Tribute

A testimony
of a faithful servant

Michael Raj

Profile of Michael

Born in Tronoh Perak. He was 4th in his family of 5 children.

He lost his mother at the age of 17. He started working at the age of 23 with the Survey Department and was posted to Johor Baru where he met the beautiful Philomena through his best friend, her brother Xavier. Together they had 3 children and traveled around Malaysia because of his job.

The move to Taiping started his total commitment to God with involvement in the Charismatic Renewal in the late 70s and became a full member of the Covenant Community in1984.

He served the Lord as a Communion minister, Town Zone leader and chairman of the Penang Diocesan Service Team of the Charismatic Renewal in 1992.

In 2003, he was diagnosed with cancer and after a long battle, he returned to the Lord on the 26 Nov. 2007. Just a few weeks before he died, he said “ The Lord calls not only the healthy to serve Him but also the sick ”. Thus he continued to serve the Lord till the end of his life.

EXPERIENCING GOD'S LOVE THROUGH SUFFERING

In the early part of the year 2003, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. Within days of this discovery, I had surgery done to remove the tumor. From then on I was in and out of hospital for radioteraphy and chemo treatment, followed by blood tests, ultra-sound, x-rays and CT scans. The treatment seemed to go on and on without any sign of completion.

Even though I had accepted this cancer with calm at the beginning, but with prolonged suffering, I began to give in to despair. I was fearful and at times I became depressed. But praise God I had the solid support of my family members and God's people, who prayed unceasingly for my recovery. When I lost hope they hoped for me. When I could not pray, they prayed for me. When I was fearful and discouraged, they gave me strength.

During these years, I went from one disappointment to another, suffering and yet more suffering, with nothing good seeming to come my way. This is what I thought. In fact , God in His gentle way has been trying to get through to me, but since I was so engrossed in my suffering and self-pity, I was blinded to his presence. Slowly but surely, as time went on, I was led to a time of deep prayer. As I took this time of prayer seriously, the Holy Spirit revealed to me many areas of my past sins, for which I have repented. One thing led to another. For the first time I accepted cancer and managed to face it squarely in the face. I accepted death as how a Christian should look at it. This allowed me to discuss it with my family members and that in turn brought about a tremendous peace within me. Then the flood gates of heaven were opened, as the Lord revealed to me area after area of his mighty presence within me and around me.

As I recall, there has been so much good that has come about through my sickness. Shall I give in to my suffering and spend my time in self-pity and worry or rejoice in the wonderful things happening to so many people because of this one person. What would you do? I believe you would do the same thing I did – to rejoice and to give glory to God for his wondrous love and mercy.

This goodness of God is not confined to some selected people like me – it's open to all. It is not an easy thing to do, but if you completely surrender yourself to him he will take over and do the rest. I leave my future into the hands of God. I am sure of one thing – I am a winner. If He heals me for his purpose, I am a winner. If he chooses to take me home I am a winner too, because he has given me enough of time to prepare for my journey home. As I look at it, it's a win win situation. Every Christian is a winner, you are a winner, praise God for it. With so much goodness, how can I say that I have not experienced his love, hence my testimony – experiencing God's love through suffering (cancer).

May His Name be Praised!

Michael Raj 2007

( Michael Raj returned home to the Lord on the 26th of Nov 2007.He had prepared this testimony for Inspiritu much earlier as a source of encouragement to all suffering ).

GOOD BYE TATA

We could see you were in pain

Trying hard to be very strong

We wished we could do more to help

To hold your hand, to help you move along.

You were always nice and kind

Sharing with us your lovely treats

I got yummy sweets and fruits

Asha got her precious prunes.

We prayed very hard to make you well

We prayed for God's will to be done

God knew you were suffering

In mercy, he closed your weary eyes.

We loved your blessings upon us

We loved blessing you in return

We know you will still bless us

When we ask you to anytime.

They said the Angels took you to God

To put you in His loving hands

Rest and pain no more dear

Tata

We love you wherever you are.
Goodbye my dear Tata

We shall see you again

In heaven where the angels and saints stay
Remember us when we come there one day.

This tribute was given by 8 year old Nisha Cyril on one of the days during the night prayers for Michael.