More Pastor Then I’ll Ever Be
Let me introduce you to Bishal Barik.
This kid grabbed my heart from the moment I met him. Maybe it’s because he’s 8 like my oldest or maybe it’s his contagious smile, but we instantly hit it off. Bishal is a student at the school we’ve started in the Khalpar slum.
His mother abandoned him the day he was born and another family took him in. There were complications with his birth which have left Bishal battling issues with his legs. He walks with a limp and is often in pain after a day of playing outside. He’s in desperate need of physical therapy but obviously that’s just not a reality in his situation. The couple who took him in are both employed and combined make just over one dollar a day.
You’ll have to trust me when I say Bashil is a special kid. When I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up he quickly responded, “I want to be a pastor.” I said, “Why do you want to be a pastor, Bashil?” He said, “Well, because I Iove Jesus.” And boy does he ever! This kid has Jesus written all over him.
Despite his physical hardships and extreme poverty he simply loves anyone and everyone who comes in his path.
His laughter is a sweet sound in a sea of despair.
His kindness is a light in deep darkness.
His joy is a miraculous contradiction in a hopeless slum.
While Bashil dreams of one day being a pastor he doesn’t even realize he’s more pastor than I’ll ever be.
Matthew 22: 37-40
Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.”
How can you love God and people better today?
Powerful story and I believe that God will use him and bless all those who have contributed to his being who he is becoming in Christ.
Thanks for sharing that!
.-= Jim F.´s last blog ..Frivolous Friday =-.
Amazing! This really touched my heart today. I needed to hear this
Praying for you all in India and for the people you meet.
He is so beautiful. What a precious spirit.
That just messed me up in the best way. I pray that lives continue being touched.
.-= Michael´s last blog ..Why I am in the Ministry =-.
One of my fav posts from your trip so far…
When I was his age everybody told me I would be a good pastor so that’s what I thought I had to become. It sounded boring to me.
Now that I am older I don’t see that way anymore.
Yeah, that kid is seems just a bit deeper than me.
.-= David Knap´s last blog ..Tim Tebow and Freedom of Speech =-.
and me as well David!
This really touched me…praying for your work and for all you encounter there today.
.-= joyce´s last blog ..Coffee With the Neighbors =-.
Thanks Pete—needed that this morning. You have a very discerning spirit. That’s what I love about you. Be blessed! Nameste!
Nameste!
You can tell Bashil is special through the pictures! His smile is contagious! It made me smile this morning big time!
.-= Becky´s last blog ..If I didn’t laugh I would be crying… =-.
Such a sweet boy…thank you for sharing his story!
I love your heart and this made me tear up. Thanks for the story. Glad you are well. Praying you continue to touch those that will touch all our lives. Give Bashil a Bowman hug and take one for yourself. You inspired me today.
Thank you for making my day. What a special, beautiful boy. How wonderful that God brought you two together. I love how I am able to look at his picture and see exactly what you have described. He exudes love. Enjoy your time with him and those other precious angels.
=]
.-= susan´s last blog ..Passion 2010–Day 2 (part one) =-.
Somehow after reading this, any answer I give to your question would just feel shallow. I think the family that took Bashil in is more like Jesus than I’ll ever be.
A family who makes approx. $1 per day, rescues a kid who was born with serious complications. I feel pretty selfish right now.
.-= Nick´s last blog ..Plan B by Pete Wilson =-.
Met a little girl this morning (I’ll post about her later) who was found in a dumpster. A family here in the slum took her in.
I can’t wait to read it. It sounds like there is a natural sense of community amongst the people there.
My heart hurts.
Thank you for bringing TRUE conviction…
Wow Pete, My heart is full and my heart is heavy at the same time. I will pray for you and for him. The amount of passion and love that comes from your words about him tells me that leaving him will be difficult. You know how you get that lump in your throat when you are trying to hold back tears,well I’ve got it. What a lucky boy and a lucky pastor to have your paths cross. I love your heart for people!! Thanks for sharing Pete.
Leaving him will be really tough.
Oh yeah, to answer your question,
Don’t let my selfish, judgemental self miss an opportunity to love the unlovable today.
What a precious boy! Thank you for sharing.
Pete ~ I woke-up today in a complaining spirit… “so much to do today” I thought. Then this post. Bashil”s eyes captivated me and reminded me of my Elijah who too wants to be a pastor. But today Elijah went to a school with running water, food and tons of other resources!
Thank you for your heart for India. Thank you for awakening our hearts to the need that I know I too quickly forget. To much need to much pain! So proud to be a part of Cross Point and its mission to change the world one sweet boy at a time.
