Welcome to Faith Walk Foundation - Pastor Joshua Testimony

Since 34 years I am in the ministry. I was born as 2nd child to Venuthurupalli Lalitha Sankara Rao & Satyavathi on 01-07-1966 in Gandhinagar Village of Chodavaram Taluk, Visakhapatnam District in the pure and traditional Brahmin family, named as Venuthurupalli Lakshmy Narasimha Murthy.
I was grown in all the traditions and customs of the Brahmin race. On 26-01-1984 all of a sudden my father died. Till then my family was so happy with all the sufficient things in life but everything became upset. In the year 1986 we shifted to Visakhapatnam to our relatives but as they rejected and we did not want go back to the native village, we 5 members (Me, My Mother, Elder Sister, Younger Brother and Younger Sister) stayed in a thatched house in Appanna Colony, Gajuwaka, Visakhapatnam City for monthly rent of Rs.50/- (INR).

Brahmin family tradition

As per the Brahmin family tradition, women are not allowed to go out to work and earn money; I started working day and nights in the surrounding companies for about 6 months. Then we found the life was such tuff that father should have not died leaving us orphans, surrounding people and situations were in favour of our family rituals, no one to care and comfort us in any way, we all thought that DEATH is only one way, releasing us from all these clutches. During these critical conditions I and my Elder Sister took a decision to mix poison in the food without other family members. We thought that we will eat the poisoned food and sleep so that the slum people that eat drink and sleep will not listen to our cries; after our death they will perform the last rituals.
Usually we all have food at a time sitting round to the food items. The night I mixed poison in the food, I instructed that I am going out, will come back soon and until then no one should take food. I went alone to the end road of the colony, sat on the street culvert and with much pain in the heart; I was asking, crying and thinking in myself as follows:
What is this situation?
Is there God existing?
My father served in the Lord Shiva temple with all the traditions, customs and rituals and also helping many from his earnings?
If my father was alive, we would have not come to this position?
In few minutes all of my family members will die together?

He died for all of us

As I was doing this, a person came close to me and asked why I was crying and I answered him all the happenings till then. That person consoled me, brought me back to my rented house, thrown the poisoned food, brought good food and told, “Even if people don’t need and you need them but JESUS needs you. HE will take care of you”.
That person shared the gospel of salvation and we accepted JESUS as our personal Lord and Saviour because in-spite of our regular service to many gods, no one cared us but JESUS, even though we did not serve, He died for all of us to provide eternal life and salvation. After confirming that JESUS was the only one real God, we started worshipping and attending the Church services. Then I was named as Joshua Abhishek.
Many came to know that we were living Christian life and they reached us saying that Brahmin family is not supposed to worship Jesus Christ. They tried their best to convince us but I asked them that why they did not care us after the great loss of the father? How could they leave us alone when we approached them thinking that they belong to same community?

Never separate us from the Love of Jesus Christ

I strongly told that they can never separate us from the Love of Jesus Christ. They cursed us and separated us from the traditional family. Since then we had many hardships in life but never left Jesus as our Saviour. I grew to such position that in Body building and Boxing I was the top in the state. Because of this, due to past disputes, a friend of mine surrounded with 20 people to kill me. I understood that my strength will not be sufficient to face them. I knelt down and started praying, closing my eyes. After sometime when opened my eyes, no one was there around me but weapons were on the ground. I experienced the saving power of Jesus Christ and I got more strength and faith in Christian life.
As I was leading my Christian life in fellowship with the family, congregation and pastors, God showed mercy on me with a post in CSF (Central Security Force), Steel Plant, Visakhapatnam. After few years God called me for full time ministry as per Jeremiah.1:4. I obeyed, resigned from the job and as per God’s leading reached Rajyalakshmipuram Baptist Church, close to the present place. In one day I baptized 150 new souls and God strengthened the ministry. After that leaving that village and church, as per God’s leading, reached the present place and in the ministry for more than 30 years in the fellowship of Dr PJ Titus, New Testament of Church of India.
In-spite of many hardships in life, we started ministering to orphans, widows, shelter less people in many ways through Home of Hope. In 2014 God spoke to me after fasting prayer to live independent ministry life walking in faith (2 Cor.5:7). The ministry is extended to Odisha state also.
God has been faithful in His calling and leading me as a blessing to many. I pray that I stand firm as faithful and trustworthy witness to God. All glory, honour Praise and Worship to God alone.