Testimony of Naresh B. Talathoti
Greetings! In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
My name is Naresh Talathoti; Physician, trained in Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada, India. Trained in Clinical Research at Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Currently working in Trauma & Emergency Surgery at University of Texas (UT) Health at San Antonio (UTHSA) working in University Hospital in Trauma & Emergency Surgery as Clinical Research Project Manager.
My journey towards knowing Christ started In the year 1981 when I was 11 years old. close to where I lived, was a boys hostel, where I befriended a boy my age .we spent time playing . We grew quite fond of each other. One day not finding him in hostels and on enquiring I was told to look for him in the conifer woods .As I was looking and searching for them, I heard “Praises” and followed the voices, by the time I got close to the place from where the “Praises” were coming from. I saw group of kids who were “on their knees”, they were literally crying, praying, and worshiping God. Inadvertently, I knelt and started praying and praising God along with them. Now as I reminiscent our prayers and praises were obviously innocent immature blabbering Nevertheless, I am grateful to mention that I had literally experienced the “Presence of God” . Acts 15:8 “And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us”,
There was one High School kid among that group who is a Pastor’s son. He was sharing the Gospel to (Non-Christian) kids and had inspired all of us with many ‘Verses’ from the Bible and with his prayers and praises to God. He mentioned about an upcoming all night prayer in their Church on New Year’s Eve (Year 1981). I asked my Mom’s permission , but she said ‘No’. Since I was so desperate to go, I went anyway without telling my parents and I was away from my home for two days, which is very wrong thing to do, and I will not advise anyone to do that. My two older brothers were searching for me frantically and finally, they found me at Pastor’s home, which is right next to the Church. That Pastor is a Medical Doctor by profession, but he left the medical practice and came to full time Ministry to serve the Lord. Even though my brothers found me after two days, I was reluctant to go with them to my home. Somehow, they convinced me to took me home.
After everything settled down , I have shared my experience with my family. However, this is not the regular church that we go to, but my fellowship with Pastor’s son continued. After few sessions of sermons on the Baptism, I thought to myself that I need to take immersion Baptism. I was able to convince my family and I got baptised when I was in 6th grade. Though, I got baptised, I always think wasn’t I too young and pre-mature to get baptised? Was it a full-fledged baptism? Did I have full understanding about sin, hell fire, redemption, salvation, and eternity? These are the questions that keep popping in my head. I was leading my life like every other nominal Christian and doing all sorts of things with the friends which a true Christian shouldn’t do.
My father always dreamt of seeing me as a Doctor. Unfortunately, he passed away March 1989 when I was only 19 years old . Hosea 14:3“For in You the fatherless find compassion.” My parents dream came true, because of their blessings & God’s grace I got into one of the prestigious medical colleges, in Andhra Pradesh, South India, named Rangaraya Medical College (RMC) in September 1989, which was located in Kakinada , In 1992, when I was 22 years old (3rd year Medical Student), I had severe pain in my loins both sides of my Kidneys, I was diagnosed with bilateral stag-horn renal calculi and needed a surgery to remove the kidney stones. Urologist were surprised to know that I had never experienced pain or any symptoms . He said, he was amazed to know how I had survived so far without any complications.!! In the year 1992, Government General Hospital (GGH) Kakinada, did not have any surgical equipment to remove the Kidney Stones. So the Hospital Superintendent referred me to Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Hyderabad. I was in a Railway Station with my Mom and brothers, waiting for the train that goes to Hyderabad city , frantically looking for reservations tickets as I was literally going through trauma, fear anxiety crying and praying to God and thinking why did I get this problem? Isn’t this what old people suffer from ? Will my both kidneys work normally after the surgery? These are the questions troubling me that moment. That is the time, I prayed and asking God, “if you save me and get me out of this problem, I will surrender myself totally and serve in your Ministry” . Surgery was successful and Surgeon showed me the stones in a glass bottle. Later I learned that I had an anaphylactic reaction with General Anaesthetic (Pentothal sodium) which caused a delayed recovery from Anaesthesia effect that made me to stay longer in Post Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU). With the prayers of the loved ones, God miraculously saved my life and helped me to recovered from anaphylactic reaction. Doctors did not communicated with me or with my family why I stayed longer in PACU.
