The Lord is Exalted in Adam Paulraj
John 11:40...Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
Our Lord is exalted! To Christ be the glory! Have you heard what God has been doing in the lives of Adam, Raja, and Jessica Paulraj? This is a story that is happening right now, in our lives, in our church. It is a story of God’s love, God’s grace and God’s miraculous power. And it is a story of unshakable faith.
Adam was born in a missionary hospital in Assam, India, on September 18th. He was born with a rare disorder that caused him to have no eyelids, a severe cleft palate and lip, absent external nasal structures, absent fingers and toes, and feet attached to one another. When his natural parents saw him, they felt ashamed, and would have likely poisoned him if they had taken him home. Instead, they abandoned the newborn in his hospital bed.
But God did not abandon Adam. Our Lord brought Dr. Raja and Jessica Paulraj to that hospital, a newly married doctor and nurse who were serving as missionaries. He sent them to look on this child when he was born, and see him for who he is, an image bearer of God himself, and love him as Christ loves him. Relying on the Spirit for steadfast love and faithfulness, they washed and cared for him everyday; named him Adam, because he ‘is made in God’s image’; sought and received prayer from friends, family, and fellow missionaries; brought him home to continue his care; tended to his uncovered eyes every hour - day and night; and greatest of these, they loved him as an adopted son. Though newly wed seven months before, and just six days since Adam’s birth, the Paulraj’s made the decision to adopt Adam, just as their Lord adopted them too, in Christ. After all, he, like them, was also a child of the Living God. If all they could do was love him and provide palliative care, that is what they would do. But they also felt there must be more that God had in mind if he had brought them to this point.
So, the Paulraj’s went to Dehli - seeking tests to determine Adam’s medical needs. The Paulraj’s found out over the course of several weeks that the procedures Adam needed were not available in India. But the Lord has His plans.
Several years ago, Jessica met a new friend, Brooke, at a conference for medical missionaries. They kept in touch. Through Jessica’s requests for prayer, Brooke, now living in Durham, NC, learned about Adam and shared the story with a co-worker. That co-worker knew Dr. Van Aulst, Director of Pediatric and Craniofacial Plastic Surgery at UNC, and shared Adam’s story with him. He committed, with a team of surgeons, to do all they could for baby Adam.
But how could Adam get to the U.S. quickly? Attaining a visa in India can take years. But, as in the exhortation of Jessica, “Behold! Him who ordained passports, visas, and plane tickets”. Within days, the family left for the U.S. with their visa in hand and a promise of free medical care at UNC.
Once here, they discovered that there was not room for them at the Ronald McDonald House where they planned to stay. Where would they go? Over a year before Adam’s birth, the Lord connected two believers at a Mission to the World conference - for 10 minutes. One, Amanda, is a friend of Jessica Paulraj, the other, Kathy, is a member of our congregation in Chapel Hill, NC. After that meeting they went to their separate mission fields and faithfully prayed for each other. Then came prayer requests from Amanda about Adam. Kathy sent back contact information for her friends Dr. Brent and Dana Senior in Chapel Hill. She knew they would help this family.
The Lord provided in their need through the Seniors, who welcomed the family into their own family and home. Over the past few Sundays they have come to Christ Community with the Seniors. Here many of you as well as our pastors, elders, friends in the area, and their family from Florida have ministered to them.
Unfortunately, Adam’s new doctors at UNC realized upon meeting him that his medical needs could not be covered without additional financial support - even with the surgeons working without payment. Unexpectedly, the Paulraj’s needed to raise $100,000 before Adam could have surgery, and Adam’s medical issues gave them mere days to raise the funds. Adam’s parents prayed the prayers of many believers who have come before them, from scripture:
“Perhaps the Lord will act on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few. He will act, because He is God and He is good. We ask for that precious gift of faith from our Abba Father. Lord, we believe, help our unbelief. And if He clothes the birds of the air, surely my son too, He will clothe and care for.”
And so again, as the family prayed, the family’s family prayed, missionaries prayed, new and old friends, people they’d never met, people here at CCC, and people across the world, and, all prayed for something supernatural--something only God could do. Many gave as the widow joyfully gave her last mite. And our Lord showed His glory. Within days, the Lord moved in the hearts of people, all over the world, to give over $100,000 to baby Adam. In the words of Jessica:
“Take off your shoes. This is holy ground and I am wrecked with His glory. He is working in hearts all over the world. And He is making His name known. And I am seeing sacrifice and love in whole new ways. I love you all. Thank you again.”
On Tuesday, November 29th, Adam spent all day in surgery with a whole team of doctors and medical care specialists working to repair his tiny body. The surgeries were successful and Adam is healing; there is a long road ahead with many needs - so pray for him and them all.
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