Baby Nears Death, Family Watches Helplessly

Pastor Santua picked up the phone. The person on the other end of the line asked the pastor to go to a certain village in the region.

After trekking two hours across the hilly landscape of his remote region of South Asia, Pastor Santua arrived at the home of one of the villagers, Mahijith Bhuinya, and found out why he had been called.

Mahijith’s grandson, 1-year-old Abhiraj, struggled to breathe. The baby was dying.

Treatment Fails Sick Child

Baby Abhiraj was born with respiratory problems. He had been to the hospital many times, but at the end of a failed treatment, the baby was in worse condition than before. His family then admitted him to another medical facility.

The whole time Abhiraj was under treatment, the family prayed to their god with high hopes and expectation that the baby would be healed. Slowly, they came to the sad realization that their god wasn’t going to answer.

The doctors discharged Abhiraj from the medical facility, giving his mother, Bahula, little hope for his survival.

Pastor Prays, Family Waits

Pastor Santua walked in the door and saw the baby. Gripped by the seriousness of Abhiraj’s condition, he began two days of fasting and praying for the child’s recovery. The first day, Abhiraj’s health didn't improve at all. As morning dawned the second day, the baby’s strength was still failing. Hours passed and night fell, the baby inching closer to death.

But the morning of the third day, baby Abhiraj’s health began improving, his small body straining toward life. Then, after a while, Abhiraj let out a cry—he was going to live!

Family Moved by Jesus’ Power

Jesus healed the child completely. As the baby miraculously gained strength, the family stood in awe of the God who had touched him.

Mahijith, 60, and his wife and their daughter Bahula decided to follow Jesus. Mahijith’s two brothers and their wives, who lived elsewhere, also came to know the Lord through the miracle.

They all now join Pastor Santua’s congregation to worship the Lord each Sunday and for other church activities during the week.

Thank you for your part in baby Abhiraj’s story and the stories of so many others who are being transformed by the life-giving love of our Lord.