How amazing would it be 15 years from now to see Bashil the pastor of our school! We love you friend! Be safe as you go and change the world!
.-= Trish´s last blog ..Marvelous Me Week =-.
Trish, I thought the same thing about Elijah. So funny you mention that.
Pete, I have tears in my eyes, but I am trying not to cry because no one warned me to wear water proof mascara!
Thanks for that story. Love it!
.-= diane´s last blog ..Snow Day =-.
Pete, how can I write him a letter and continue to do so?
I’ll get working on that!
Pete, Thank you for your work in Kolkata. Nine months ago my wife and I adopted an incredible little boy from Kolkata. He is now 22 months old. This post made tears fill my eyes. Hug them all for us! Blessings!
We’ll do it Clint. Thank you so much for adopting one of the precious children.
beautiful.
This kid is so special. His “light” is contagious. Puts so much in perspective.
.-= Jenni Catron´s last blog ..Trying to Smile Too =-.
Wow is all I can say!!!
Halfway around the world, and we’re all praying for him, and thanking Jesus for making such a precious little man.
Thank for sharing him with us, Pete. He’s ministered to us with his smile and heart for Christ!
he’s beautiful!!!
.-= Maureen´s last blog ..Step by Step =-.
I wonder if those with so little are closer to God because they’re not distracted by all the idols we have, keeping us from worshipping Him. How many of us will sit in church this Sunday with our minds focused on the Superbowl party rather than the One who should be our heart’s greatest desire.
.-= katdish´s last blog ..There’s somone I’d like you to meet… =-.
I need to remember that we are called to be a light in the darkness, someplace where we can shine bright.
.-= Lindsey Nobles´s last blog ..A Laundry List of Requests =-.
i wish you could bring them here and we could love and care for them all. very touching and God Bless you all.
I just got goosebumps!
Thanks for sharing, Pete!
You know Pete, what we call fertile ground I am afraid God many times calls barren and what the world looks on as barren God says
Yes without Me it is but with me… Look out.
There are children there that WILL change their world. They WILL spread love in loveless situations and joy in despair not in spite of their situations as a child but because God is now intervening through Crisis of Love in and through their situations. They will know first hand that through Christ all things are possible. Not because it is written in the bible but because He wrote it in the hearts and lives. (get me a mic I’m ready to let er rip)
If that doesn’t give you hope to see His hand in the eyes of those children then for you there just may be no hope. The only hope we all have is in Christ. That’s it. End of sentence, chapter and book. (Somebody pass the plate)
Thanks bro for making the world continue to get smaller and smaller for me. Praise God!
I gotta rest up for second service. Whew!
.-= Harold´s last blog ..Incredible! =-.
Beautiful boy and touching story.
But…
Love, quite frankly, isn’t enough to be a pastor. There is the matter of calling, being equipped, etc. Not that you need to stomp on his dreams right now, but as a pastor it is your job to talk about these things. You’re not doing him favors by saying, “Then do it!”
There’s more to pastoring than that.
A touching story, fortitude, the joy of Christ – these are all wonderful things and we should share these stories and love on these people, but a touching story doesn’t replace the need for giftings, calling, training, etc.
.-= Jesse´s last blog ..Faith, Hope, and Love in the 21st Century =-.
Ok, I read it three times and the only place I found “Then do it” was in your comment. I’ll admit I am tired having been up for now 28 hours but I don’t think it’s there. That’s how rumors get started.
.-= Harold´s last blog ..Incredible! =-.
I’m not sure I’m following you but I’ll give it a try.
Does he have a calling? That’s for him to one day figure out but boy does he have the pre-emerging signs.
Being equipped? I agree although this could be widely debated what this means. The boy has some mad pastoring skillz already. More than a lot of other pastors I know.
Ultimately as a pastor my goal is to help Christ be formed in people. Bashil is doing that so at the end of the day you can call him whatever you want to call him.
I”ll call him amazing. Maybe even pastor amazing.
I don’t think you were implying that his being a pastor one day is something that is guaranteed. How I read it, you were simply saying he is already exhibiting the heart that a pastor should have.
.-= Bill Foote (FooteNotes)´s last blog ..What would you have said? =-.
LOL…i’m going with Pastor Amazing too, that’s awesome!
I agree with you, Pete. And, he might not have “officially” preached a sermon yet, but this morning – when I read that post – this little boy preached one of the best sermons I have EVER heard in my 24 years.
.-= diane´s last blog ..Snow Day =-.
