2008 Woodie Awards
Engaging Crisis
Students seek to help imprisoned minister by making others aware
By: Erica Pittman
Issue date: 4/5/06 Section: News
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Staff Writer
North Greenville students Nikki Clifton, sophomore Christian studies, and Amanda Rogers, junior intercultural studies, set up an information table addressing the crisis in India at Engage Tuesday, March 28. Dr. Samuel Thomas, president of Hopegivers International and an honorary graduate from North Greenville University, was arrested in Rajasthan, India March 16.
According to an e-mail update sent out last week by Shelley Thomas of Hopegivers International, Dr. Thomas remains in good spirits, even after three weeks of interment. The e-mail included prison letters from Dr. Thomas, "I praise God that for the last 12 days we had 24 devotions from God's word with various policemen. I am doing my best to take advantage of every opportunity."
The students wanted to make people more aware of the current situation in India. "We wanted to set up the table on behalf of the orphans and other Indians in need because of their persecution," said Clifton. "I wanted to help as much as possible by using the table to get the word out for prayer for them."
The e-mail also included what Thomas cited as the main reasons for his arrest.
"I am not at all ashamed of the prison bars, sleeping on the floor, eating prison meals and being treated like a criminal. What an honor to suffer for His name sake," said Thomas. "If you could only see that in the last 13 days I have been going daily to the court where all kinds of people come. I even saw many radicals who came everyday. Because of your prayers the Lord has kept His angels busy."
"Of course sincere prayer for God's will is important," said Clifton. "Sending any money possible to the Hopegivers International organization will help more than you know. What may seem like a little to us will go an extremely long way there. Our $1 is equal to 47-50 rupees there - keep that in mind. Also spread the word about what God is doing with the nations. If it's a burden it is because God has put it there."
"As long as I am serving Jesus, He'll not allow me to beg to the government to give us money to feed the children of the King. I am reminded from God's word that I have never seen the righteous beg for bread and I know that my Savior owns the cattle on a thousand hills," said Thomas. "God is still on the throne and He will remember His own."