A THIEF TURNED MISSIONARY

The gospel that has come because of Christmas is life transforming, unlike any that man has ever seen in regards with the reform of sinful human beings. The LORD Jesus Christ totally transforms anyone who truly seeks Him and His grace. One such transformation is that of Lars Olsen Skrefsrud, who was convicted and sentenced for prison. This thief turn into a missionary to India…what a transformation!!!

Lars Olsen Skrefsrud, is from Norway, and his choices in life landed him in prison. However, his story doesn’t end there. Some of whom he knew, brought the “Good news of Great Joy” about Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and the rest simply followed. Lars Olsen Skrefsrud yielded his heart and his life to the LORD his Redeemer.

With a deep burning desire to proclaim this good news to those who need, he felt called to be a missionary. His own missionary board was apprehensive because of his past. Skrefsrud did not give up, and ultimately arrived in India in 1863 and minister among the Santhal tribe.

According to Church History Institute, “Skrefsrud was instrumental in translating the Bible into the Santal language, and produced a hymnal using native tunes. He wrote textbooks, published a book of traditional Santal myths, founded schools that taught farming, animal care, and carpentry. He sought to establish a church the Santalese could run themselves. By his death, there were fifteen thousand or more Santal Christians.”

Today happens to be the day this thief turned missionary died in 1910, doing what he loved the most, serving His LORD and Saviour among the people to whom his Redeemer led. At the time of his death, “there were over fifteen thousand Santal Christians, a number that has grown tenfold in the intervening century.”

Can we challenge ourselves to serve the LORD our Saviour the way Lars Olsen Skrefsrud did?