Nabin’s Story: Healed and Redeemed by Christ

Suzanne Pearson • Jul 14, 2022

In a dark, cramped room in southeast Asia, a young man lay paralyzed and in despair. On the wall next to him sat a row of Hindu idols, collecting dust and unable to help him see any purpose or hope ahead. Yet today this young man, healed and redeemed by Christ, proclaims the Gospel to his friends and neighbors. The journey to this happy ending was not an easy one, but it is one marked by the faithfulness of the God who heals and redeems…

Two Friends on a Walk

The story began on a typical February day in 2020. Cindy and her husband Mike serve with TEAM in Southeast Asia doing pastoral care and family counseling. Cindy is also trained as a nurse and often uses those skills to minister to families in the local church.

On this particular day, Cindy and her friend Vishnu set out on a morning walk on the outskirts of the city. The two ladies talked and prayed together on these regular outings. Today Vishnu was burdened. “Cindy, I met a lady at the water tap and she told me about her son who is sick. It’s terrible – just terrible.”

Vishnu explained that the woman’s son was twenty years old and had been preparing to go to university. However, six months earlier, he experienced sudden pain in his back and became paralyzed. The family consulted medical doctors as well as Hindu healers, but no one seemed to offer any hope.

Cindy and Vishnu decided to visit the woman and her son right away. Cindy prayed that her training as a nurse might open a door for her to minister to the family. The two women passed through a courtyard to a low, tin-roofed building with no windows. As they entered, they found the young man lying on a hospital bed in a small, dimly lit room. He was not able to sit up or even lift his head off the pillow.

A Desperate Situation

As Cindy became acquainted with Nabin and his mother Gita, she felt their hopelessness and despair. Through tears, Gita shared Nabin’s medical records. After several months with no answers, doctors had finally diagnosed Nabin’s condition. He had tuberculosis of the spine, also known as Pott’s Disease . The deterioration of the vertebrae from the TB put pressure on the nerves, causing paralysis.

Doctors performed a surgery in which metal rods were placed on each side of Nabin’s spine. Gradually, some feeling and function came back into Nabin’s lower body. However, the doctors did not give his mother much hope. They told her that Nabin might never walk again.

Cindy remembers that first visit, sitting in the darkened room with tears in her eyes. “This was her only son,” Cindy shares. “Her husband had left her, and her son may never walk again. [Gita] said to me, ‘He wants to die.’”

Hindu idols on a shelf.

Paralyzed and in despair, Nabin knew only to turn to lifeless Hindu idols.


Prompting of the Spirit

As Cindy looked around the room, she saw Hindu idols on a shelf. Yet she felt the gentle urge of the Holy Spirit prompting her. “I knew [Gita and Nabin] were Hindus,” says Cindy, “but I said to them, ‘I don’t know what to do. All I know is to pray. Is it alright if we pray together?’” Gita and Nabin agreed, and Cindy prayed earnestly for healing and direction.

Throughout the following weeks, Mike and Cindy continued to visit Nabin. Nabin’s English was good and he told Cindy that he liked to read. So on one of their visits, Cindy brought him a book by Nic Vujicic. Nic was born without arms or legs yet shares his amazing testimony of living a vibrant life despite his disability. Nabin liked the book and read about how Jesus transformed Nic’s life.

At the same time, Mike and Cindy continued to minister to Nabin’s physical and emotional needs as well as his spiritual ones. Mike is an accomplished baker, and he often brought smiles to Gita and Nabin’s faces when he visited with their favorite homemade treats – chocolate cake and carrot cake.

Cindy also asked Joelle, one of her TEAM co-workers who is a physical therapist to visit Nabin with her. Joelle found that Nabin’s muscles were deteriorating from lack of use. She showed Nabin exercises to do, and she prayed with him.

A Turning Point

Over time, Nabin’s heart began softening to the Gospel. In the early days, he told Cindy that he only allowed her to pray because he didn’t know what else to do. But then one day as Cindy sat with Nabin in his room, he looked at the Hindu idols on the shelf. He asked, “What do you think of these idols?” Cindy, not wanting to offend him, thought for a moment and said, “I’m not going to say anything about them right now, but I want you to think about them and what you believe in.”

With excitement, Cindy shares what happened next. “I came back about a week later and the idols were gone! Nabin said, ‘We have decided to become Christians and we took down all the idols.’” Nabin shared how their Christian neighbors had been visiting and praying for them too, and Nabin and Gita accepted Christ!

