I HEARD THE CALL OF GOD….-         Bro.V.Devadoss

 “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained the prophet into the nations’ Jeremish 1:5

My family

I was born on February 23 1960 into a Christian family in the prosperous city of Sivakasi which is also known as ‘Mini Japan’ my paternal grandfather Mr.Jebamani was a teacher and he played a great part in the construction of Ragland Memorial Church and in other missionary activities. My father Mr.Vedamani was a Health Inspector and a missionary and was involved in Church activities and in the Organisation of the choir. My maternal grandparents Mr.Joseph and Mrs. Amudha followed the footsteps of Mr. Moses Muthumalai who was a great IMS preacher amidst the tribal people. My mother Mrs. Joy who led a spiritual life was known for her benevolence.

 My Youth

 I was lucky to have born into a family with a good background. But my mother reached the abode of God when I was just 40 days old. I was unfortunate not to have experienced mother’s love. I was brought up by my step mother. During my teens I was sunk in materialistic pleasures and I went far away from God. This annoyed my father and he sent me out of the house in 1975 at the age of 16. My college life too came to an end. Many pitied me, but there was no one to take care of me. I led the life of a named doing odd jobs to earn for only bread

 An Illusive Life.

 My eldest brother sent me to work in a whole sales shop. Initially it was a difficult work for me.

But gradually I learnt to endure everything with patience. I was able to make progress and earn money. The worldly life did not give me the peace and love that I yearned for. If at all anyone loved me it was for my money and my sincere work. I used to go up to the terrace and cry out ‘Mother! Mother!’ When I saw people living happily as a family, my heart would yearn for such a life. Fed up and totally depressed, I decided to put an end to my life by consuming poison. But that too was a failure. People at my place of work also started hating me.

A New Life

 When I was roaming about aimlessly in Coimbatore. Mrs. Packiam and her son Mr.Moses Samson advised me and spoke to me tenderly. They also asked me to look after their business. Even then I did not enjoy peace at heart. I was taken to Pas.Joel Anantharaz’s  (Apostalic Prayer House) house for the prayer service on a Sunday. I looked around amused. Almost everyone there were college students, professors and people belonging to high ranks I was seated in a corner then God’s words came to me. ‘The Calvary love is much greater than the love of the world. Weeping, I prayed to God for His love and I got the vision of the crucifixion. All my weakness disappeared and when everyone was praising God, I heard a voice, ‘Devadoss’. Who is that Devadoss? I thought that it was somebody else who was being called. But I was filled with the Holy Spirit at that time. My past life and my future (one that I am leading now) were revealed to me. God prophesied that I would lead a particular tribe of people.

 My Determination

 I led a spiritual life under Pas.Joel Anandraz. I reserved my missionary life for the future when I earned a lot of money. Two years passed by. I had started a new business and in October 1981, I participated in the Gideon camp conducted by the FMPB. God spoke to me for the second time. In the camp people spoke about the good will preached by Mr.Ragland of England nearly 130 years ago in Sivakasi. He had undergone many hardships. When he spoke about God’s word, people used to throw cowdung, stones and rotten fruits at him. He would tell them, ‘Throw what ever you want, but also listen to what I have to say. He spread the word of the Lord amidst non-believers. One day he Vomitted blood and collapsed. History says that he sacrificed his life on Sivakasi soil. I have heard that CSI Ragland Memorial Church is the biggest of all memorial churches. This incident touched me deeply. God spoke to me through this. He said, “Ragland left the world as a wheat grain and moulded you as a wheat grain. Will you dedicate yourself.  Since foreign missionaries cannot survive in this nation of over 90 million people, you should be Ragland. God also asked me “Do you love me? Will you take care of my sheep?” I accepted God’s words and underwent Bible training through FMPB from 1981 to 1985. God made use of me in Utter Pradesh and in Bihar.

 My Blessed family Life

 On July 08, 1985, God united me in marriage with Miss.Vahitha an IMS missionary in Orissa. A few days after our wedding, when we were in prayer, God showed a vision of us preaching amidst people with bows and arrow living in mountains. Moreover on July 14th 1985, when we had been to attend a wedding, God confirmed his plan for us and blessed us. It is said that there is a woman behind success of every man. I thank God for having given me my wife who is a good companion to me in my missionary work, a good wife to me and a good mother to our three children.

 Preaching through IMS

God asked us in the vision whether we were ready to serve in the midst of the Bhil Tribe. We accepted God’s call and confirmed him prophecy. For five years we worked in Thuthiya in Limkata Taluk in Gujarat where there were no Christians. God gave us the grace to build four churches and lead almost 1000 souls to His path. Glory be to God.

 Call to execute God’s plan: 

God gave me the plan to lead 78 lakh Bhil people to His path in July 1990. Initially my wife did not accept this plan. I just told her that the Lord who spoke to me would speak to her in her prayer. A few days later, God reveled his plan to her and together we dedicated our lives to the service of God. With Jhalod as the Head Quarters, we planned to begin our service.

 For six months we had to undergo a special training for socio-economic improvement programme. Mr.C.B.Samuel, Director, Efficor Organisation, New Delhi encouraged and helped us in this, through his Organisation.

 By God’s grace we got ten years of missionary training through FMPB, IMS and Efficor. I am grateful to these organizations and the brothers working there. I thank them whole heartedly in Jesus name.

 Our Dedication.

 Missionary John preached the word of the Lord amidst cannibals who lived in the pacific Islands. In his short life-span, he was able to win thousands of souls for God. This is what is inscribed on his grave.

 ‘When this Missionary landed here, there was no Christian.

But when he died, there is no heathen’

 True to these words, he had succeeded in transforming the lives of all non-believers there. After reading the biography of Mr.John, my wife and I made up our minds to convert the whole of the Bhil Tribe to Christianity before we reach the abode of God. We have dedicated our lives towards this end and are working sincerely to achieve our aim. Glory be to God. 

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