MY ACCOUNT
At A Glance:
For seven years, Tanima* hid her faith in Christ from everyone. When she was discovered, her enraged husband and the entire community treated her cruelly. Then her husband read a Bible passage for himself, and his heart was changed. This is why GCR makes Bible distribution such a priority.
Tanima's 7-Year Secret
“For seven years, I lived in fear, hiding my faith from my husband.”
As a secret Christian in India, Tanima* knew the risks of sharing her faith. Not only are Christians in India routinely persecuted, Tanima also faced her husband's wrath and the ire of her community.
When Tanima’s neighbor first invited her to attend a prayer meeting at a church, Tanima found herself inspired by the message of hope and love she heard there. A pastor named Anil secretly handed her a Bible wrapped in cloth and told her to keep it hidden.
Seven years later, Tanima still had not told her husband Vikram that she was attending church while he worked in his fields, nor that their son Rohan was attending school at the church. She knew that Vikram would not approve and could react violently if he ever found out.
“I loved the church,” Tanima says, “It gave me peace, and the school was transforming Rohan’s life. But when Vikram found out, he was so angry, I thought he might throw us out.”
Discovered – and persecuted
One of her neighbors had discovered Tanima’s church attendance and told Vikram. Enraged, he began to shout at her, accusing her of betraying him and disrespecting their family’s traditions. He forbade her from ever going to church again and pulled Rohan out of his school.
Tanima was devastated, especially for his son. She worried for his future in a region where educational opportunities were scarce.
“Losing the school broke my heart,” Tanima says, “Rohan was learning so much.”
Their neighbors quickly turned on this secret Christian in India, calling her a “traitor,” taunting her, even throwing mud at her. Meanwhile, Pastor Anil faced threats from village leaders, who warned him to stop giving out Bibles and pelted his home with stones. Yet the pastor continued to pray with Tanima and encouraged her to trust in the Lord’s plan.
Then God Worked a Miracle
“I felt alone, but my Bible kept me going,” Tanima says. “I read about Jesus forgiving sinners, and I prayed for Vikram’s heart to soften. When he found the Bible, I was terrified. But God worked a miracle. Vikram started reading, and Jesus touched him.”
As Vikram flipped through his wife’s Bible, he came across John 8:1-11. He read the story of Jesus’ profound mercy toward the woman caught in adultery—and was moved to tears. His heart had changed. Vikram sought out Anil, asking for forgiveness for his cruelty toward his wife. When the pastor explained Jesus’ message of salvation, Vikram accepted Christ, reconciled with Tanima, and allowed his son to return to his Christian school. Rohan, once shy, now thrives at school, supported by both his parents.
“Now, we worship together as a family,” Tanima says. “The Bible brought us truth and love.”
In India, Christians regularly face harassment, discrimination, and violence from religious extremists—all for faithfully following Christ. Thanks to your generosity, 12,500 believers and seekers just like Tanima, Vikram, and Rohan now own Bibles of their very own. God's Word has become a daily source of hope and encouragement, even in the face of persecution.
*Names have been changed as a security precaution.
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