Witness shared by Sister Daisy Bai
I was saved through the ministry of Pastor A.Yesumani when I was residing at Utharamcode. After receiving the call of God I have been ministering unto the Lord. I am so privileged to share this witness as I consider him as spiritual father.
Pastor was very courageous in the Lord. When Barnabas shares the ministry of Paul at Damascus, he says in Acts 9:27 “But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him and how he preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus”. Pastor also preached boldly the word of God for more than 50 years. Though Pastor faced attacks, suffer tribulations in his ministry he was bold in the Lord and preached the gospel.
Pastor used to work so hard. When Pastor was building the prayer house he also worked along with the labourers as a labour, he used to carry sand and stones and worked with his own hands. In the earlier days of his ministry, he used to walk through villages and cities for several miles and he had been doing his ministry by walking for 13 years. After 13 years for about 25 years he did the ministry of God by walk and by cycling. Later while Pastor was ministering in Madurai, Brother Selwyn purchased a two-wheeler for the ministry. Pastor used that two-wheeler till the end of his life. Pastor used to enthusiastically sing and worship the Lord as it is written in Psalm 9:1,2. He gave thanks to Lord with all his heart and proclaimed his wonderful deeds. He was glad and rejoicing in the Lord. As it is said in I Corinthians 14:15 Pastor sang with the spirit and with the understanding also.
Pastor used to pray early morning 3’O clock. He conducted all night prayers. Along with the prayer warriors of the church, Pastor prayed for the evil possessed and the sick during the night from 12’o clock to 3’o clock. Prayer house appeared to be a hospital where people would come get healing and deliverance. The Lord answered the prayers of Pastor and miraculously healed many and delivered the evil possessed. Many believers obeyed to the truth of water baptism (immersion baptism) and when they prayed with Pastor they also received the anointing of the Holy Spirit. When he conducted the all night prayers, many youngsters received the anointing of the Holy Spirit and got strengthened in the Lord. Pastor’s ministry was like that of the verse that says “My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all people.”
Pastor had the gift of Prophecy. As stated in I Timothy 4:14 Pastor did not neglect the gift of prophecy which he had received from the Lord. Pastor believed that Christ had begun a good work in him and will perform spiritual gifts according to His will for the edification of the church. Several believers who were blessed through his gift of prophecy always supported his ministry and helped financially.
Pastor followed the apostolic doctrines. As it is stated in Acts 2:42, Pastor devoted himself to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Pastor was concerned about prioritizing his life to have part with Christ. So he realized the importance of Lord’s Supper. The way it was being done should be recognized as such by the Holy Spirit. As it is stated in John 13th chapter Pastor has modeled his life on God’s word and in the same manner he practiced Lord’s Supper. “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end” (Hebrew 3:14).
As it is said in Romans 12:13, Pastor received the people with warmth, who visited his prayer house showing kindness toward all, even strangers. Pastor also received the sick, the evil possessed and people who were in need and trouble. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. As a man of God, Pastor had the qualities of God: Kindness, Love and Mercy, Justice, and Impartiality, Condescension, virtue and Humility. When people came to him with family problems asking for refuge he gave refuge, prayed for them, strengthened them and facilitated peace in their families, reflecting the qualities of Christ. In this manner, he counseled and spread the peace of Christ among many families. As per the verse “We are the salt of the earth” Pastor was useful for the Lord as well as men.
Pastor had strong faith in Christ. A minister by his faith must move God to bring things to pass. The person who has received the specific call will possess the strong faith that God will meet all his needs through the ministry. In the same way Pastor had strong faith in Christ and God met all his needs through the ministry. In the journey of his ministry he walked with the Lord and God’s people. As it is stated in Psalm 48:14 “For this God is our God forever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death” God guided Pastor, protected him of all the dangers till his old age. When he entered into God’s glory it was quite evident that it was a very peaceful experience of entering into God’s rest.
Pastor never liked to go to hospital. He believed in divine healing from the Lord. Lord did not permit any disease in his body during his time period of ministry. Since he was bicycling for 25 years, he was affected by Hernia and with the compulsion of his family members he got medical help. After that, brother Selwyn gifted him a two-wheeler for his ministry. As it is stated in Exodus 23:25, 26 “And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee”, Pastor trusted in the Lord and believed that He will take sickness away. As the servant of God Moses prayed “the life span is basically, on the average, between 70 and 80 years old, Pastor entered into God’s rest in peace when he completed 79 years. When Pastor crossed 72 years, believers identified that he is facing memory loss problem. Pastor believed that nothing would happen without the knowledge of God in his life. When the Pastor was 72 years old, his son brother Y.Kingston Paul who was working in America as a Software Engineer received the divine call of the Lord and confirmation for the ministry during the late evening time on June 2, 2012. Pastor’s son started to fast and pray for God’s leading. With reference to his resignation letter dated 14th February 2013, he was relieved from the organization (secular job) on 28th June 2013. Pastor’s son had clarity regarding where his ministry would be and what type of ministry he would do through the vision of Zion (Throne) and the voice of God while he was praying in Kanmalai Prayer House on 13th July 2013 at 2pm. Pastor’s son realized that Lord was giving the responsibility of the ministry that had been done by his father after his period of ministry. Pastor’s son committed himself to the will of God. He had understood that before the secret coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, God is leading the church of God towards attaining perfection. Pastor’s son surrendered himself to take responsibility keeping in mind the accountability he has to give to the Lord amidst many difficulties and persecution.
As it is stated in II Timothy 4:6,“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.” Pastor A.Yesumani when he crossed 79 years, he realized that he is ready for departure. Before one week of his death on Sep 20, 2019 (Friday) in the evening time when family members and believers of the church were standing around Pastor, his face was shining with God’s glory. He was looking at his son’s face and rejoicing in the Lord. They could see the joy of the Lord in his face through the smile present in his face. He had food till two days before his death. September 28, 2019 2’o clock in the afternoon he entered into the rest of the Lord. The Lord protected him till the end. Pastor had fought a good fight, kept his faith and finished his course. His end was actually revealing that he completed glorious ministry according to the will of God. As stated in Galatians 4:18, Pastor was very zealous for the Lord and his zeal for the right thing was present at all times. Pastor had been a God’s servant, whom He had chosen for apostolic ministry worked as an Evangelist, Preacher and Prophet to gain many souls for the kingdom of God. Pastor found to be using God’s grace for leading several believers to spend their time in prayers, to receive anointing of the Holy Spirit and become leaders to many churches. As per the verse “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of your Lord”, Pastor had used God given talent to store treasure in heaven in order to receive the reward from his Lord. The hand of the Lord was on Elijah. We could firmly say that Lord’s carrying arms were always with him in his old age also. The Kanmalai prayer house ministry in Madurai was started with the confirmed belief from the word of God that “Christ is the Rock”. It was a chosen ministry of God for fulfilling His purpose (Ephesians 4:11-13). Amen.