I graduated in 1996, finished my House Sergeancy in 1997, and got married in the same year. Worked as a House Physician in multi-specialty hospitals (Medwin Hospitals and Dr. Soma Raju’s CARE Cardiac Institute) for two years. In 1999, I got an opportunity to teach in a Medical School at Spartan Health Sciences University, School of Medicine, in St. Lucia, Eastern Caribbean Island. Worked as a Teaching Faculty until 2002.
After we moved to St. Lucia, my wife conceived and 6 months later, again Kidney stones problem recurred, and we had to go back to India for my wife’s delivery and the surgery. This time the delayed recovery was much worst since the Anaesthesiologist had no clue about delayed recovery in 1992 and gave full dose of Pentothal sodium for General Anaesthesia, and my respiratory parameters went low towards respiratory failure and ended up with mechanical support (Ventilator). I was shocked to see myself next to a Ventilator and Jyothi my wife was kneeling down next to the bed and praying. I asked why I was next to Ventilator? What happened to me? Is everything okay? Jyothi reassured me saying, everything is good, not to worry! Take rest! With all loved ones prayers God miraculously spared my life again for the second time. At that time, Spirit of God prompted me to remember my decision that I have taken in 1992 towards God’s ministry. Since 1992 to 2003 (11 years), I had multiple procedures for my recurrent kidney stones problem. I have almost had near death experience quite a few times but God spared my life with His matchless Mercy. I rededicated my life again to lead a life that is pleasing to God, but never totally surrendered my life to Christ. I was “lukewarm” all along.
In 2002, I have got an opportunity to work in Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY as “Post-doctoral research fellow” in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology. Then worked as “Post-doctoral Research Scientist until 2015, possessing 13 years of Clinical Research Experience in Coordination and Management of Industry Sponsored, NIH Sponsored, Department of Defense (DoD) funded and Principal Investigator (PI) initiated clinical trials and successfully managed Drug & Device clinical trials (Phase I to Phase IV) from Initiation through close out, manuscript preparation and publication. In 2009, I obtained Green Card and later became US Citizen in 2017 after moving Texas.
Family background:
My parents are originally from Guntur, India and they moved to Visakhapatnam in 1963. We (all 4 siblings) were born and brought up in Visakhapatnam. My parents belong to Lutheran denomination. I was born in February, 1970. My both parents were teachers by profession. My father (Surya Prakasharao Talathoti) went to be with the Lord in 1989 when I was 19 years old. As per my father’s wishes and prayers, I got into Medical School, RMC. in the same year (1989) and completed by Medical Degree (MBBS) in 1995. My wife, Jyothi Rani Talathoti completed her Ayurvedic Medical Degree (BAMS) in the same year. We got married in December 1997. My wife works at Methodist Hospital as a Quality Coordinator for Heart Transplant Team. We have one daughter (Preeti Talathoti) who is 21 and one Son (Pratheek Talathoti) who is 12 .
Mom’s hard work and blessings through her prayers:
My Mother (Lalitha Bai Yandrapati) worked so hard to raise 4 kids, with no support from her husband since he went to be with Lord when he was only 47 years old (On March 2nd, 1989). I have tried so many times to bring my mother to USA, but she never showed interest and finally went to be with the Lord on February 29th 2016 (Surprisingly the same month she was born). My mom worked so hard to bring up all of us. My mom was a prayer warrior and a singer. I truly believe that whatever blessings that we received are through my mom’s prayers and blessings. I miss my mom a lot and cherish all those memories.
