SINCE JESUS PASSED BY: Testimony of Rev. Ashish Bhatnagar

IMPORTANT: Before you go ahead and read, please note that all that I have shared here is to help someone else in need or someone who has underdone gone such experiences in their life. It is written for the Glory of God. I love my family dearly and we are a united bunch in the love of Jesus.

I was born in a Christian family and spent my childhood in India . I was seven years old when my parents got divorced. At the age of seven, I stood in the witness box along with my younger brother to let the Judge know whom we chose to live with - whether Mom or Dad. The answer was obvious, "We want to live with our Mom", and the judge ordered custody of both boys to their mother. Our family moved from riches to rags. During those years divorce was a big thing in the Indian Society and days of difficulty, times of rejection came from family and friends. I was not a part of fortunate kids in terms of enjoying good material things in life, but I was content to live in whatever situation we were in. Feelings of deprivation or lack of material things did not rule my life. Rather it was being with my Mom and her love that gave me a great joy. Mom taught me one scripture to memorize from my childhood, Psalms 62:8 "….let your expectation be from the Lord" We were always encouraged to expect God to provide, expect anything and everything from the Lord. People get discouraged and disheartened when the expectations are not fulfilled but when we put our hope in the Lord, we will never be ashamed.

After the divorce during the years 1976 and 1977, my brother and I lived with our Mom. It was time of being content with the things that we had. In my wildest dreams, I had never expected that the love and fun shared between two brothers was soon to end. In October 1977, my Dad took away my brother. That was the last I ever saw my brother, I was 8 years old and he was 5. Many responsibilities from a younger age had given me a different level of understanding and maturity as compared to other kids of my age. For the next 23 years, I never knew where my brother was, or what he did in his life. While the story takes a different turn for the next 23 years.

During the late 70's both parents got remarried. My step-Dad loved me a great deal. However, during the initial years we went through many struggles in our relationship. I was insecure and scared within yet I desired to see my Mom happy. The following year my Baby Sister arrived! This was the beginning days of public rejection expressed by my step-grandparents towards me. I was considered the “outsider” in terms of their lineage. I struggle with inner hurt and feelings of rejection. On the other hand God gave me real love for my sister and I enjoyed every opportunity to take care of her as our Parents worked. (I prefer to refer him as my Dad *) He loved me and took care of me to the best of his ability; he imparted wisdom in many areas of my life and encouraged to follow Christ. But deep within my life there was a void. Jesus Christ did not mean anything to me personally. I had no personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I did love God and depended upon Him but lacked a true relationship with Him.

In the year 1981, I was struck with terrible sickness that almost took my life. I was in eighth grade and was out of school for nearly 3 months. After 2 and half months of being horribly sick, I had a visitation of the Lord Jesus Christ. I saw Him standing in the midst of many angels, He smiled at me looking at me. At the same moment I saw as if a ray of light touch came from His presence and touched me. That marked my miraculous recovery. When doctors could not help me, the Lord helped me and healed me. I was able to resume school after three months. On October 13th 1981 , I gave my life to the Lord Jesus Christ and prayed from the depth of my heart and said, "Lord I want to serve You and Follow You, I yield myself to You today." This was the most profound experience in my life and the power of the Holy Spirit filled me. The Lord Jesus Christ became my BEST friend. I would talk to Him about everything; tell Him my fears, hurts, joys and dreams. I would say, Jesus I want to serve YOU! I want to be Your servant! My heart changed, I learnt about the power of forgiveness, brokenness, and was able to forgive others and rise above my lower self-esteem. I recognized that with Jesus I was something and without Him I would be nothing. A deeper level of dependency upon the Lord came within me. My life changed completely. He healed my broken heart, gave me genuine love for others, even those that hurt me and my family. He put it all together, He gave me a brand new song, He picked up the pieces of my broken heart and He made me a winner. Feelings rejection left me forever, inferiority complex left me totally, and joy and confidence filled my heart. 

I received the call of God upon my life to teach, minister, and preach the Word of God when I was 16 years old. I spent several years ministering in different Churches, fellowships, conventions, youth camps, and was actively involved in leading Praise and Worship at  my local Church. God gave me a vision to build the lives of men and women through the Word of God - like Nehemiah, the Wall Builder - build the broken walls of human life. During my walk with the Lord of over 22 years, I have see the LORD do this time and time again.

During the years 1986-87, the Lord opened doors for me to go to Kenya and work there as a Missionary in the remote parts of Kenya . It is beyond the scope of this page to contain everything, however the ministry God entrusted me with began in Kenya in the year 1986. While in Kenya , God did something of lasting value in my life. He granted me boldness to preach and teach God's Word. God imparted the vision within me to preach, teach and equip the Saints. I saw hundreds give their lives to the Lord, repent and be water baptized and receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit. My heart was filled with new boldness and confidence about JESUS. And that joy continues to burn within me today. He loved me first, He accepted me first, and He restored me first! Halleluiah!

In December 1992, the Lord blessed me with a beautiful, loving, God-fearing wife. Through our union in marriage, God has given us 3 handsome boys. 

I worked during those years as a Marketing Manager for a Multi National Information Technology firm in India . The Lord took us to Kuwait from 1993-1997. I worked as a Senior Account Executive / Product Manager and as a family, we were actively involved in teaching and preaching the Word of God in several churches, house groups and taught the Bible at the Vision Bible College for 2 years.

On November 20, 1996 my wonderful step-Dad had a stroke. Twenty Two heart wrenching days I spent with him in the ICU and on December 12, 1996 , he was promoted to glory, to be with the Lord forever. This was a great loss in my personal life. He loved me, gave me the love of a Father, a Man of Faith and Love, whom I love and respect forever. It is beyond the scope of this page to contain everything that I would like to share, however through all that I have been through, I learnt in my life what it means to love even when it hurts the most and forgive others, and overcome the hurts and rejections – infact, I am still learning. I wrote a statement during those years “The Chosen Are Broken & The Broken Are Chosen”

In 1999, both wife and I were ordained into the Pastoral ministry. The LORD led us to start International Family Church of NJ in the year 2000 at our home. Since then the Church has grown with people from different nations who are a part of our Church today. After 14 years of Corporate life and success, the LORD called as a full time Pastor in February 2003.

After the valley comes the mountain, so it happened in the year 2001. I was reunited with my younger brother after 24 years of no contact or any form of communication. The Bible speaks of God remembering Jacob, when he was alienated from Joseph, his beloved son. Thank God for this wonderful miracle and we continue to share loving relationship with each other in our entire family. 

No matter what you are going through today, just believe God and He will see you through! There is a greater purpose in life and run for that purpose and let the Lord God be glorified. If you have never surrendered your life to the Lord Jesus Christ, then you can do it right now! For Now Is The Time! Today is the Day of Salvation! Just pray a simple prayer and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to be your Lord and let His Blood wash your sins away. For whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved! Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth the LORD JESUS CHRIST! Amen.