Calling for Back-Up

With Nabin and his mom now experiencing the joy of knowing Christ, Mike and Cindy still felt burdened to address his physical condition. While he had made significant improvement in sitting upright and gaining strength, Nabin was still unable to stand or walk. Cindy consulted with two doctors on her team who suggested getting Nabin to a rehabilitation facility. The doctors could help get him admitted but the cost was far beyond what the family could pay. Mike and Cindy appealed to their sending church, Chapel Pike Wesleyan Church in Indiana, who graciously raised the funds for Nabin’s hospital stay.

Unfortunately, right about that time, COVID lockdowns forced a delay in Nabin’s admission to the rehabilitation hospital. “We were frustrated by the delay,” Cindy recalls. “But now we can see God’s plan and wisdom.” During the lockdown, a small group of believers from the local church came regularly to Nabin’s home and had church services right there so that Nabin and his mother could take part. “I came as well and prayed and shared the Bible with them,” says Cindy. “This time was important in their newfound faith.”

Patience Rewarded

By October 2020, the way was clear for Nabin to receive three months of treatment at the rehab hospital. Nabin’s four hours of daily therapy enabled him to begin walking using parallel bars and then eventually with a walker. He called Mike and Cindy with the joyous words, “I feel like I have my life back.”

By early 2021, Nabin was released from rehab to return home. Cindy recalls clearly her first visit with him after he returned. “Nabin was seated on the edge of the bed. He wanted to show me how he could walk outside,” Cindy remembers. “Nabin grasped the walker firmly and stood with great effort. He used the walker to slowly make his way across the small room. He was unstable and his arms shook from the effort, sweat dripping from his forehead. I was constantly on edge because it seemed he could fall at any time.”

Thankfully Nabin made the short journey safely. After rejoicing with Nabin and his family over this victory, Cindy was encouraged but also aware of the time and effort that would be necessary for Nabin to walk normally.

Putting in the Hard Work

Cindy continued to visit Nabin a couple of times a week and often saw discouragement set in. At times Nabin grew weary and made excuses to avoid physical therapy. Mike and Cindy feared that he would lose the function he had worked so hard to gain.

Mike and Cindy returned to the U.S. for a 4-month home assignment but prayed daily for Nabin to work hard in their absence with the support of his mother and his local church family. God answered those prayers! Nabin called one day explaining that he had walked to church – and even climbed a flight of stairs! “The church people knew of his story and were crying and saying, ‘It’s a miracle!’” shares Cindy.

A few weeks later another message came with a video of Nabin walking holding on to his cousin’s hands. More calls and messages of his progress spiritually and physically kept coming in. The day before Mike and Cindy were to come back to Asia, they received a video of Nabin walking on his own and proclaiming “Jesus is alive, he healed me!”

Better Than Netflix

Upon their return to Asia, Mike and Cindy found more reasons to rejoice. Nabin grew not only in physical strength, but in knowledge of the Lord as well. In the past, Nabin confessed that he found reading the Bible to be “boring.” But as the Holy Spirit worked in Nabin’s heart, he began to discuss with other believers how the passages applied to his life. One day he picked up his Bible, started from the beginning, and just kept reading all day! As the stories unfolded, he told Cindy, “This is better than a Netflix series!”

Cindy shares an amazing full-circle ministry moment that showed her the incredible work that God did in Nabin. Vishnu, Cindy’s friend who first introduced her to Nabin, was experiencing several difficult trials in her life. “Vishnu was visiting Nabin and his mom as I entered the room,” Cindy says. “Nabin took down his Bible which was carefully wrapped in a clean cloth and opened it and chose a passage. He read the Bible to Vishnu and started preaching to her and encouraging her.”

Nabin now has a bright future ahead. He loves computers and is considering how God might have him pursue his interests in technology. Regardless of where he goes, however, Nabin is bold in sharing his faith. Mike says Nabin tells the story to anyone who will listen. “He says, I don’t care if they’re Hindu. They need to know about Jesus because this is what Jesus did for me.’”

