Touching Heaven, Changing Hearts: The teacher who inspired me

   

                                     “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually”

                                                                              1 Corinthians 12:27

                                                                                                       

                                                                

Gurgaon- India's millennium city in which residents leave no stone unturned to climb the ladder of success. Crowds, metro, congestion, shopping malls, call centers, schools, all depict the fast pace of life and ambitions of the people living in this new urban area. Just near Sikanderpur metro station, in one small corner of this industrial city lies Bethel City Church, a spiritual home to many local as well as foreign youngsters.

What one would probably picture in mind on hearing the word ‘church’ would ideally be a building used specifically for worship, having a huge cross with the statue of Christ crucified. Surprisingly enough, the bible mentions that the church is not the building but the people who are part of it- those forming the organisation to preach and spread the Gospel, thus they are the body of Christ.

Bethel City Church is one such body which believes firmly in the statement made by Paul in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 12, verse 27, Holy Bible. This church, in contrast to being the ideal, traditional Orthodox Church, focuses more on the spiritual and personal relationship an individual needs to have with God. 

Unlike other institutions, Bethel City Church is merely a conference room in the basement of Hotel Aadhar, DLF phase 2, Sikanderpur and accommodates around 80 people every Sunday for their English service. The service starts at 10.30 in the morning and lasts for about two hours, followed by the Sunday school and Membership classes on Biblical principles. The hall is packed with youngsters from various cultural and social backgrounds. While some come from different cities across India, others come from countries such as Congo, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Mauritius. It is mesmerizing to see the cultural diversity at Bethel City Church, as barriers of language, race, colour and culture are broken and all are voluntarily united with the sole aim of rejoicing and worshiping God. The vision of the church is to make passionate disciples of Jesus Christ.

Leading this church is Pastor John Prakasam: my spiritual father, teacher and my sense of inspiration.

 Pastor John comes from Coimbatore, South India and preaches along with his wife, Pastor Karuna Prakasam. I met both of them in January 2015 for the first time when I visited the church, with my school mate. Since then, I have been attending the service every Sunday.

Pastors John and Karuna Prakasam

A man of God, Pastor John makes it a point to guide and talk to one about obedience, faith in God, focus in life and spirituality. His lectures and presentations on self motivation and self improvement are what keep me going. Every word he utters empowers me and lifts me up. He is one person who, when I talk to, gives me the courage to face and overcome every struggle in life and inspires me to be my best. He also delivers lectures on the Bible and gives an understanding of the whole concept of Christianity, not as a religion but rather as a way of life.

                  



                  “Jesus didn’t come to start a religion. He came to start a relationship.

                                                 Religiosity binds and kills people. 

                                    When we focus too much on rules, we become dead.

                              Only a relationship with God can bring life in abundance.”

                                 

                                                       -Pastors John and Karuna Prakasam

Truly, Pastor John has been the person through whom I had the opportunity of understanding the power of prayers, the need of being kind to others and the whole essence of life. His powerful speeches have given me faith  perseverance, determination and have instilled in me the belief that challenges in life are to make one stronger and better, that there is a difference between religion and spirituality, for religion is an agreement of what God is by a few people whereas spirituality is about one's personal relationship with God.


He has, and indeed, will continue to inspire me and the hundreds of other youngsters for they teach from the heart, their only objective being to spread the message of love and kindness to make the world a better place.

Below are a few notes of inspiration from Pastor John Prakasam, quoted during his sermons: