Overcoming obstacles of Life thru Grace

Pastor Thanuram Yadav, along with his wife, two sons, and three daughters, lives in a village in the Madhya Pradesh state. His journey of faith began in the most unexpected way—through a miraculous healing in his own family. His daughter, who had been suffering from a severe mental illness at the age of 17, was completely healed after encountering the Word of God. While not everyone in the family believed immediately, she stood firm in her faith.

Years later, both of his sons suffered accidents, with his older son’s condition deteriorating despite ongoing medical treatment. Though Thanuram remained a non-believer at that time, his family prayed, and miraculously, his son recovered fully. Despite these signs, his faith was not yet complete.

A few years later, tragedy struck again when his son’s wife passed away just seven days after childbirth. The family took care of the newborn, but at the age of three, the child was diagnosed with a severe blood disease. The doctors couldn’t match his blood type, and the situation seemed hopeless. In desperation, Thanuram’s daughter urged him to pray. Reluctantly, he laid his hands on the child and prayed for five minutes, not expecting any change. But the next morning, the child was playing outside, completely healed.

That moment changed Thanuram’s life—he realised there was indeed a living God. From that day on, he committed himself to Jesus, and he started sharing his experiences with everybody, going around the villages. He used to travel from one village to another on a bicycle, and his job was to share his testimony about Jesus.

His dedication to sharing about Jesus, however, brought opposition, and false allegations were made against him, accusing him of offering money for conversions. He himself didn’t have enough money to take care of his own family. A case was registered, and he later obtained bail from the High Court, and the case was dismissed as no evidence was found. Despite this, similar charges were brought against him again in 2024, leading to his imprisonment for 15 days.

Till today, he faces three cases, requiring him to appear in court regularly. All the legal battles cost him a lot, and ultimately he had to sell ancestral land to cover the expenses. He came to know about Persecution Relief, and from that moment, he says that everything has been taken care of by them only, including providing a motorcycle for appearing in the court hearing in the city and also helping in whatever way possible.

The burden of ongoing court hearings has placed an immense strain on Pastor Thanuram Yadav’s life. Almost every other day, he has to travel long distances from his village to attend court proceedings, often with several others who are also facing charges. The continuous legal battles have disrupted his ministry and drained his strength. Each trip requires him to spend the whole day enduring hours of waiting and facing an uncertain legal process. Some days, he has to appear in court with three others, and in another case, he has to appear with around twelve other believers.

Despite these hardships, he remains steadfast in his faith, trusting that God will deliver him from these trials and acquit him and all his believers from all charges. Recently, he faced yet another attack. A mob arrived at his home, questioning his faith and actions. Undeterred, he boldly reminded them that while they supported him in his past life of wrongdoing, they now opposed him for doing what was right. Though he was advised to stay indoors for safety, he remains steadfast in serving the Lord. His church continues to gather, and he has resolved to serve God as long as he lives, declaring, “Only God has lifted me from the miry clay, and no one else could have done what He has.”

While in jail and facing persecution, he found strength in scripture: “Whoever believes in Me will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16), “Fear not, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10), and “Do not look here and there, for I am your God” (Isaiah 41:13). These verses sustained him through the trials and reinforced his faith in God’s plan.

What an inspiration Pastor Thanuram Yadav is to the body of Christ. And let us keep Pastor Thanuram Yadav in our prayers, as he has some prayer requests.

Prayer Requests:

1. His nephew, who lives with him, was in an accident and has suffered serious leg injuries. Please pray for his recovery.

2. For the two pending court cases to come to a just end and for the witnesses to speak the truth.

3. For his health, as doctors have detected issues with his heart.

4. For his family and church members, many of whom come to services with grave illnesses yet experience divine healing.

Pastor Thanuram Yadav’s journey is a testimony of faith, endurance, and the unwavering support of Persecution Relief—a family that stands with those who suffer for Christ’s sake.