My experience in the theological institutions (Part one)

Southern Asia Bible College, Bangalore, India (1988-91)

Becoming Christian the way I did has many challenges.  Not knowing anything about church, denominations and seminaries I landed in a Bible College at the age of 20.  Coming from a Vedic tradition of Hinduism, my idea of religious education was that of an Ashram (monastery type where you learn from one teacher). 

Prior to the admission process, there was a bitter fight between two groups of Christians over me attending SABC because; after my baptism in India, I was associated with one group that detested the Pentecostals and now I was seeking admission in the very denominational school which they defined as AG (Against God).  But the AG brothers stood the test of that trial and eventually helped me to get the admission there.

Born and brought up in rural Nepal, I began to learn the proper English alphabets in SABC, a premier theological school of the Assemblies of God in Asia where most of the faculty were international individuals with various English accents.

Sitting in the class after class without understanding a single sentence of English was very depressing and many times decided to return back to Nepal.  But a friend from Nagaland (Njalo Kath) kept me grounded there with his tireless efforts to teach me English.  I will forever be grateful to that friend.  As the final exams for the first semester came, I had nothing to study because I could never take any notes in the class.  Just a few days prior to the exams, I asked a Tamil friend if he could show me his class notes for a particular subject; his reply shocked me, and the words still ring in my ears.  How could it be; in the same school, same class, one friend was willing to do anything possible for me to succeed and the other hated the very thought of being asked for a help!  By the mercy of teachers, I just managed to pass that semester, but those bitter words from that Tamil friend put in me a new kind of determination for the rest of my theological education.  Second semester went without much fanfare and I was managed to get C in average. By the beginning of second year, I was able to talk to some people and even be able to ask questions in the class!  That was a good feeling.  Dr. Ivan Satyabratha once asked me to pray in the class, and as I finished praying, he said, "Brother Bhatta, I like your way of praying and the English accent".  That was a great boost! My academic future was falling in line.

But financially, life was a nightmare.  Coming from a non-AG background and having no one to sponsor, I had to work on campus. My job was making chapatti from 4Am to 7Am.  But that was not how my financial needs were met.  Once, I could not have haircut and a friend made a rude comment about my hair.  Straight away, I went to a nearby bush (we had a dense bush nearby the campus) and asked God to vindicate me from that negative remark and show me the way in which I could cut my hair.  After spending few hours in the bush, I returned to my room; as I opened the door, an envelop was on the floor pushed from under the door.  As I opened it, to my amazement, there was sufficient amount for the whole year for my pocket money.  I was able to remain clean and shaven.  After several months, on one Friday (every Friday was chapel when they took the offering for mission) I went for my morning prayer in the nearby bush and when I came back and by the time I returned, it was already chapel time.  I had the Bible with me but I needed to get back to the room for the offering.  Just before climbing the side staircase of the dorm, I found a one rupee coin on the ground.  I picked up and thought, "Praise God; I do not need to go to my room for offering".  Straight, I went to chapel. SABC's chapel is what I enjoyed and still miss those wonderful times of worship, challenging preaching.  That Friday, as the offering bags were on the way to where I was sitting, I tried to pull that one rupee coin from my pocket.  I tried one and the other pocket as well, but the coin was nowhere to be found and my heart began to pound.  In my life, until then, I had never stopped putting an offering whenever there was an opportunity.  The offering bags came and went past me and I was still looking for that stupid coin.  And the voice of the Spirit hit me so hard.  He said, "Son, did I not meet all your needs for the whole year when you asked me and do you think that I needed that lost coin from someone to put into my offering?"  It was as if someone had struck on my nose with a baseball bat and I was passing out.  They had finished taking the offering and the benediction was made but I was still glued to my seat, asking God to forgive me for my stupidity.  There I promised to God that the next Friday, I will bring all I have and put it into your offering.  The week was so long, I could still hear the voice of the Spirit and finally Friday came and I fulfilled my promise and felt a great leap of faith rising in my heart.  The second year was a success and I had achieved A in most of the subjects averaging A- in the aggregate.  I had learned the secret of financial freedom in life and ministry!

When the third year began, I received a scholarship from Christian endeavor in Bangalore and I did not have to work anymore.  I devoted to read as many books and biographies that I could lay my hands on.  As the result of my reading, English improved greatly, and was able to share my testimony in the chapel and in other places.  I even gave a try to learn guitar.  My relationship with faculty grew deeper.  Dr. A.C. George, the president, became like a father to me.  Every vacation, they left their home to my care.  Rev. Yesudas was another inspiration.  I worked with him to supervise the construction of many of the new buildings in the campus.  Dr. Jacob Cherian was a good friend and I maintained his garden.  Dr. Balasingh was my spiritual hero who had influenced me even before going to SABC.  By the end of that year, I was diagnosed with appendicitis, and had to go through surgery.  Every friend and faculty was wonderful in visiting me in the hospital, but the care of a friend like Neil from Jabalpur, I can hardly forget. When I was discharged from the hospital, the bill shook the ground from under my feet.  The school's regulation was that unless one clears the due, he or she will not be allowed to sit for the final exams.  My name was on the due list posted on the bulletin board because the school had paid my hospital bills and now I had to pay to the school. I had spent enough time in prayer but no answer had come, but the exams did come and I had no way to write the exams and decided to stay back in the room and forfeit the exams.  Fifteen minutes into the exams, the office clerk came to my room and said that the money was sent for my bills, but because the bank delayed, they could not know in time.  I rushed back to my exams!  Until today I have no idea who sent that money, but I haven’t stopped praying for a blessing upon his or her life every time I am reminded of this.

Fourth year, I was given the academic scholarship from the school!  My Christian life had gone from infancy to boyhood in just the matter of three years.  That year, a beautiful but a quiet lady from Manipur came.  For the first quarter of the year, I only admired her from a distance (never even imagined that by the end of that year, I would be asking her to marry me!).  As the year come toward the end, I took a bold step (one has to keep in mind the Indian customs).  With the help of another friend, we were able to go for a date and on the second date I asked if she would like to marry me.  The answer was; if go I to her parents and ask, and then she would.  That was tough!

I graduated with gold medal in the academics and after spending sometime in Nepal, went to Manipur to ask from the parents.  They agreed, and we were engaged in Manipur.  I returned to Nepal and my fiancée to SABC for her M.Div before we could marry.  This is but a brief glimpse into my experience with SABC. To be continued with other schools.