The ladies in Women’s Fellowship go out often to tell other villagers of the hope they’ve found in Jesus. |
“I can’t carry this ministry anymore,” Chatura Pande said to herself. “I am a weak person.” Although she had walked with the Lord more than 35 years and had been helping her missionary husband for several of those years, she didn’t know how she could go on any longer. Her ministry was challenging, but her biggest battle wasn’t outside her doors—it was inside her heart.
Chatura Pande was born in one of the largest cities in Sri Lanka. When she was 5 years old, she started going to Sunday school—even though her parents and four siblings all followed their traditional religion. With no opposition from her parents, she decided to follow Jesus.
Today, Chatura is the wife of pastor Havish Pande and the mother of two children, and they serve the Lord in their busy city. In addition to her role as a wife and mother, Chatura directs the Women’s Fellowship in her region. She also helps her husband as he visits homes to share the love of Christ, coordinates prayer meetings, pastors a church and oversees a children’s ministry. The materialism of their society—marked by shopping malls and passing fads—makes their ministry especially challenging.
On top of being overwhelmed by the weight of the work, Chatura often became discouraged by her own personal failures, and she struggled with negative thinking. Havish upheld his wife through these dark times, giving her the encouragement she needed to continue in ministry. But then, when Chatura attended a seminar for Women’s Fellowship leaders, her life was completely changed.
Two women shared at the seminar, both of whom had followed Jesus and been involved in ministry for many years. Chatura was greatly encouraged through their messages and testimonies.
“I made up my mind to stand up and walk with the mighty power of Jesus,” she remembers. “I realized that I am a unique creation of God, and I need to trust in Him since He has called me to serve Him.”
