Oct. 1, 2019 

Dear Beloved in Christ: 

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

The name Ranu Mondal may not be familiar to you - at least not yet. Ranu was a homeless Christian who made her living singing songs on a platform in a railway station at Ranahat, India. In an interview, Ranu spoke about her life performing at the railway station, receiving gifts of food or money for her singing. 

This summer, her life was completely transformed by the actions of 26-year-old Atindra Chakraborty, who stopped to listen to her and recorded what he heard.  

He posted the video on social media, and it went viral. It changed Ranu’s life completely. In the words of this modern-day Samaritan, this is how it happened: 

"I was hanging out with my friends at a tea stall on platform No 6. A Rafi song was playing in the radio aloud. Suddenly I heard the lady humming to the tune, as she sat on the platform floor. I asked her if she could sing something for us. She sang a song and I recorded it on my mobile. We were surprised how melodious she was." (From a story on the Newshunts24 website; read more)

The rest is history. Ranu was invited by a Bollywood producer to sing her first Bollywood song. She is no longer homeless. She's being paid for her talent, and has reunited with her estranged daughter.   

Friends, countless people had passed by Ranu. They might have tossed her coins or food, but because one person took a real interest - stopped and listened to her - that engagement changed her life and world for the better.

Himesh Reshammiya, the Bollywood producer who invited her to share her talent; those who looked beyond her appearance, religion, and status in society were all important parts of this success story, but it started with the act of just one Good Samaritan. 

As we celebrate World Communion Sunday on Oct. 7, each and every one of us has the opportunity to be that Good Samaritan and spark change in the world through our giving.

May I prayerfully request that you, in prayer and self-reflection, read the Newshunts24 article linked above, as well as some of these stories about the impact of World Communion Sunday on the lives of international students (click the link, then scroll down). 

It is my hope and prayer that we will all be the modern-day Samaritans that God wants us to be. 

I would like to add that as your temporal leader, I fully honor the decisions made by our 2019 Annual Conference regarding using Conference reserves.

However, as your spiritual leader, I am saddened to hear people question why we should give to the Black College Fund, Africa University Fund, and World Service Fund.  

As a descendent of people who received the gospel from missionaries many years ago and from my last visit to India this summer, I know personally what a difference our giving makes.

I implore us to set aside worldly concerns and disagreements, and to remember that we are connected to all of the Ranus of this world - whether they live across the globe or in our own community. Let us do what we are commanded to do and be the hands, feet, and heart of Christ. 

 
In Christ’s love, 

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar