Karaiba Chawang
Kohima | June 23
For Jalaluddin Ansari, 34, conversion was instant. But the aftermath: he has to grope around in hiding to proclaim the gospel. First, the threat to his life comes from Muslim radicals, who are shocked by his “infidelity”.
Then, the jealous Christians, who he said threatened his life on several occasions after he refused them certain projects that comes from the churches in Kolkata.
“Still now I have to be careful in certain pockets of Dimapur and my village. Otherwise, they will kill me. They have been looking for me”, Jalaluddin confessed.
At one point of time, Jalaluddin had to escape to Delhi due to threat from some Christian friends, however, he was compelled to return because of his wife and 2 toddler daughters, he said.
What he called as “Holy Spirit inspired conversion”, Jalaluddin’s conversion was instant. After attending the Rev. Rein Hart Boonke’s crusade in Delhi, in 1998 Jalaluddin, got the baptism done immediately. Once a radical Muslim, and a Muslim missionary in Hazi Park Mosque, in Dimapur, Jalaluddin today quotes John 3:6 - which he said is his favourite bible verse - more frequently than any other orthodox Christians. He hails from Madhuban village in Bihar.
Initially, his shocked father, Zauad Hussain, who is a labour contractor and a chairman of Sunni Muslim body in his village Madhuban, Bihar, cast untold aspersion on him for his shift of belief, and harnessed inimical feeling for some years. However, these days his father visits him at his Khermahal residence for a cup of tea, and for chit chats over some issues, Jalaluddin said.
In the family of 7, Jalaluddin is the lone converter to Christianity. He has 2 brothers, 3 sisters and Muslim parents. After the conversion, Jalaluddin Ansari rechristened his name to John Ansari.
John also revealed that there are many Muslims converts in Dimapur, but for fear of their life, from section of Muslim radicals they are not seen openly. But they are secretly proclaiming the gospel in certain localities of Dimapur. Even a Member of Parliament from Bangladesh has clandestinely taken baptism in Dimapur, and had gone back, he revealed. However, for fear of repercussion his identity has to be kept a secret, John further added.
After the conversion, John worked for Assembly of God church, engaged in some humanitarian projects at Dimapur, and then went to Kolkata to study theology at World Harvest Bible Institute.
The fledgling North East Harvest Bible Institute at Lama Basti, Karbi-Anglong, Assam, where he is the chairman now, is still struggling to find its feet amidst a huge resource crunch. John is however confident that he will manage a record in setting up bible institutes.
“My vision is to establish as many bible institutes as possible to spread the gospel of Jesus’, John beamed optimistically.
Morung Express News
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