Anil came from a Hindu background. Although his parents were Hindu, Anil had a friend called Mark who had been Christian all his life. From being neighbours to going to school together, all the way up to the age of 18, Anil was always surrounded by friends who loved and followed Jesus. Anil’s Christian friends would often invite him to church in different ways, even through video game chats. However, as Anil grew up, he would always say no to those invitations because he was very hesitant about going to church.
Anil and his friend Mark ended up going to the same university together, and Mark continued asking Anil whether he would try going to church. During their first year at university, Mark kept trying, but Anil ignored him most of the time because he was so used to Mark asking throughout his life.
However, during the summer before second year started, Anil saw a video online of a church in his university city, and something led him to become interested and want to try it out. As second year began, Anil showed an interest in attending that church and told Mark that he would be willing to go. Mark was surprised but also incredibly excited because, for the first time in his life, Anil actually wanted to attend church.
So, on the first Sunday of the university year, Mark went with Anil to church for the very first time. At church, Anil and Mark met a group of friends who cared for and discipled them over the course of the next year. During this time, Mark began growing significantly in his relationship with God. Seeing this really inspired Anil. However, he still did not know what it would mean for him to follow Jesus. He was unsure how his parents and culture would view him if he chose to turn to Jesus.
Because of this, it took time for Anil to ask questions about following Jesus and to truly understand what it meant to follow Him. His local church helped answer many of the questions he had about Jesus, which helped him grow greatly in his understanding of who Jesus is. Even so, Anil remained hesitant, and he did not accept Jesus into his life during his second year at university.
In Anil’s final year at university, God was stirring something in his heart to know Jesus more deeply. Although Anil still had many doubts at first, he could see the impact Jesus had on Mark and all of his friends at church.
So, on Halloween, instead of going to the annual Halloween clubbing event, Anil chose to go to his local church for a student night. During that student night, Anil took the bold step of accepting Jesus into his life for the very first time.
From Mark persistently inviting Anil to church, to Anil doubting Jesus but feeling led to attend church, to being discipled and encouraged by friends in his local church, and finally to accepting Jesus during his final year of university on Halloween — God kept knocking on Anil’s heart, and eventually, Anil chose to open the door and accept Him.
