Where In The World Is Markayankottai?
The village of Markayankottai is in Tamil Nadu in South India. Use the zoom control and sattelite view to take a closer look.
In 2004 Alex and Raji Alexander and their daughter Alpha joined our church in Killicomaine. They are from Tamil Nadu in South India and although living and working in Portadown Alex and Raji continue to support the church planting work being done by Raji’s brother Rajan in their home village of Markaynkottai.
Raji’s own testimony is a good introduction to what God is doing there.
Raji's Story
I was brought up in the village of Markayankottai in Tamil Nadu, India; one of a family of 7. We were all devoted Hindus.
Rajan
My brother Rajan and sister Radha attended a Christian meeting and became followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. When my parents found out they were very angry but in time my mother, though she was afraid of the village people harming them, accepted their decision. She came to know a little bit more about God through them and she too became a Christian. At this time my father — an army officer — was badly injured, became sick and passed away at the age of 48. My grandparents blamed Rajan, Radha and my mother for his death, saying they had provoked the Hindu gods. The other villagers found out about what was happening and started to pick fights with us and throw stones at us when we walked through the village.
I was not saved at this time but when I started a nursing course at a Christian hospital I was encouraged to go to church by the doctors. I was given a small Bible and one verse stood out to me. It was Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”. I came to know more about God through the Scriptures and I too became a Christian.
My mother was pleased but my grandparents were not at all happy. The people in the village too became more annoyed with us. When we tried to talk to them they ignored us but it did not discourage us from following the Lord and we kept praying for our village.
God answered our prayers. An elder named John from the church we attended in a nearby town took an interest in us and started a small church in Rajan’s house every Sunday. There are a few people who attend, most of them Hindus, wanting to hear more about God.
Rajan’s and his wife began to provide what they could to help the needy people in the village and have come to be respected by the people in the village. Now mostly all the children in the village come to Rajan’s house every day after school to get help with their school work. Many also attend Sunday School. God is doing great things in Markaynkottai and we would lke you to join us in praying for the people there.
