Greatest Passion
K.P. Yohannan shares about his newfound freedom as an individual and his encounters with others, including a German girl, while navigating cultural barriers in India.
K.P. Yohannan shares his journey of self-discovery after leaving Singapore, transitioning from viewing himself as part of a group to embracing his individuality and personal commitment to God. His passion for reaching the unreached villages of India remains strong, even as he travels extensively for ministry. During a training conference in Madras, he encounters a German girl whose faith captivates him, prompting thoughts of marriage despite cultural norms that discourage interaction between single men and women. He reflects on the qualities he desires in a wife while acknowledging the traditional practice of arranged marriages in India. Ultimately, he remains focused on his mission, trusting God to guide his future.
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I left Singapore newly liberated to think of myself in terms of an individual for the first time. Up until that time--like most Asians--I always had viewed myself as part of a group, either my family or a Gospel team. Although I had no idea what special work God would have for me as an individual, I began thinking of doing my "personal best" for Him. The seeds for future change had been planted, and nothing could stop the approaching storms in my life.
While my greatest passion was still for the unreached villages of the North, I now was traveling all over India.
On one of these speaking trips in 1973, I was invited to teach at the spring Operation Mobilization training conference in Madras (now Chennai). That was where I first saw the attractive German girl. As a student in one of my classes, she impressed me with the simplicity of her faith. Soon I found myself thinking that if she were an Indian, she would be the kind of woman I would like to marry some day.
Once, when our eyes met, we held each other's gaze for a brief, extra moment, until I self-consciously broke the spell and quickly fled the room. I was uncomfortable in such male-female encounters. In our culture, single people seldom speak to each other. Even in church and on Gospel teams, the sexes are kept strictly separate.
Certain that I would never again see her, I pushed the thought of the attractive German girl from my mind. But marriage was on my mind. I had made a list of the six qualities I most wanted in a wife and frequently prayed for the right choice to be made for me.
Of course, in India, marriages are arranged by the parents, and I would have to rely on their judgment in selecting the right person for my life partner. I wondered where my parents would find a wife who was willing to share my mobile lifestyle and commitment to the work of the Gospel. But as the conference ended, plans for the summer outreach soon crowded out these thoughts.
Sermon Outline
- I. My Newfound Freedom
- A. Leaving Singapore and viewing myself as an individual
- B. Thinking of doing my 'personal best' for God
- II. My Greatest Passion
- A. The unreached villages of the North
- III. A New Encounter
- A. Meeting the attractive German girl at the Operation Mobilization conference
- B. Being impressed by her simplicity of faith
- IV. Cultural Barriers
- A. The discomfort of male-female encounters in Indian culture
- B. The separation of sexes in church and on Gospel teams
Key Quotes
“I began thinking of doing my 'personal best' for Him.” — K.P. Yohannan
“If she were an Indian, she would be the kind of woman I would like to marry some day.” — K.P. Yohannan
Application Points
- We should strive to do our 'personal best' for God, even in the midst of cultural challenges.
- Our passions and desires can be used as a catalyst for spiritual growth and change.
- God can use even the most mundane encounters to shape our lives and prepare us for the future.