Faith vs FearSample

The most fearless and faith-filled person I know is my dad, Gary Mendes. He grew up as a staunch Muslim, fearless and unshakeable regarding his religion. When he converted to Christianity, he brought that same radical and fearless devotion to his walk with Jesus, never backing down from sharing the Good News.

As a Muslim, he used to say, “I am not afraid of death; I carry my coffin wherever I go, whom shall I fear?”–meaning he was not afraid to die for his beliefs. After becoming a Christian pastor, he applied the same principle to his ministry. Whenever he left on an evangelism trip, he would tell my mom, “I might see you in a few days, or I might see you in heaven.”

Similarly, in the Bible, Queen Esther wasn’t afraid to put her life on the line to save her people. She said:

"I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” - Esther 4:16

What is inspiring about these stories is that Esther and my dad chose to put their faith in God, valuing His greater calling above their own lives. Just like Paul, who wrote:

"Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.” – Philippians 1:20-21, 23-24

Friend, if you want to be fearless for God, pray this prayer with me:

“Heavenly Father, like Esther and Paul, I surrender my life to Your purpose. Make me fearless in pursuing the Kingdom and sharing the gospel. I acknowledge that my life belongs to You and place it in Your hands as a sacrifice. Amen.”

Hey! You are a Chamatkar.

Cameron Mendes