“He cannot be serious, he must be joking”
As a tourist I was sitting in a Tibetan Monastery (which many years ago used to be the King’s Palace) with a couple of interpreters talking to the Buddhist Rinpoche (Monastery Leader) when he came out with an amazing statement. He said, “I want my monks to become Christians”. At this point, I ‘woke up’ and started paying serious attention. I said, “What did he say?”. The interpreter repeated that he had said “I want my monks to become Christians” and I thought to myself, “He cannot be serious, he must be joking”. Anyway, the conversation went on a bit, and after we finally came back down to our accommodation, I started thinking there is something not quite right here! This Rinpoche is a star celebrity speaker. He has twenty thousand followers, has a big conference every year, is a well-respected Buddhist leader, calls himself “A Living Buddha” and he has just said to me “I want my monks to become Christians”!
Unbelieving, I then took another interpreter up to his monastery and asked the same question “What did you say?” I got the same answer “I want my monks to become Christians”. Still incredulous, I came back down again and took yet another interpreter with me up the hill. The question was repeated and I got the same answer. There was no doubt now in my mind. There was no mistranslation, he was serious. This was extraordinary!
Months later
It wasn’t until many months later that I realized that, on the very day that he had said this to me, it was (and I didn’t know it at the time) the World Day of Prayer for Tibet and the Buddhist World. Later still, after further months had passed, I had ongoing discussions which confirmed his sincerity. This was at a meeting with him in a big city when he pointed to his son and said: “I want particularly my son to become a Christian”. This was even more extraordinary, then over time other statements came out from him, which can be verified by our interpreters, such as “The best approach would be to share your Christian Gospel with my young monks. They are more adaptable to new ideas”.
Over the years we have given him books to read about Buddhist monks being converted. Likewise, a dear American friend always tried to keep in touch with him, an inspirational act that has proved to be critically important in developing the relationship. Later the Rinpoche made another comment along the lines “The first book you gave to me wasn’t very impressive, but the last one really spoke to my heart”. More conversations continued over a period time and I made a promise to him that, if he really wanted, I could bring his monks to a big city for lessons. We would call them “The Crimson Class” because of the colour of their robes. The idea was that local people, in particular, would teach them English and the gospels using Bible stories plus basic science and healthcare. I made this promise to him “in faith” that it would happen but I had no idea how it would work out. Certainly, at the time I did not know how we were going to do it in this particular city or who we could team up with and the logistics seemed almost totally impossible. However, I just felt in my heart that I had to make him the promise – come what may!
If you want to read the amazing story of what happened next…… it’s all in my latest book “Heartreach”.
EDITOR’S COMMENT:
God is on the move across this planet. When a Buddhist Rinpoche wants his monks to become Christians, something wonderful is happening! Professor Mel Richardson has an exciting testimony and it is hoped in 2021 we may be able to arrange some public meetings across UK where he can share the story of what God is doing. In the meantime his book is available globally here:
UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heartreach-Ongoing-Project-Dengke-Story/dp/1789265142
USA
https://www.amazon.com/Heartreach-Ongoing-Project-Dengke-Story/dp/1789265142
Mel Richardson MBE, BTech (Hons), Ph.D, CChem, CSci, FIMMM, FRSC, FRSA, is Professor Emeritus at Portsmouth University, Honorary Chinese Citizen, and Visiting Professor to Sichuan. He has an international reputation both as an academic in the field of materials engineering and as a Christian adventurer and man of vision. He established the Care and Share Foundation to help raise funds those in need in China/Tibet and other global locations, having been first inspired and highly motivated by Mike Cole. He is adamant that this is all of God’s Grace and a clear testimony to “… what ordinary folk can achieve with a mustard seed of faith”.
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