Deepak Rastogi
Highly educated and very well placed in his career, Deepak Rastogi had a physique, which was perfectly described by Ernest Hemingway in his novel, The Old Man and The Sea, as a man who was ‘thin and gaunt with deep wrinkles’. The Indian version of the character, Deepak, endowed with all the above, had bespectacled sunken eyes and sported a beard like that of a ‘billy goat’. His bodily presence was weak but his speech was weighty and powerful. By nature, he would go to the extent of expressing his happiness with small chuckles and always stop short of a hearty laughter. During discussions, one would find him intently staring into empty space, which, in turn, would lead him to a philosophical explanation of the matter. Deepak was a friend, guide and philosopher to all his simple hearted congregants, who strived hard to follow the lead of the spirit. He in turn afforded them the protection like that of a firewall from carnal-minded outside forces. He was a small man with big dreams. His associates would flock around him as if around a Guru, and his adversaries would keep themselves at arm’s length for fear of consenting with him per force of his spiritual explanations, put up in a very literary way and, at times, beyond their comprehension. Fondly known as ‘Brother Deepak’, in his church circle, he spoke chaste Hindi in a Shakespearean way and conversed in Queens English with an Indian accent.
Deepak was a very good musician with mastery in playing a number of instruments and a voice that somehow seemed to echo from the space above and travel back to the listener, penetrating the very dividing line of soul and spirit. Justin’s association with him had stood the test of a few summers. That evening, Justin, with his wife and two sons, was driving down to preach in Deepak’s Fellowship meeting, held every Sunday evening on the open terrace of his house. The evening sky on that Sunday in July was heavy with dark clouds and lightening striking at regular intervals. On the road, every clap of thunder would force people to stare at the threatening clouds above and quicken the scramble to reach their abode. The sky witnessed stray crows, which were late in flight to roost in the tree of their choice, now shooting down with urgency from one tree to another, so as not to be caught in the imminent downpour.
Once at Brother Deepak’s place, Justin found most of the active members in a frenzy preparing to face the inevitable heavy downpour. Pearl looked at Justin to assess his reaction but seeing his composed exterior, she drew confidence to herself and without a word exchanged, she knew the storm would pass and they would experience God’s goodness that evening.
During the meeting, at each rumble and grumble of the clouds accompanied by the howling easterly wind, the congregants that assembled on the open terrace would flinch and steal a quick look at the clouds above. However, the unwavering confidence, displayed by Deepak and Justin, who were leading the prayer meeting, raised the bar for others also and soon enough they all started feeling comfortable in the face of the continued inclement weather. Braving the weather defiantly, the meeting ended with prayers offered for various needs.
Before departing, Justin inquired about the wellbeing of Deepak’s mother and was told that she was sick and was in a room downstairs. They went down to meet and pray for her. At the very first sight of her, Justin recoiled within himself but quickly steadied his steps. The appearance of the skin on her forearm was like that of the bark of a tree and Justin came to understand that it was due to an advanced stage of eczema that she had. Such things always repulsed Justin, as by nature, he could not behold such a sight. However, at that time, Justin overcame his initial shock and stepped forward to pray by laying his hands on Deepak’s mother. The group prayed fervently to God to stretch forth His hand and heal the sick of such a formidable looking disease.
Healed
God was blessing Justin with mighty words and the congregation was benefiting by it in their daily life. People were growing in spiritual understanding; the name of their church had become well known in the Christian circle of the city of Delhi.
It was more than three weeks when he had gone to preach in Deepak’s church when he received a call from him.
‘Brother Justin’, said Deepak from the other side.
‘Yes’, he said, answering Deepak’s call.
‘Brother, there is some good news. My mother has healed completely. The scales on her arm are falling off and new skin is appearing in its place’.
‘Praise the Lord, brother! God is honoring you as a minister of His word by taking away the sickness of your mother’.
Believers in the sister churches joyfully received the news, for Deepak was a well-known minister.
Such incidents were on the rise and as a result, many new members were coming to the fold of Delhi Christian Fellowship group that had grown to six branches in the city of Delhi.
Learning God’s will
There was a woman, a very devout believer who was also a committed member of Justin’s church and was sick for some time. After detailed medical diagnosis, news came that she had breast cancer. Justin, with the church prayer group, prayed for her continuously. However, due to her deteriorating medical condition, the doctor advised for immediate surgery followed by a long spell of chemotherapy. In the long run of his ministry, this incidence made Justin accept the will of the Lord, making him more humble. He learnt many phases of God’s mercy that manifested in various forms, which were healing as answer to prayers, miraculous healing, gift of wellbeing, provisions and sometimes even the absence of an answer to the prayers. Justin was learning that God was sovereign and has a plan and purpose for every life that many a times is beyond the comprehension of human mind.
All such experiences helped Justin to understand the areas where God was using him more visibly, as compared to the areas where he learnt just to wait upon Him. He was also learning to completely lean upon God.