Dr Kumar, K. Syam: The Apostolic Lutheran Church Free Medical Clinic of India. Christian Monthly 8/1999.
"The ALC Free Medical Clinic is a church to heal the soul spiritually and to heal the body physically." (Dr. K. Syam Kumar)
In the village of Rajavaram, a Pastor has a congregation of about 100 believers. The village and sub-villages have a total population of about 5,000, mostly Hindus. The Pastor sends many of his people to the ALC Medical Clinic to hear the Word of God for their souls, and for treatment of their bodies.

The President of this village, a strict Hindu man, had fallen sick. His right leg was always in pain, and it turned black. Treatment from doctors in the area did not bring relief. After a lot of money was spent to find a cure for the disease, the Pastor brought him to our ALC Medical Clinic. I examined his leg. It was completely necrotic (dead) from gangrene.

First, I told him about Jesus Christ, and to believe in Him who can heal his leg. I told him that I was nothing, except that, by faith in Christ, by his grace and with the Holy Spirit as my guide, I would treat him. The disease was TAO (thrombotic arteriolar occlusion), a complete occlusion of the deep arteries of the leg from a blood clot.

When the Word of God was preached to him, he believed. Now his leg is completely healed. Through his man, many other villagers want to learn more about Jesus. I praised God for the opportunity I had to minister to this man, both spiritually and physically.

An 11-year-old girl from the village was brought to my home. I moved her to our clinic because her condition was very serious. For nine months, she had suffered, and had seen many doctors, but did not get help. Her illness was diagnosed as cardiac left ventricular failure with hypertension, enlargement of the heart, anemia, urinary tract infection, and chronic kidney failure.

I advised her parents to bring her to the Medical College Hospital in Visag, where I had received my training. After the doctors there said there was no hope for her, the parents returned her to me.

I told her parents about Jesus Christ, and to believe in Him, as He is the only healer there is for their daughter. They cried and repented. I started treatment of the girl, and after four days, they brought her back to me. She was out of danger, and I believed she would improve.

First, I praised the Lord for using me as his servant to tell the parents about salvation in Jesus Christ, and for using me to help cure their daughter. The parents were happy, and cried about their sins. I told them to continue to believe in Jesus Christ, and to walk with Him. I also told them that I was nothing, only his instrument. They praised God, and recently attended church for the first time.

Several Months Later: The former Hindu President of the village is completely free of TAO. He attends church near the clinic, and encourages his villagers also to attend church and visit the clinic for physical ailments. The 11-year-old girl continues to make good progress, and will undergo treatment for another month or so. Please pray for the people in Rajavaram, that these two cases of illness will bear fruit for the salvation of many souls.
Foreign Mission Board