It was pitch dark and I was trying to follow my teenage son on some very narrow streets of Chennai, India after his late night tuition classes.  There was no choice other than to be on the narrow path, as there was a construction block in the usual route.  He was on his bicycle pedaling as fast as he can and I was trying to catch up with him without scratching the sides of my car. Suddenly, as I came to  a broader well lit  intersection and I had to stop though the roads were empty.    I was at my steering wheel staring at this beautifully lit building with tall pillars, with the name that said  RZIM Life Focus Society. My first thought was ‘What is this fine building doing in the middle of Mugappair? How come I didn’t know about it living in Mugappair for the last decade?’  I had to take a right turn at this junction to keep up with my son but I was certain somehow sure this was some society that helped educate disabled people.  I put a virtual reminder in my head to check it out later.

The following was a busy week despite the fact that I had recently quit my full time job as a medical educator in a popular university. Being a single mom and bread winner this wasn’t the easiest decision even though it was a divine instruction to do so, trusting Him alone.  My quest of knowing God intimately was on the rise, so much so I was speaking to a friend after church the following Sunday,  at an intersection on the road right below our little church, telling her that I should discipline myself to attend a Bible class or something to know God and His plans for my life.  She immediately said, “You should go and enquire at RZIM and directed me saying “Just go straight from here and take a right. It is walkable distance”.

Next day, I took that appointed right turn to come and stand in front of the very same building I had seen that night.  Walked up to the office and met a soft spoken gentleman and enquired of him about any classes beginning this summer.  I don’t know why but I mentioned to him why I quit my job arguing with my boss ‘Whatever you owe the Government you need to pay the Government and whatever you owe God, you owe God. And whatever remains is yours to keep’.  He was very kind and explained what RZIM stood for ‘Ravi Zacharias International Ministry’.  Then he must have heard the one line that he had never heard before, when I  uttered “ Who is Ravi Zacharias?”.

He began browsing his phone  after giving me a surprise look and gave me an You tube link to one of  Ravi Zacharias’ talk . I listened to the tall guy right at the desk , a few intro sentences and then skipped around to the middle where he started talking about an anecdote in the Bible “Should we pay Caesar?” and   Jesus mentioning “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”.  “Now that was not a coincidence!”, I thought and was sure in my spirit that it was a God incidence happening in my life!  I signed up for an apologetic course (apologetically for not knowing the ‘Ravi Zacharias’) that was occurring twice a year.  What are the odds but I was just in time because the course was starting the following week!

The insides of the building was more beautiful than outside but there was a sense of serenity and peace as I walked to my first session.  I was among the oldest in the group whereas the rest were pastors and enthusiastic teenagers who came from all over India carefully handpicked to do this course amongst many who had applied and waited for months.  As the introductions began, everyone of them mentioned how they learned so much from Ravi Zacharias books and teachings and wanted to be a part of this mission.  I felt really dumb to stand up and say that I came here without even knowing Ravi Zacharias.  The next two weeks transformed my life because God was slowly revealing the purpose of my being to serve Him and honor Him with my talents.  Not only did I learn a lot but I met some of the most learned and smart folks serving God humbly in those premises. These teachers came from all corners of India, their primary mission was to travel and teach God’s people, to plant the seeds for His Kingdom and lead those in darkness and bring them under the Light of the Savior.  One of the tutors gave a powerful sermon one day at my church that touched me to use my talents for God.  It encouraged me to write my testimonies as a blog ‘June and Jesus’ with one of my articles (Fearfully & Wonderfully made)  getting published in RZIM’s magazine introducing me to the world of writing my stories with Jesus as I tread through life’s challenges. It has blessed many non believers and I had the honor of sharing a powerful testimony at RZIM’s 10^th anniversary in India.   Since graduating the apologetic course, the Lord has guided me to bring so many lives into the saving power of Jesus Christ.  The last day at RZIM (2016) as they clicked a group picture in the front of the very same building I was gazing just a weeks ago from a dark road, I realized that it was indeed a Learning Centre for the disabled who floated aimlessly through life without knowing the very purpose for which God created them.   It was a special click at an ordained moment in my life!  Thank you Ravi for planting the seeds for the harvest.

The following incidence was the second instance where the introduction to Ravi Zacharias was clearly not an incidental, accidental event in my life. This was several years later.  I had bought some of Ravi’s books and had put it in my book shelf hoping that someday I would get to it. One day,  I was rushing out the door to see a young couple in the hospital whose newborn was struggling for life in the neonatal ICU.  I hardly knew the couple but I was privileged to help the couple during these rough times.  It was a very hard and trying time for this young couple who recently moved to Chennai with  two beautiful little daughters.  This time it was a boy who was born healthy but was immediately taken to the ICU with respiratory distress soon after delivery as he had aspirated some amniotic fluid during birth.  The young mom had not even held the baby after the C section.  The father and I would stand outside the glass doors of the ICU as his tiny chest cage would heave up and down for a single breath. He soon worsened so much so, they had to put him on a ventilator.  The couple were believers but in times like these it takes a lot to stay in faith trusting the One, who blessed them with a son.  They had named him Nathan even while he was in the womb to pray over him as He was forming inside her womb. As my hand went to reach for the door knob, glancing at the book shelf, I clearly heard His voice “Pick up the book’.  It was the “The Grand Weaver – How God shapes us through the events of our life” – a book by Ravi Zacharias.  I felt guilty I hadn’t read it myself but I took it obediently to give it to little one’s father who was in the hospital almost the whole day.   I dropped their lunch and the book and drove off to a meeting.  Nathan wasn’t doing well and the doctors had given up hope.  I could see the Father struggling with putting up a strong face on the outside while a thousand questions bombarded him on the inside, questioning his faith, his prayers and the dilemma as to  what he would answer his little girls when he got back home.  That evening I got an excited call from the Father.  “Sister, did you bring the book on purpose? “.  I did not understand what he was talking about. “ Did you see the Preface? Ravi Zacharias had dedicated this book ‘To Sarah, Naomi, and Nathan our beloved children.  Three beautiful tapestries woven by God .  Finish well, Sweethearts.’  “I was praying for God to speak to me and here it was – two daughters and Nathan. That is a sign from God. We are going to be a family with 3 kids and Nathan is going to live!”, he concluded.   I was dumbfolded what a little act of obedience can bring forth such joy, hope and peace to someone on the brink of giving up. Nathan is a handsome young 2 year old spoiled by his sisters!  This father of three, hadn’t heard of Ravi Zacharias either.

Today as I learn that doctors at MD Anderson have given up hope on Ravi Zacharias my thoughts go back a couple of years to the divine God incidences in life where God used Ravi,  one of His beloved, to encourage and bring light to those who haven’t even heard of him.  The past two days you have been constantly on my mind, Ravi though I am in India and you are in Atlanta. I am spontaneously triggered to pray for you several times a day by a Divine Force I can’t explain. I do know many around the world are praying for you as I write this.  I know you are on God’s mind too during this time of trial and just as you wrote to your kids, you are going to ‘ finish well’ this race carved out for you as per God’s plan for your life!

A special note to Ravi …..

Dear Ravi, you have touched the world in ways you may never know, people you have never met, only because you obeyed and honored the burden God placed in your heart. The task you undertook was not easy – standing as a representative for Christ and His Word in this chaotic and confused world.  Your legacy will continue to live because He lives through you.  I had the honor of meeting you and shaking your hand at an AFT organized Easter service a few years ago. I felt I touched a Holy man, a representative of God himself. You shared an amazing message that day, when God reiterated to me again my purpose on earth through you.  No words to thank you or the God who introduced me to you!   You have set up an army for God that will continue to bring people to the Light of the Knowledge of the Christ the Savior and I believe this entire workforce is orchestrated by God himself from the very beginning.  All of this was possible because of your obedience to His call at 17 years in a hospital on hearing the Word ‘Because I live, you also will live’( John 14:19).  This holds true even now as you battle this rare cancer because His word never returns void. My love and prayers to you, your lovely wife Margie, who is the backbone to your exemplary work for Christ, your kids and grandkids.

Sending love & prayers your way,

Dr. Mary June