Tragedy In India - Sister Gracy Passes Away - Old School Baptist

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Re 21:4

Primitive Baptist

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Tragedy in India

On Saturday, May 11, 2008 Bro. Stephen, pastor of the Regadahalli PBC, and his wife, Sister Gracy, were involved in a serious motorcycle accident. It was raining and since there was no place for shelter they pressed on. Apparently, a rock hidden in the water on the road caused Bro. Stephen to loose control and they crashed causing both to be knocked unconscious. For more than half an hour they were lying on the road in the rain without any help. Finally, someone found them and took them into their home and called the ambulance. When Bro. Stephen regained consciousness, he was able to call Bro. Guna and inform him of what happened. Then they were both transported to Salem Medical College Hospital. Bro. Stephen's injuries were relatively minor and he is expected to make a full recovery. But Sister Gracy's injuries were very serious and she was placed on life support.

Sister Gracy remained on a ventilator until Sunday evening when a CT scan was taken. Apparently the scan showed no signs of any brain wave activity and the doctors, believing there was no hope of recovery, advised Bro. Stephen to take her home rather than continuing to spend the large amounts of money on the hospital for the ventilator and medicines. But after being discharged from the hospital, she began to breathe again and was brought back to the hospital by the same ambulance and the doctors began treating her again. However, there was no hope and after an hour, early in the morning of Monday, May 12, she expired.

Her body was then moved to the church building for the people to pay their respects with all of the Primitive Baptist Preachers and Church members present for her funeral which started at 2:00 PM with the burial at 3:00 PM. During this time the Christians sang and preached the word to the non-Christians (Hindus).

At the time of burial, there was another problem they faced from the local villagers. In the Regadhalli village this was the first Christian burial ever. Their church does not possess any burial ground for the Christians. So, the Hindus would not allow them to bury the body in their cemetery. After a long argument, a small place was allocated for the burial with a condition to not use their burial ground any more in the future. And the Christians agreed to purchase a piece of burial ground for the church for future use.

A condolence meeting has been planned to be held in the church on May 22nd, 2008. If any one wishes to talk to Bro. Stephen, you may call him on his cell phone number. +91-9788957008. We will certainly be comforted by your consoling message.

Bro. Stephen is left a widower with two young children and understandably heart broken at loosing his wife. He has also been under physical persecution from members of his own village. Please remember him, his children and the Regadahalli Church in your prayers. I was blessed to meet Sister Gracie during my trip to India in April and remember her for the coffee she served us and the sweet smile and obvious joy of the Lord in her life. We can be thankful she has gone to be with the Lord, even as we sorrow for those who are left behind.

5/14/2008