Fear Not! Celebrate Loudly!
Bible College graduation ceremony in Haryana
Light in a Dark Place
I recently had the honor of participating in a Bible college graduation in Haryana, India—an event that will stay with me forever. It was not just a ceremony. It was a declaration of faith in a place where faith can cost everything.
Haryana is a region where persecution is not just a possibility—it’s a daily reality. For believers here, choosing Jesus is choosing a harder road. Churches are watched, pastors are harassed, and public gatherings of Christians are considered dangerous.
Yet, in the midst of that, we celebrated.
“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
– 2 Timothy 3:12
Bold and Unashamed
The graduation was held in a discreet location, and I had to be brought in quietly for my own safety and for the protection of those around me. We were cautious, alert—but not afraid. The air carried tension, but also joy. As the graduates marched in, their faces shone with the quiet fire of those who have counted the cost and still said yes.
What struck me most was how loud the celebration was. Worship echoed. Laughter filled the room. The message was clear: We will not be silenced.
“In a place of danger, they did not whisper their faith—they sang it out.”
These graduates weren’t just receiving diplomas. They were stepping into ministry in one of the hardest places to live out the Gospel. Each one represented a beacon of hope, a shepherd for the lost, a leader for the underground church.
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
– Matthew 9:37-38
Feasting and Praying in the Shadow of Risk
After the ceremony, we shared a meal together. Simple food, served with generous hearts. We prayed over the graduates, over their futures, over the churches they will plant, the souls they will reach, and the courage they will need every single day.
Then came the long journey back to New Delhi. Roads stretched through the dark night, but our hearts were still glowing with the joy of what we had just witnessed.
Faith Worth Risking Everything For
What I experienced in Haryana was a reminder that following Jesus isn’t always safe. But it is always worth it. These graduates—our brothers and sisters—are walking into ministry with boldness in a place where boldness costs something real. They aren’t asking for ease. They’re asking for strength.
And we can give them that, through prayer, through support, through telling their stories.
