His Ways, My Journey

His Ways, My Journey

By Benhan David Inbaraj

I was born in a Christian pastoral family to Rev. David Inbaraj and Chillal Inbaraj. Dad is a pastor and mom was a bible school teacher.

From birth my elder brother Joseph Easter Raj, my sister Ann Phyllis and myself were raised up in bible, prayer and in church. Even from a young age God gave us opportunities to get involved in various ministries in church like kids ministry, tracts ministry, worship and music etc.

My dad got transferred to Alangulam AG church from Nagercoil, when I was in my kindergarten. During my summer vacation of 3rd grade in May 1997, myself and my sister were playing on the 2nd floor of the rental house in Alangulam and suddenly I fell over the parapet and hit the sunshades of the windows of the houses and fell on a concrete floor. And I was taken as dead by the construction workers who were working in the opposite home. When my mom and dad came down blood was oozing from my nose and there was no movement in me. My dad was thinking about how to transport me to Nagercoil for the funeral. All of a sudden my mom shouted and prayed “Jesus please give life to him” all of a sudden I opened my eyes and suddenly blood stopped from my nose and no one know where it came from. They asked me to walk, and I walked. I had pain in my hip since I hit sunshades while falling, so they took me to a nearby hospital, they took a whole body X-ray and tested everything and found “No bones were broken“ . I just had a hairline crack in my shoulder and it got healed in a couple of weeks. 

God gave vision one day, I saw an angel holding a leaf in his hand and in that leaf I fell on the leaf like a baby. One day when we visited Nagercoil, in a church we saw a angel with a leaf in his hands, when we enquired we came to know it was Gabriel. 

“He will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:11–12)

We continued to grow in Christ. And dad got transferred to Kannakkapillaivalasai AG church and I continued my studies in Tenkasi AG school. God opened the door to pursue Bachelors of Engineering in Electronics and communications engineering in Einstein college of Engineering, Tirunelveli. 

In my final year of Engineering, I had to pay tuition fee of 32,000 INR and it was nearing the due date. My dad took all the money he had and said this is all I have, go and pay. I don't know what to do, I know my family situation and I went and paid 18,000 INR at college office and went to college secretary Mr. Ezlilvanan and told I paid this much amount only, this is all we had, he replied "Hey Ben don't worry, leave it. It will be taken care". God took care of each and everything in my studies and helped me to complete my degree with distinction.

Meantime God gave the opportunity to support ministry with dad and play keyboard in Rev. Steve Jeyaraj pastor's churches and ministries around Tenkasi. Rev. Steve Jeyaraj, Sis. Nirmala Jeyaraj helped me a lot and supported financially during my schooling and college days.

In campus interviews I got selected in 3 companies but none of them called for work due to recession. I came to Chennai in search of a job, for a couple of months I didn’t find any job , then I got one with a 0 INR as salary. I stayed with my Anna and Anni and they took care of me like parents. 

In 2011, one person got my resume from a pastor and approached us regarding opportunities in the UK. When we went to take a photo, he tricked me and took my bag with all my certificates and money. In this situation my salary is 0 and I don’t have any certificates or any proof. Meantime I came to know about an opening in a company and I got selected in the interview. I told them I don’t have any certificates. They replied nothing is required just join. God raised the salary from 0 to 13k INR. Later I moved to a different organization after 4 years.

When I was in Chennai God gave me the opportunity to play keyboard and support ministry in Miracle AG church, Adyar. Thanks to Rev. Samuel Raj and Pastor. Stephen. 

Thanks to Rev. Christhudass, pastor. Justin Selvadhass and assistant pastors of Hope AG Church, Pallikaranai for using us in various ministries which enabled us to grow more in Christ. 

In Jan 2016, I got married to Selvachandra in Full Gospel Pentecostal Church, Kadamalaikuntu. God blessed the marraige service. Rev. Vinyl Sathish conducted the marriage service and Pastor. Johnsam Joyson and Davidsam led the worship. Thanks to Rev. Christhudass and family, Hope AG Church, and all pastors for their presence and prayers. God blessed us with two girls Debbie in 2016 and Phebe in 2018. 

In 2018 God opened a way and Sister. Ida Jeyarani helped with the process to apply for H1B, and it got through in the first attempt. On Dec 2019 I came to the US. God gave me a job and in 6 months due to COVID pandemic I lost my job, but in perfect time He opened another job. In 2021 God opened the door for my wife and kids to join me in the US in a small window opened during the COVID.

Benhan - Kidney Transplant