By Purushottam Nayak

Padangi, July 11, 2020: Indira Pradhan is ready to give up her husband, three young children and relatives after getting to know Jesus Christ.

The 42-year-old woman of Kandhamal, Odisha, says she had serious health issues for three years from 2013 and spent huge money on treatment that included various Hindu rituals.

“I lost hope after nothing worked for me, even medicines prescribed by doctors in Raikia town,” she recalled.

A turning point came when she shared her problem with Mary Magdelena Pradhan (no relation), the 80-year-old Catholic member of Sacred Heart Parish, Padangi.

Magdelena told Indira that for them calling the name of Jesus would bring healing, peace and happiness.

Magdelena also advised Indira to call Jesus, again and again, refereeing to John 14:13 “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

India returned home with the faith in Jesus. “I cried calling the name of Jesus to heal me. I started getting sound sleep slowly and regained health,” she told Matters India.

She then decided to follow Jesus as her healer and turn back to her former religion.

She went to a church to thank Jesus.

However, she had troubles waiting at home.

Her husband Laxamana Pradhan, 45, objected to her following Jesus. Their children too disagreed. Her brother started objecting her going to church.

Her two sons and a daughter told her that they cannot accept her as their mother if she followed Jesus.

Her husband gave her an option: choose between her family or Jesus.

“I am ready to forget you, my young children and relatives, safety and security but I cannot renounce faith in Jesus,” she told her husband courageously.

Father Pradhosh Chandra Nayak, parish priest of Our Lady of Charity Parish, Raikia, who initially met Indira in the village, says he admires her courage and determination to leave family for the sake of Jesus.

“She is ready to detach from Hindu religion and accept Christianity in a country like India,” the priest told Matters India.

Indira now works as a domestic staff of the Franciscan Sisters of Saint Joseph convent, in the Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish, Mondasoro, under Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Archdiocese. She attended Masses regularly to strengthen her faith in Jesus.

People admire her firm faith in Jesus.

Vincentian Father Jaya Kumar Singh, parish priest of Sacred Heart Church, Padangi, supports Indira’s decision says the Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and freedom of conscience.