It Takes a Church

As Mike and Cindy look back on Nabin’s journey, they see how God used many people to be the light of Christ to him. First, Vishnu connected Cindy and Mike to Nabin and his mom. Then Cindy connected Nabin to physical therapists and doctors. Mike used his amazing baking skills to bless the family with special treats. Meanwhile, God also brought along Christian neighbors who encouraged Nabin and Gita in receiving Christ and introduced them to the local church. Mike and Cindy’s sending church in America funded and prayed for Nabin’s stay in rehab. And now YOU are reading Nabin’s story and praising God for His goodness! Isn’t the Body of Christ amazing?

Cindy sums it up beautifully: “Many people say, ‘It takes a village.’ I say it takes the Church to mobilize God’s transforming power in a life!”

By Suzanne Pearson 08 Mar, 2024
Through God-ordained partnerships and creative connections, TEAM worker Keith Moore sees the global Church advancing in amazing ways. In the global missions landscape, a phrase that comes up often is “from everywhere, to everywhere.” God is calling His global Church in literal new directions, as He raises up cross-cultural workers to be sent from places that were once on the receiving end of missions work. We call this movement “polycentric sending.” TEAM workers Dawn and Keith Moore have seen first-hand this transition taking place. Their story involves the unlikely but beautiful intersection of Charlotte, North Carolina; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Memphis, Tennessee...and beyond. The Path to Honduras Keith and Dawn joined TEAM in 1991 and served as church planters for nine years in Bogota, Colombia. After safety concerns precipitated their return to the States in 1999, they knew they wanted to continue serving in Latin America. The Moores felt called to Honduras but wanted to connect with a strong missional church to help send them. The Lord orchestrated a collaboration with Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. “Some people asked, ‘Why Honduras? Missionaries have been there for 100 years. It’s already reached,’” Keith says. “But there’s a whole section of Latin America that had not been reached - the upper crust.” Keith goes on to explain that he and Dawn felt called to reach college-educated professionals in Honduras – a ministry vision that resonated with the missional goals of Bellevue Baptist. Impact and Growth With the support of this new church partnership as well as another sending church in Birmingham, Alabama, the Moores embarked on their next adventure. Keith and Dawn started Impacto Honduras Church from scratch, and in less than 20 years, the church grew into four locations with 1600 total members. The Moores and other TEAM workers also created a “Bible school” type training program to help professionals who feel a call to ministry to make that transition. Throughout this period of explosive growth, church partnerships played an integral role. “It’s such a different vision when you have a church that says, ‘OK, this is our deal, we want to make this happen,’” Keith explains. “They helped us with everything. They took away every single obstacle to growth. Every time we needed something, they were there.” In 2017, the Moores once again found themselves on the verge of another decision. Was it time to leave Honduras? “I had no desire to leave,” Keith recalls. “People were coming to Christ every week! It was just so amazing.” However, back in the U.S., Keith and Dawn’s parents were in their 80s and would soon be in need of more care. “We realized that either we would leave in a crisis, or we would leave strategically,” says Keith. The couple began to implement a careful succession plan. By the time they left, the four churches were established with strong, Honduran leadership ready to carry on the work of the Gospel.
By Suzanne Pearson 23 Feb, 2024
Justin Burkholder, pictured here with his wife Jenny and their daughters Isabella, Olivia, and Zoey, has recently been named as TEAM’s next International Director. On February 19, 2024, with much excitement and gratitude to the Lord, TEAM announced that Justin Burkholder will become our organization’s new International Director, effective July 1, 2024. Justin, who is currently TEAM’s Executive Director of Global Ministry, will assume his new role upon the retirement of the current International Director, Dave Hall. ( Read the full press release here. ) We sat down recently with Justin to learn a little more about his background, his family, and the journey that has led him to TEAM. Q: Tell us a little bit about your “origin story” - Where did you grow up? What was your family like? A: I grew up in Mexico City as a missionary kid. My parents were focused on church planting. We were very close as a family. Both of my parents are still alive, and my dad serves as a pastor in southern Florida. I have one brother who is a pastor in Wisconsin, and the most special individual in my family is my sister, Amber. She was born with a very severe case of cerebral palsy and is entirely dependent on my mother...who is extraordinary! The three most impactful forces that have shaped who I am (outside of God’s grace) are growing up in Mexico, having parents who loved and planted churches, and sharing life with someone with a severe disability. My parents belonged at the time to a church and denomination that came with quite a bit of legalism and performance-oriented Christianity. Grace was a challenging concept to grasp. While I had an awareness of my sin and need for redemption, it wasn’t until I attended Moody Bible Institute that I began to grasp the fullness of God’s grace and His