Interview with frontline - Pastor Nathan

Pr. Nathan

Pastor Nathan, you were arrested and

imprisoned for more than 30 days. Tell us

the events leading up to your arrest.

PN: I had been preaching in different villages for

two days and stopped to spend the night at Pastor

Nag’s. While there, I had awakened at 3:00 am to

pray for my host and his family, the nation and to

read my Bible. Later that day I preached in a small

house to about 30 people.

When did you know there was trouble in the

meeting?

PN: I had been encouraging the people with the

scripture from Matthew 11:29, “Take My yoke

upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and

humble in heart, and you will and rest for your

souls.” I told them to be content in every situation.

As I was about to refer to another Bible passage,

some people with police officers barged inside.

They began accusing us of religious conversion.

What happened then?

PN: They did not interrogate any of us, but the

police noted the names of the people and took us

all to the police station at about 4:00 pm. There

was no investigation. They separated me, Chatter,

and Nag to hold from the others. We thought

we would be locked in for one night and then

released. I even called my wife and told her we

were fine and when I was released, I planned to

continue with my scheduled meetings. However,

after taking us to court, they did not release us.

When you realized you would not be released,

were you and the others discouraged?

PN: The first ten days were difficult for us.

We did not have a Bible with us. We tried to

encourage each other with Bible verses we knew.

We prayed and worshipped together. This was

the first time in my life that I was without my

Bible. This was very grievous to me. I made

a commitment to memorize more scripture.

Being disconnected from our loved ones was

difficult. We could only receive one phone call a

week and only one person could meet with us.

How do you believe God prepared you for the

challenge of prison?

PN: The morning of the arrest I studied and then

later preached from Philippians 4. Paul says, “I

know what it is to be in need, and I know what

it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret

of being content in any and every situation…”

I taught them that in all circumstances, we need

to be satisfied and content without complaining.

Being in prison was a hard time, but what I

preached happened to me. I had to learn to be content

in need, in plenty, in happiness, in sadness, and all these

things we learn from the Lord Jesus Christ.

How did God bless you while you were in prison?

PN: On the tenth day we received a New Testament.

We were strengthened after reading and sharing the

Gospel with other prisoners. The jailor then started to

deal with us properly. He even told other policemen

that we were good men and not to trouble us. Before

we were released, the jailor permitted us to share the

Gospel during the morning exercise time when seventy

prisoners were gathered.

Tell us about some of the other prisoners that you

met.

PN: There were murderers, rapists, human traffickers,

liquor vendors and many serious offenders imprisoned

with us. There was one with me that was accused of 35

crimes. The jailor told him to learn good and righteous

ways from us. Many were curious to know more of the

Bible. One of us would lead in a song, I would preach

and the third would counsel the prisoners. We would

ask about their family and pray with them. We made

a good evangelical team. We shared the Gospel and

several firmly said they would follow Jesus.

Describe your most difficult time.

PN: I missed my family, other believers, and especially

my grandson, Joshua. If I heard his voice on the phone,

my heart broke. One day before we received our New

Testament, I was so mentally disturbed, I even thought

I might go ask the jailor to arrange for my death. Many

of the officers spoke such vulgar words; words I had

never heard in all my 57 years. I pray that even my

enemies should never experience this torture.

When your trial dates were delayed multiple times,

how did you cope?

PN: When we were given the first trial date, we were

ready to come out, so we gave away our belongings,

such as sandals and clothes, to others. But then we

weren’t released and had no communication as to why

or when. I told my wife that I feared slipping into

depression. I had lost my mental peace. Even this bad

situation turned out to be good.