Wow, what a heart of total devotion to Christ I see in the third picture of Bashil. My heart feels so much compassion for him. Yet I agree with Nick I feel so selfish for the things I want. Our life in the states is so comfortable and complex, and their’s so simple – community and living day to day.
Thank you for this post. I had a night of very little sleep and woke up grouchy…dreading the day. Tom out of town. 6 kids for the weekend…alone…blah, blah, blah…
Your post brought streams of tears to my eyes.
As I am convicted of my selfishness.
I am truly blessed and full!
That little man does have Jesus all over him! I will continue to pray for you and Ryan and Jenni on your trip. Over the many, many miles, you all are still reaching deep in my soul! It’s like church with every post I read! I will continue to pray for Bashi, and all the beautiful children that are over there!
Thank you for allowing us to to be part of this experience with you.
The little girl in the dumpster…I have my box of kleenex ready and I am on my knees praying!
Praying for strength, joy and safety for all of you.
Great perspective. We typically think of Jesus as being absent in places like India & Pakistan. Thx for showing that a new generation is in love with Jesus!
I’m such a pile of brokenness today already, and then I see and hear this. There’s so much to process. I don’t have words yet.
.-= denawilliams´s last blog ..How are you…No, how “am I” doing? =-.
In reply to the last question in the post, leave comments on blogs that don’t have 30+ comments already… for the person who’s crazy insightful but doesn’t have many readers.
That’s one way.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
.-= bondChristian´s last blog ..Renee Johnson interview and blog tour =-.
Wow, despite the more than 8-thousand miles distance it’s almost as if we can now all hear his laughter, sense his kindness and feel his joy just by reading your amazing words and seeing these amazing pics. Thanks for sharing this beautiful and special boy with all of us this morning.
Bashil will no doubt be a pastor. I look forward to hearing his messages streamed live one day
Thanks for this honor of hearing his story – what a bright light it has been for me! I can’t wait to read more…
.-= Eve Annunziato´s last blog ..WHO ARE YOUR VIPs? =-.
Thank you Pete for taking the time to keep us up to date. In my trips overseas I was always amazed at the generosity of so many who had so little. This story of two people making one dollar a day reminded me of that. I think we in the west may cry poverty far to easily.
2 Cor 8:1-3 (NIV) And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. (2) Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. (3) For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,
.-= Bill Foote (FooteNotes)´s last blog ..What would you have said? =-.
What an awesome and inspiring kid.
.-= Jason´s last blog ..Don’t jump into action…sit into nothing =-.
Thanks Pete! Have you & Brandi ever considered adoption? I only ask because recently my heart has begun to break for orphans and my husband and I have begun researching it. It’s a long process but I believe God is guiding us!
Brandi has!
That is very humbling to me…He is such a sweet boy with a heart for Christ.
.-= Beth´s last blog ..RAISING THE BAR =-.
Dear Pete,your writing about this boy is really beautiful and pure. My heart smiling and cry in the same time. your blog remembering me of all my kids ( my ministry in Indonesia)that I left 3 years ago. every year, I have to go back for them. That is my pray to God. Because somehow when you get the point where you can not hide, like looking through the eyes such Bishal eyes. Then you know, great ministry is when you falling in love with their soul. What a lucky boy he is, and a lucky pastor you are, that he can stel your pastor heart by showing you a pure soul. Thank you for sharing Pete.
your ministry steal my heart too Pastor!
Amazing.
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..Sickness =-.
Wow, this is AMAZING! The love he has for Jesus is so special. Praying for you all!
My daughter was abandoned as an infant somewhere in the Hunan province of China. She was Adopted by an family who took her to the states, and for reasons that will never be entirely clear, surrendered her at the age of 6.
She has a capacity for love unlike most people I have ever met… and I can’t wait to see God’s plans unfold in her life.
oh yeah, and btw… she is 8 years old, too!
Wow, what a journey Nancy. My wife and I returned from China with our daughter 7 weeks ago, totally agree with “capacity for love unlike most people I have ever met”
It amazes me the lessons we can learn from children.
@Nancy, wow. Sure would love the chance to meet her one day.
khubsarat!!
.-= Tony York´s last blog ..Church Hunt Week 2 =-.
What an inspirational little guy!! Definitely brought a renewed perspective to my Saturday morning.
Praying for you Jenni and Ryan….
.-= Marcia Ramirez´s last blog ..I think my son needs to work on his "Snowman" making skills…. =-.
Yea, I guess I should have said that I’ve started researching it
Thanks for the work you & the Cross Point gang are doing in India!
Beautiful!
Beautiful post that touched me deeply. I love how Christ places these little lights of hope in the darkest places.
Being light in the darkness. What a testimony.