National Evangelists

Each National Evangelist conducts weekly three-day festivals throughout India's most unreached villages to share the Gospel to people who have not heard. Evangelists introduce 5,000-10,000 people to Jesus as Savior each year.

Abel Amirtharaj

Abel's story: Tragic beginnings

Abel's parents split up five days after they were married—long enough to conceive him. After eight months Abel's mom returned to his dad, and he brutally beat her. She protected her unborn baby, yet she took severe blows to the head that caused permanent damage. After Abel's birth, his mother committed suicide, and he was sent to an orphanage until he was old enough to be on his own. Abel has never met his father.

Early calling

Despite tragic beginnings, Abel grew up knowing that some day he would be serving God as an evangelist. Fellow students would laugh at him, but his teacher encouraged him and said that being an evangelist is the highest calling anyone can have.

Falling away

Abel ached for love. At 15, he began experimenting with drugs and became a drummer in a secular band, and then a body builder. His choices drew him farther and father from God.

Falling away from God led Abel to a very dark and desparite place. He would do anything for money and was even hired to use his muscle power to beat up pastors.

At 19, Abel had gained respect from others, only it was out of fear, not of the love he so desired. Empty and hopeless, Abel tried to end his life, not once, but several times. Each unsuccessful suicide attempt landed him in the hospital, only for him to try again after being released.

Divine intervention

Two years passed and Abel was still determined to end his loveless life. One evening he laid down on the railroad tracks. The first train approached, but its head lights exposed Abel's deadly plan and came to a stop. Frightened with the thought of returning to the hospital, Abel ran off and hid. When the train began to move, he stepped toward the tracks, and a powerful force held him back. It wasn't until the train rolled away, that he realized no one was there.

Brushing the encounter aside, Abel plotted to end his life one more time. He flagged down a taxi and asked the driver to take him to Suicide Rock in Chennai. Instead, the taxi driver drove him to a holding room enroute to the police station. Desperate to succeed with ending his life, Abel began cutting at his wrist until his empty heart was flooded with the very words he longed to hear. God spoke, "I love you, Abel, and I will give you a future."

Abel replied, "If You will really be with me, I will serve you."

Sincere with his choice to follow Christ, the drugs still had a strong hold on him. At 21, Abel's friends brought him to a Christian youth meeting where the pastor was telling the story about Esau and Jacob. "Esau wept bitterly," the pastor said, "but he did not receive a blessing."

Abel was sure that the pastor was talking about him, and he took the pastor by the shirt collar and demanded, "Who told you about me"?

"No one," said the pastor and invited Abel to stay.

Later that evening the pastor said to Abel, "I sense that God wants to use you as an evangelist."

Abel's childhood impressions flooded back. That night he confessed his sins and began to follow Jesus Christ. Soon after Abel enrolled at Bible college where he graduated with a Masters of Divinity degree.

After college, Abel took an office job with GFA, but his real desire was to minister to people. So he joined with Indian Missionary Society as an evangelist in Orissa. There he taught 10th grade at the public school and was a musician for one year.

In 2005, Abel returned to GFA and transferred to Hyderabad as a computer technician. That's where he met his wife Lois, and together they set out to become missionary evangelists and pastored a church for two years.

Then Abel heard about Oasis World Ministries and felt this was God's leading. He's been an Oasis national evangelist since April 2008 and has seen thousands come to know about God's amazing love in Jesus Christ.

Will you help Oasis national evangelists reach the unreached people of remote villages?

National Evangelist: $7,500

Each national evangelist conducts weekly three-day festivals and shares the Gospel with people who live throughout India's most unreached villages. Sponsorship covers a pastor's full-time salary, transportation and festival expenses.