My Vibrant Life in Christ Jesus
Family Background: I was born in an orthodox Muslim family. My father was a staunch Muslim believer. Both my father and mother did not have children after they were married for few years. My father was a Police Inspector in Andhra Pradesh State in India. One, of the Police Constables who visited my Mum from my Dad’s office, inquired from my Mum why she was looking sad. She explained to him that she was sad due to the fact that she and her husband (my dad) did not children even after having prayed, many so called Hindu gods and Allah (Islamic god), for so long. As a result, she declared that she was sad that her prayers were not answered. First Miracle Appearance of Jesus Christ: This police constable was a Christian and he explained to her that Jesus is real and anybody calling upon the name of Jesus would be able to find answers for their prayers. Hence, he asked her just to taste and see whether the Lord Jesus is good. Consequently, she prayed to the Lord Jesus saying “Lord if you are there please give me a son.” Few days later, Jesus appeared unto her saying that “you have asked me for a son and forgotten me, nevertheless I haven’t forgotten you. Moreover, I have engrafted you on my palm.” This first miracle appearance of Christ was the beginning of life changing experience to my Mum. Second Miracle Invasion of Christ: As a result of her first vision of Christ, her faith in the Lord became very strong. Once, my eldest brother, Mohammed Khaja Sultan Ahmed, was playing with a small bed room bulb. As he was playing, the bulb in his hands broke into small pieces and one of the pieces penetrated his eye-ball. There was no body in the country-side holiday resort except my Mum and my eldest brother who was around 2 years. That same night, as my Mum was worried about my brother’s future, Jesus appeared in her room with a radiant light and said “Fear not! Had you not seen the piece of glass in your son’s eye, he would have lost his eye sight. However, take this piece of glass and he will be alright”. Then Jesus appeared. This incident made my Mum very strong in the Lord. Third Miracle Invasion of Christ: Third most important miracle that happened in my mother’s life was that my eldest brother was not able to learn Telugu language, our regional language, my mother was distressed. As she was lost in her distress, she heard a lofty voice God from behind “tell them that I am a living God, I will look after their studies”. This was confirmed to my Mum that at every point, Jesus Christ the savior of our lives would take care of every minute detail of our lives. How I became a Christian? As I grew up in a Muslim family, I was very conscientious about Islamic rules and regulations. My family underwent horrific incidents of hatred and dislike from our Muslim community. I happened to be a seventh one or the last one in the family; I had seen the entire turbulent environment, which includes torture, persecution and abuse in our social circles. The persecution, which I had seen was mostly from my orthodox father, Mohammed Hisamuddin and other Islamic social circles. I remember my childhood days growing in fear, anxiety and worries. I had no memory power, no knowledge and no intelligence. My Mum always used to remind me about a promise that Jesus gave her saying “tell them that I am a living God, I will look after their studies”. This is how the Lord Jesus touched my mother’s life before we were born. Only my Mum was changed and my Dad appeared to have warfare never ended. But the greatest thing was that the Lord Jesus never had forsaken our family nor deserted us in our battles. He fought the battles and won the victory for us. Re-born in Christ Jesus: The promise, as mentioned above, given by the Lord to my Mum about my studies has been the corner stone of my life and our family too. Subsequently, my Mum and all our family used to go to an annual convention in Kakinada city of our State Andhra Pradesh in India. During the convention, one of the servants of God known as JD Mathews was speaking about the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. As he was preaching about Christ’s crucifixion, the Holy Spirit of God touched my heart about the fact that how much Jesus loved me and how Jesus gave up his life for me on the Cross. As a result, I surrendered my life to Jesus at the Cross of Calvary that appeared just before my eyes. As I surrendered, I experienced that all my sins were washed away by the blood of Christ and Christ entered my heart with his absolute holiness. This surrendering of my life at the Cross of Calvary transfigured my life with the advent of Jesus Christ into my heart. This was a historical milestone in my life. This event took my life on a U-turn enabling me to climb the ladder of my God’s plan in my life. Oh! What a great thing to know Jesus personally as my Saviour and Lord! Life Changing Events Occurred after my re-birth in Christ Jesus: My track record of poor marks and poor studies slowly started disappearing along with the lack of memory and fear. Slowly the wisdom of God entered my life pushing away all ignorance and imprudence. My high-school headmaster, who was a Hindu, ridiculed me saying that ‘if Houghton could pass secondary school, he would become our country’s prestigious civil servant’. To his surprise, my Lord turned the situation and helped me to obtain first class in our school final year public exams. Life Changing Event number 2: In my Bursary exams, Jesus helped me to obtain fist class to my surprise. I could not believe that my life’s dimension started broadening by the unseen presence of my Lord Jesus. I finished my graduation in Loyola College and post graduation in Madras Christian College with higher grades. Then I joined Andhra Pradesh Government as an Employment Officer in 1995, at the age of 24. These State Civil Service exams, though they were very competitive, Jesus Christ gave me success as his chosen vessel out of 300,000 pupils who attempted to write for only 1000 job vacancies. The ratio of competition was 1 (job vacancy) : (for) 300 pupils. Lord Jesus was so faithful to bless me as my life was committed to him at the age of 14 years. This is only a snapshot of my living testimony in Christ Jesus who enables me to do everything for his Glory. Life Changing Event number 3: In 1996, I got my permanent residency to come to New Zealand, as I was desiring and praying to the Lord to help me to study abroad. My residency was approved in 6 weeks time and I had to leave India at the end of 1996. I was praying and crying to the Lord for 2 ½ hours whether I should go to New Zealand or stay in India. Suddenly I saw a little angel of God that appeared in my room, as I was praying and said “The Lord your God shall be with you in all your ways, fulfill your deeds and proper you. This is the WORD OF THE LORD.” This was the message that I received from my Lord in India before I left. Our Lord speaks directly or conveys the message with his angels who are the messengers of God. Life Changing Event number 4: After I came to New Zealand and studied Masters in Business Studies (MBS) in Massey University, Auckland, I got married to Santhosha Vani Nuthulapati in May 2005 from Hyderabad, India. Lord had to a young man who became a Christian from Islamic background. Is it not divine intervention? Can anybody resist the Will of God? My wife, Santhosha, was also reborn in Christ Jesus before we got married. Now we have a baby girl called Joyce Princess Houghton. Jesus is a life changing God. Jesus Christ is the Life giver. Jesus Christ speaks and looks after his own flock like a Shepherd. Jesus is dearly beloved to our hearts and deeply moves our hearts as we are deeply forgiven by Him. Without Jesus, our lives would not be the same today as we are. What we are today is because of WHO HE IS and because of his self of I AM and WHAT I AM and because HE IS THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE. Conclusive Testimony about Jesus: Jesus has been and is the LIGHT of our lives and makes us to shine for him all the time so that we will never be in darkness again. Isn’t it wonderful to know Jesus as our personal saviour? If you are reading this story for the first time or many times, please do remember “invite Jesus into your heart and receive the power of Salvation in your life.” This happens only when you open your mouth and ask Jesus to come into your life and be the Lord of your life and he will do the rest for you. God bless you.