Norman Meeten: My Turning Point
37 years ago, I was at a crossroad. After reading a small booklet about Jesus Christ, I wanted to know who he really was. For some mysterious reasons, I loved that little book and the name of Jesus Christ so very much. But I could not make the transition from him being a wonderful teacher/philosopher into him becoming my God and savior. To make the matter worse I got acquainted with a little Christian group in Dhangadi, a town in far western Nepal, on a wrong footing. So, I was torn between the desire to know Jesus Christ and the desire to get away from this Christian group. I was indeed at this crossroad, unable to make up my mind in one way or the other.
It was during the Hindu festival of Tihar (holidays) that this little Christian group were holding special meetings for a few days. I had no idea what it would look like. In fact, I had planned to go home for the holidays. For some reason before leaving for home village, I decided to attend the first evening.
I had already become familiar with their church services, and wasn’t a fan of it. In the first service I ever attended, I was commanded to take my Nepali cap off of my head. It was a humiliating experience. So, I was curious about this new meeting. The start of the meeting wasn’t any different. Only it was late in the evening. There were about ten or less than ten people. A sweet little English man by the name of Norman Meeten, wearing a bushy beard, started to speak. Pastor Balram Bhatta began to translate. The text was Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
As he went on in speaking, and oblivious to everyone in the meeting, something tangible, something that I can still remember, began to happen in my chest. It was a mixed sensation of sadness and gladness; a feeling of breathlessness and heat. For the first time, I saw my own sinfulness, and it made me terribly sad and fearful. But the word “gospel” rang so loud and clear in my inner most heart, giving me hope and desire to live. That was the night, I saw my need for a savior and the Son of God extended his merciful and gracious hands to a sinner like me. In that meeting, without any outward signs or public confessions, I surrendered my broken heart to Christ and asked him to be my God and my Savior. The next day I went to my home in a continued sense of confessing my sins and surrendering my life to Christ.
That was my first and last seeing of Rev. Meeten. In fact I don’t remember speaking to him personally even during our first meeting; I couldn’t make one proper English sentence. I have heard of him coming to Nepal many times during his long and blessed ministry but never had the opportunity to meet him personally. As I grew in my faith and calling, I always wanted to thank him personally. A few years ago when the social media became a thing, I tried to write to him through one of his acquaintances. Not sure if he ever got that. Regardless, Rev. Meeten occupies a special seat of affection in my heart and I guess I will have to wait a little longer to tell him how the Lord brought him to touch my life in that far western town in Nepal. May the Lord watch over his family and those who feel the loss in his passing into glory!
Ministry is all about touching human lives, and to do this, you don’t need to have multi-million dollar projects and mighty megaphones. All you need is a holy love for God and people; a self-less service unto the poor and needy. Rev. Meeten is a living example of modern day apostolic ministry that has left behind countless souls touched for the glory of God.
