It’s a typical Saturday in downtown Houston and Alex is walking the streets. His pockets are loaded down with a few small Bibles and some tracts, along with loose change for the parking meter. His heart is beating as he prays with anticipation about who he may meet today. Like many other Saturdays, Alex walks the by-ways of the Houston area searching for people who he can share a story of hope with. His motivation is a compassion for humanity and his drive is the love of God embedded deep in his heart.
Meet Alex. Born in Kerala, India, he was raised in the Orthodox Church. The second of 3 brothers, Alex is a peaceful person with a big heart. Growing up in southern India with extended family was life as usual until Alex lost his dad at age 5. Soon after, his mom left for the US to find work and make a better life. Alex and his brothers were placed in boarding school. For 6 years, Alex lived in India at the school and spent holidays with his grandparents. Five years later, he received his ticket to New York City, kissed his grandparents good-bye, and boarded a plane bound to meet his mother. Alex admits that he really didn’t experience the love of a father the way he would’ve liked to and looked to connect to other boys his age for companionship. He settled in to his mom’s home in Brooklyn and they lived there until he was 16. Alex tells of running with a rough crowd. God was out of the picture.
Moving to Houston in 1990 proved to be positive change. While attending Dulles High School, he involved himself with the local Orthodox Church. “I was there a lot but, I also knew something was missing. I needed to know more about God,” he recalls. Alex remembers kneeling down one day at home and asking God, “Are you a Hindu or a Buddhist or a Christian God? Who are you?” Waiting for an answer, he carried on.
As he grew up, Alex watched lots of old western movies. He says that has contributed to his affinity for police work. In 1995, he decided to pursue studies in Criminal Justice. While attending college and doing research for one of his classes, he met an Indian man who also hailed from southern India. Tom introduced himself to Alex, gave him his card and after a few pleasantries were exchanged, he invited Alex to church. Alex remembers thinking he didn’t want to go, but put Tom’s card in his pocket anyway. Weeks passed and while dressing for church one Sunday morning, he found Tom’s business card in his pocket. He decided to visit. The morning service came and went and though it seemed very different than anything he had known, he didn’t dismiss the experience. Several weeks later, Alex decided to visit one more time. “That Sunday changed my life. I kept going back and I realized that God answered that prayer on my knees from weeks ago.”
Here begins Alex’s personal journey with Jesus. With renewed purpose, he finished college earning a degree in Criminal Justice and courses in Computer Science. In 2003, he married Sajana and today they have a beautiful 2 year old son, Joshua. While working in the Computer Science field pays the bills, he considers his call (street missions) to be from God and it is his passion.
The burden to share his faith with others is what compels him to hit the streets several times a month to talk with people. Alex makes clear that this is not just a task, but a compassion driven way of life. He humbly reminds us that it is by the grace of God that we are saved and this includes him. Alex says “People on the Earth need compassion, love and respect. We should treat all people with love. Christ had compassion on the people and he fed them. Christ had compassion on the people and he healed them.” He firmly believes that the Light of the World will be shown as he walks around willing to share it.
Alex has lots of stories and is in the process of recording them in a book. He hopes to publish this book soon and sell it so that it can be an inspiration to others. He mentions that proceeds from the book sales will support future evangelistic mission work in the Sudan. With a vision for bringing hope and spiritual change to the Sudanese people, he is determined. Building a school and helping orphans understand God’s love in a country looking for hope will take lots of work so he plans to raise a team to go with him. Until then, he remains engaged in the current mission and encourages all of us to do the same. He reminds us, “Look outside yourself to the needs of others and God will do something extraordinary through you.”