Go Beyond

   01 May 2009

   We will leave Kashmir tomorrow and head back to New Delhi. I leave with the beauty of Kashmir permanently etched into my memory and the needs of the people woven into my heart. I am grateful to our hosts for every kindness they have shown us and for facilitating introductions to many Kashmiri Muslims. Here are a few reflections on leaving Kashmir.

K = Knowledge | I have enjoyed the time with our hosts. They have a deep yearning for Kashmir to be filled with the knowledge of God and have devoted their lives to that end. Their presence and work here is important. As I have spoken with people from the highest academic circles to the poorest people on the streets, it is clear to me that many of these have little or no knowledge of Jesus — or inaccurate knowledge at best. Some made it a point to tell me that they believe Jesus visited, died, and was buried in Kashmir – a popular folk belief. As I leave Kashmir I do so determined to pray for the day that Kashmir is filled with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the sea.

A = Access | The Kashmiri people have limited access to the gospel. The best antidote to a poor understanding of Jesus is to read and study the Gospels. As we walked through Srinagar’s back alleys I was again reminded of all of the inconvenient places where people live and die without ever hearing the gospel at least one time. Unless we are willing to venture into these inconvenient places, many people may never hear the story of Jesus. As I leave Kashmir I will remember my friends who have chosen to live here and to make the good news of Jesus Christ accessible to Kashmiri Muslims.

S = Seeking | Many Kashmiri Muslims are seeking answers to life’s deeper questions. As we walked through dimly-lit Sufi shrines we saw people praying at the graves of Sufi saints, earnestly imploring them to help. Kashmiri Muslims have the same concerns as we have. They are concerned about their daily needs, the political elections, what the future holds, the welfare of their families, and more. Many we met are disillusioned by religion and looking for something more meaningful. As I leave Kashmir I do so with the hope that the Kashmiri believers we met will help their peers understand that Christianity is not about religion but about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

H = Help | I am grateful for our hosts and for the Muslim-background believers who live and serve in Kashmir. Their presence and their initiatives are helping to advance the interests of God’s kingdom one life at a time. Like those who held the ropes for Paul when he was lowered over the wall in Damascus (Acts 9:23-25), we must hold the ropes for those who serve in Kashmir. They need our help. We must undergird them with our prayers, our gifts, and our presence. As I leave Kashmir I do so more determined than ever to be a voice for these faithful servants, to muster support for their work, and to one day return again to Kashmir.

M = Message | The Bible is available in Urdu, the trade language of the Kashmiris, and in their mother tongue of Kashmiri. However, Kashmir has one of the lowest literacy rates in India. Only 20% of Kashmiri women are literate. And, even those who know how to read don’t necessarily read with comprehension. I am grateful for our hosts and national believers who are working hard to communicate the gospel message in meaningful ways, including through audio and visual materials that utilize a story-telling format. As I leave Kashmir I pray that the written Word will find its ways into the hands of Kashmiris seeking the truth. And, I pray that creative new means of communicating the gospel message to non-literate people of the Kashmir Valley would be developed.

I = Innovation | Serving in inconvenient places requires innovative thinking. I was impressed by all of the ways in which those who serve in this beautiful valley are working to make meaningful connections with Kashmiri Muslims. I had the opportunity to share the meaning of John 3:16 with a group of Muslim men through a creative connection our hosts have made. As I leave Kashmir I do so having been challenged to think more creatively and strategically than ever before about ways to expose people to the good news of Jesus Christ.

R = Relationships | Our hosts have learned the importance of developing and nurturing meaningful relationships with others. They cannot fall back on conventional and less-personal Western methods like inviting people to church. They actually work hard to meet people, to follow-up on those they meet, and to maintain those relationships. They understand that the gospel travels best on the road of personal relationships. As I leave Kashmir I do so determined to do a better job of making and nurturing new friendships at home.

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Note | For more on Kashmir, please read Kelly Isenberger’s blog.