Ministry experience and calling:
After many years of uncertainty about “Ministry Calling”, in year 2005, we had a visiting servant of God from India (Br. Vincent Gurrala) who stayed in New York, for couple of months, shared the Word of God on the salvation, revival, second coming of Lord Jesus Christ and especially on the importance & significance on Baptism. We almost had prayer meetings on every other day for couple of months which has never happened again in NYC. I was truly blessed by the Word of God and inspired to take the immersion Baptism this time with the full understanding on Sin, hell fire, redemption, salvation and eternity so on and so forth. I have realised that Jesus died for me and forgiven my sins. Without the Salvation, I would end up in a lake of fire that burns forever. Though, we need to take Baptism only once, my heart yielded towards taking the Baptism again when I was 35 years old. I have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and I took immersion Baptism in a Baptist Church in Richmond Hill, New York in the year of 2005.
I Peter 3: 15-16 says:
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
I consider myself very fortunate to be saved and leading my spiritual life since then. I am glad to mention that I have served as a Finance secretory, Treasurer, and Deacon. Later on, By God’s grace I became an Elder in a Telugu Christian Church of New York (TCCNY) in Sunnyside, Queens where I have attended from 2002 to 2015. I lead the Praise & Worship team along with other brethren. By God’s grace, I started singing “Solo songs” and share the “Word of God” whenever I get an opportunity. Later on, I did my Theological studies (M. Tch) and I was ordained by the same church. We moved to Texas in 2015, and prayed for 4 years, to open a door for my pastoral ministry. After so many sleepless nights and waking up in the middle of the night for prayer, God gave me peace and confidence to take a decision to plant a Church in 2019 on a Easter Sunday (April 21st, 2019).
I am very fortunate to meet Rev. Dr. Ely Prieto who attended and preached in our Church. He was introduced to me by Pastor Vijay Gurrala who did M. Div in LCMS. Pastor Ely encouraged me and supported me to become Licensed Deacon of Lutheran Church of Missouri Synod (LCMS). The Board of Directors of Texas District took 2 years to approve my application and ordained me and conducted ceremony with white rob and stole on a Easter Sunday in 2021 (April 4th, 2021). I am allowed and eligible to share “Word and Sacrament” in American Lutheran Churches. I am in the process of joining Concordia Seminary to do further theological studies (EIIT Program) in Concordia Theological Seminary, LCMS, St. Louise, Missouri. It is a 4 year program and the ordination that I will be receiving is recognised world wide since this Seminary is there since 18th Century and well reputed and well known theological seminary. Please remember me, my family and ministry in your prayers. Thank you! God’s Blessings!
Closing thoughts:
My main calling is to share the Gospel to the people who comes from different religious backgrounds and does not recognise that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour. Our Church mission is to “Worshipping, sharing Gospel and serving to bring more souls into God’s Kingdom.” It is difficult to reach people of Indian origin with their different religious backgrounds. I am glad to mention that I have an expertise that is not available to any LCMS Congregation in San Antonio. I know the language, the culture and have a heart for mission to work among my own people. It will give more opportunity for outreach, especially among the people that speak my mother tongue “Telugu” and doknow the Lord Jesus Christ. We are involved in Homeless ministry, Prison Ministry and Mission Outreach.
Gospel of Jesus Christ, is the message of salvation, justification, and sanctification. The word Gospel means “Good News,” which is the message of forgiveness for sin through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. It is essentially God’s rescue plan of redemption for those who will trust in His divine Son in order to be reconciled to a just and holy God.
The Holy Spirit helps to form our conscience, to give us a healthy sense of right from wrong. Orients us toward goodness and truth, holiness and virtue. When we sin, the Holy Spirit pricks our conscience. When we fall into temptation, the Holy Spirit gives us that troubled, unsettled, uncomfortable, queasy feeling. The Holy Spirit disarms our self-deception and lies, opens our eyes to see our wrongdoing. The Holy Spirit gives us the humility, the honesty, and the courage to admit our sins. The Holy Spirit helps us to trust in God’s infinite mercy and moves us to humbly approach God for pardon.