Anita’s Story

By Sivitha Kiran, Bangalore, India

This is an inspiring story from the Indian Church of Christ in Bangalore, of how faith can overcome difficult circumstances. Despite poverty, an arranged marriage at a young age, the challenges of alcoholism in her family, our sister Anita remained steadfastly faithful long enough to see God’s victory play out in her life.

Anita's parents left Mumbai, a densely populated city on India’s west coast and moved to Bangalore for a job, when she was ten years old. (Bangalore lies in the southeast of the South Indian state of Karnataka.  It's India's high-tech city).  Many people move to Bangalore for jobs.

At a young age Anita also started working.  Anita's parents arranged a marriage for her at the age of fourteen.  Her husband, who was an alcoholic, would waste the money she earned on his drinking. She felt abused by him. As life went on, she had four children, all daughters. They had very little on which to survive. When the children were small, many times Anita gave them tea instead of milk because it was so much cheaper. She worked several jobs to survive and to take care of her family.

One day as she was going to work, a sister by the name of Enimae invited her to church and shared a scripture with her:

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 6:33 NIV

There were crowds of needy people around that place, but God chose Anita.  Only He knows our hearts; He knew that she was searching for Him. Anita was inspired to hear about Jesus and started studying the Bible and became a disciple. Through all the difficulties she faced, she stood faithful.  Every Sunday she would bring her children to church, even though taking the bus to travel to church was a financial hardship for her. She saw this as the most important need in her life.  On Sundays, she felt exuberant, listening to God's word being preached, and experiencing the fellowship together. 

Now, years later, we see evidence of God's gracious hand with her family. All four of her daughters are disciples and married to disciples except the youngest one who is still in search for the right one.  Anita is extremely grateful to God, that he brought about the opportunity to pass from the realm of death, into the realm of eternal life. She found the source of life, Jesus, and has never looked back.