears and anguish and grief—this is all part of being in enemy territory.

Jesus set an example for us to follow.

We read this in Scripture: “For to this you called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

I hope you are encouraged by the examples of those who have gone before us and faithfully walked through trials and tribulations—including those courageously serving Him on the mission field today.

May the Lord continue to bless and guide you!

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K.P. Yohannan (Metropolitan Yohan), founder and director of GFA World (Gospel for Asia) and Metropolitan of Believers Eastern Church (BEC), until he departed in the presence of God on May 8, 2024, had written more than 250 books, including Revolution in World Missions, an international bestseller with more than 4 million copies in print. He and his wife, Gisela, have two grown children, Daniel and Sarah, who both serve the Lord with their families.