“According as he has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” - Ephesians 1:4
My name is L. Nelson. I was born in a Syrian orthodox family and brought up in Roman Catholic tradition. My father and mother come from the tradition of Syrians who followed the foot steps of St. Thomas the Apostle. In each and every family in my relative side, they have one catholic priest and a nun.
From my childhood, I was interested in Church activities. By seeing my zeal, one catholic priest asked me to join with Catholic seminary. So I joined St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary in Salem at the age of 12 while doing my 7th grade. From then onwards, I spent most of my time with the priests and in Catholic churches. After completing my school 12th grade in April, 1994, I gave up myself to Salem Catholic Diocesan Society to become priest. I stayed in minor seminary for one year to know more about Catholic Church history, Salvation history and to learn Latin. They call it as a formation period. Then I finished my Degree B.B.M. (Bachelor of Banking Management) with Madras University while staying St. John’s Regional Seminary, Cuddalore.
After completing my degree, I was sent to St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore to do my Philosophy and Psychology. Here I had lot of time to reason out many things and raised questions. But in Roman Catholic tradition, questioning is not advisable one. Whatever the superiors say, the seminarians have to obey. That made me to think lot, but I could not do anything from there. After my school I spent one year in St. Xavier’s minor Seminary, 3years in St. John’s Regional Seminary and 2 years in St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary. In the seminaries, they taught many subjects and made many references but I failed to spend time in reading Bible.
After finishing my Bachelor of Philosophy and Psychology, I was sent for field work to a priest. He allowed me to work on my own and so I spent most of my time in reading Bible and visiting houses in the town and surrounding villages. Then I started 7 prayers groups in different villages. At that time I had big problem in my family and they were facing big financial crisis. I did not know what to do. At that time God gave me the Scripture,
“If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” – John 8:31, 32.
At last during January 2001, I left the seminary life and stayed with my parents. I joined with a very famous company named New York Capital Advisory Service as a business advisor and earned salary and commissions. But, the work did not satisfy me well. Since His plan was different according to Ephesians 1:11,12, “being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of His own will”.
By knowing my situation, a catholic nun introduced Brother Guna to me. And she said that he will guide you. I met Brother Guna in his office on 9th June 2001 asking for a job. By seeing me he was pleased to appoint me as an office assistant in GSPBT office and he asked me to join. Then he gave me the book Undeniable Doctrinal Truths – written by Zack M. Guess to read. I joined as Office Assistant on 11th June 2001 and I came to the office everyday by bus from Salem for three months from June, July and August.
Even though I studied many years in the seminary, I loved to know the Bible doctrines through Brother Guna. I slowly came to know the real truth. From 11th August 2001, I was staying in the orphanage to help the orphan children in Shady Grove Children’s home and to help in the office. After growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ I was baptized by Brother Guna in January 2002. From then onwards lots of changes are happening in my life. At the same time many problems came from my family side. My parents and relatives got angry with me. But God loved me in all the ways.
As a father nourishes his child Brother Guna and other preachers nurtured me very well. So I was grown up in the spiritual knowledge. Then God blessed me with a spiritual woman named Kiruba Selwyn Rosy as my wife on 30th August, 2004. My parents did not like this marriage and did not help anything, but God did it through His people. She helps me in all the ways. And now God blessed me with a son named Jefferson.
So far I was assisting Brother Guna in his office and often times I go with him for village ministry. But from January 2006, I am helping Brother Guna in Chettipatty Church. This is the greatest gift God has given me in this year. I desire to be grateful and truthful to God in His ministry and preaching the Gospel.
I request you to pray for me to do well His ministry in this area. And please pray for my wife and son.
Thanking you. Loving brother in Christ,
L. Nelson
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