delight in His children. I have continued learning and trusting in the Gospel through formal education, like completing my M.Div., and through spiritual practices in community. Learning the Gospel and believing the Gospel has been a daily exercise. The Gospel is as beautiful and multi-faceted as a diamond! At an individual level, it is simple enough for us to live convinced that “Jesus loves me, this I know.” At a corporate level, it becomes the foundation that forms and informs our life as a spiritual family. At a cosmic level, it is redemption that reaches as far as the curse is found. It is hard to even grasp the multiplicity of goodness found in the Good News. Q: Share a little bit about your family life now. What does a typical day look like in the Burkholder household? A: My wife Jenny is my high-school sweetheart! She brings joy and kindness wherever she goes. She’s the best listener I’ve ever met, and we love spending time together. We have three daughters. Isabella is ten, Olivia is seven, and Zoey is four. Each of the girls is unique and has taught us a lot in our process of following Jesus together. We like to go out on walks and go to the park together. Once a month I try to get some alone time with each of my daughters which usually includes bowling or trampolines. A typical day in the Burkholder house starts around 5:00am. Because of traffic here in Guatemala City, we have to leave early for school. After school, the girls come home to different activities - sometimes swimming class, sometimes piano lessons. Four or five nights a week we have dinner together where we usually talk about our high and low moments of the day. On weekends, we enjoy time together, playing outside, or watching sports together. Go Cubs and Go Buckeyes! Q: What are your interests and hobbies? If you have the day off, what are you likely to be up to? A: I enjoy physical activity, running, strength-training and following sports. I also love music and, truth be told, am a bit snobby about my taste in music! I also am a very curious person and love reading just about anything that passes through my hands. A day off is usually an opportunity for time with family. Jenny and I like to cook something interesting together on our days off. Often there is time for some reading and watching some type of athletic event. Q: How did God lead you to TEAM? A: My wife and I were working in the Chicago suburbs. I was a youth pastor and she was a Spanish teacher. When we got married, we had already sensed God’s direction to serve cross-culturally, but it was a matter of discerning when and where. There was a driving desire in me to see a church deeply love the Scriptures and at the same time, be deeply engaged in loving and serving their city and the most vulnerable among them. As God directed our paths, we visited a variety of places and made some friends in Guatemala who opened up the path for us to serve here. While we were exploring, we knew that the International Director of an organization called TEAM happened to go to our church, so I decided I should probably invite him out for breakfast - his name was Charlie Davis. Charlie was extremely thoughtful, passionate about disciple-making, and very gracious in creating space for us as we stepped into this endeavor. Charlie connected me with Steve Dresselhaus, a fellow TEAM global worker who was at that time serving as the Senior Director for the Americas. I cannot express the debt that I owe Steve. He walked closely with me in the transition, encouraged courageous thinking about the church and her role in society, and blasted open the doors for us to serve in Guatemala. After meeting Steve, we spent some days praying about joining TEAM. One thing I will never forget – one night during the process, I found myself wide awake in the middle of the night. A peace like I have seldom experienced passed over me confirming that we should join TEAM. There is no doubt in my mind that God tied all of these pieces together to bring us into the TEAM family and community. Q: What roles have you held in TEAM? What have been the milestones in those roles? A: The most important role I have held in TEAM is that of a global worker. God in His grace has allowed us to help plant two churches here in Guatemala, serve in leadership development, counseling, and discipleship. Our greatest joy has been found walking with those who are learning to follow Christ more deeply. I served as the Ministry Area Leader in Guatemala from 2016 to 2019. We helped to establish and lead this ministry area as it grew from just four global workers to over 15. I then served as Senior Director for Mexico and Central America from 2019 to 2021, Regional Executive Director for the Americas in 2021 and 2022, and then transitioned to the role of Executive Director of Global Ministry which I’ll continue in until the end of June. Q: What do you love most about being a part of TEAM? Why TEAM rather than other organizations or job opportunities? A: The TEAM community is full of people who have faithfully served God’s mission and have given up a lot to do so. It is a privilege to know many of our global workers and be counted among them. I am also fascinated by the fact that TEAM has existed now for more than 130 years! There is something to be said about the resilience and faithfulness of an organization that has continued to impact the world for so long. The rest of our conversation with Justin will be coming soon on blog! We’ll hear more about how God called Justin to the role of International Director, and what Justin sees for the next chapter in TEAM’s work in the global Church.
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