Testimony

My name is Vijay Chandrasekar, and I live in Lewis Center, Ohio, with my wife Santhi and our two kids, Nandini and Sai Harshith. We were both raised as Hindus. In November 2012, we moved to Columbus, Ohio. The first time we went to church was for a Christmas event with our friends. Before that, we did not know much about Jesus Christ. At the time, we didn't realize we were a blessed family chosen by God, as it says in John 15:16: "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…"

Soon, we started feeling that God was leading us, even though we didn't fully understand His plan. Life in Columbus was normal until one and a half years later when we were expecting our baby boy. My wife wasn't happy living in the US and wanted to return to India in April 2014. On July 3, Sai was born in Chennai. Shortly after, I learned that my job would end in September 2014, and I needed to move to New Jersey. I took the job, but things at work were tough for me. Eventually, I resigned and found a job in Des Moines, Iowa. Looking back, I now see that all of this was part of God's plan.

In January 2015, I started my new job in Des Moines. My wife and kids came back to join me, and everything seemed to be going well, both professionally and personally. During this time, God blessed us with a wonderful friend and his great family. After two years and four months, I learned that my contract would end in April 2017. Losing my project made me lose confidence, and I felt very alone. But then, that brother came to my house, shared God's word with us, and reminded me that we were not alone. We decided to start going to church in Des Moines, and with God's grace, I found a new job shortly after.

I had to move to Buffalo, New York, for a year, but unfortunately, I lost my project again. After some struggles, I found a new project and returned to Columbus, Ohio. A sister from Columbus, introduced by my friend in Des Moines, prayed for our family. She said we would buy a house in Columbus and start a business one day.

We didn't know this would happen in 2021. During tough times, we struggled financially and borrowed money from friends and credit cards. I called my brother in Des Moines whenever I felt lost, and he advised me not to go to any church blindly but to find a good one with his prayers. Throughout those hard times, he and the sister kept encouraging us with God's words. They encouraged us to write down our wishes in a notebook, but we had no idea what God had in store for us.

A few months later, my wife started a business in Columbus, and we worked hard to get our lives back on track. Our business prospered, but I decided to change employers and lost touch with church, returning to temples instead. Even though I had forgotten Jesus, He did not forget us. Everything we wrote down in our notebook started coming true. My new job paid better than I expected. By God's grace, we achieved our dream of buying a house in the US in 2021. We booked our new home in Lewis Center, and on May 15, 2022, just one day before my birthday, our dream came true. God was blessing us all along, but we hadn't realized it.

Things were going well until early 2023 when I lost my project again due to market conditions. I faced tough times without much support. But again, my brother from Des Moines reached out with God's words to encourage me. With God's help, we started a new business in Ohio, and my wife Santhi handled everything well, helping us recover from our financial loss.

Things were going well until early 2023 when I lost my project again due to market conditions. I faced tough times without much support. But again, my brother from Des Moines reached out with God's words to encourage me. With God's help, we started a new business in Ohio, and my wife Santhi handled everything well, helping us recover from our financial loss.

On Saturday morning May 25, 2024, I was so frustrated, and I was sitting in my backyard. I just opened Google on my mobile and saw that there is a Tamil bible in my Google search, and it took me to Psalm 22 on my phone. I read the verses below, Psalm 22: 1. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?

2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.

3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.

5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.

7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;

8 "He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him! "

9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother's breasts.

10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God.

11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.

12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me;

13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;

15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.

16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—

17 I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me;

18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

19 But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!

20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog!

21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!

22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:

23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!

24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.

25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him.

26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.

28 For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.

29 All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.

30 Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;

31 they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.

I was a bit confused when I read the verses, but then I got a call from my friend inviting me out for some coffee. We ended up chatting for more than two hours, and it really lifted my spirits. When I got home, my wife answered a call from one of the brothers in CLF. He shared some news about a job opportunity in Columbus. Although it might not be the best fit, we thought it could be helpful for now. My wife mentioned that I was nearby, and CLF Brother and I got connected on the phone. I shared my situation with him, and he kindly told me that this job may not be the right one for me. He said, "Remember, nothing seems ideal now, but God has a wonderful plan for your life." He assured me that God would bring a right opportunity my way and asked to stay in Faith in Jesus Christ.

In that moment, he prayed for me and invited me to visit CLF church in Dublin, If I wish to. I told him that if I start attending the church, I have complete faith that I would land a job within three weeks, just like I had before. I wholeheartedly believe that God has always taken care of me, and I am hopeful for what's to come!

As per the God's plan, we decided to go to CLF Church in Dublin on May 26 during Memorial Day. It was one of the best days of my life. We met very good loving friends and family there who care about each other. We started hearing the words of God every week, and one of the best Tamil churches I ever went to. After I started going to CLF, the third week as I said earlier my job was confirmed. With God's grace again, I started seeing good things happening in my personal and professional life. In my day-to-day life, I realized that I changed my habits and lots of good things happened every week due to the God's word we learned every week. I liked CLF because I felt the presence and guidance of God through the word of God and felt as if it is my home and the people who came there were all my family, and they are caring for each other and helping each other.

During a difficult time in my life, I often wondered why things were happening the way they were and why God wasn't saving me from my struggles. One day, I found my answer. I realized that if I had received my project sooner, I would have continued making the same mistakes as before. Once I got the project, I understood that God had a better plan for me. He wanted to teach me and bring me back to Jesus Christ, as my brother from Des Moines prayed for.

God led us to a wonderful Tamil church where we could learn more about Him and enjoy our new life in Jesus. I am truly happy to be part of CLF, to meet our brothers and sisters, and to hear inspiring sermons each week. Until October 27, 2024, I didn't understand why things weren't going as I hoped. But on that day, while listening to a sermon filled with God's wisdom and the speaker's personal story about God's guidance, everything changed for him. In that moment, I realized how God had planned my life and brought me back to Jesus through CLF.

"As it says in Psalm 32:8, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." When God has a plan for your life, He opens doors that no one can close, placing you in the best situations you could never have imagined.

- God has a plan for our life

The scripture reminds us that "God opens doors that no man can shut, and He shuts doors that no man can open." God is our protector, and no one can stop us from fulfilling our purpose. Obstacles cannot prevent us from what God has chosen for us. I give all glory to Jesus Christ for His love and guidance in my life.