Joe Maharaj

In 1909, Joe Maharaj came to America from East Punjab, India, and sought here and there to find the God his parents had told him about. Then in the summer of 1938, God led him into a barbershop to ask directions. He said he had heard about camp meeting and wanted to go, but did not know the way. The barbershop happened to be operated by a man who attended the Apostolic Faith. Though it was midmorning, the barber put away his razor and shears, and drove Brother Joe to the tabernacle where a prayer meeting was in progress. Upon entering the building, Brother Joe said, “God is in this place. I can feel God here in this place!” He then went to the altar and began to pray with great earnestness. The workers gathered around him, helping him to pray, and God saved him.

He was instantly delivered from tobacco, and God showed him it was even wrong to sell it. Later, at the water baptismal service, he watched the converts being immersed in water, and said it was the most wonderful thing he had ever seen. The next year, while he was praying at the church on Sixth and Burnside, God sanctified him.

For many years Brother Joe operated a popcorn wagon in downtown Portland, Oregon, and he became a familiar figure in the city. He sent money from his popcorn and candy business to his needy relatives in India, and it enabled his sister to send her boys to school. They wrote to tell how this raised their standard of living. The nephews begged their uncle to return to India to be near them, saying he would never have to work again, and they would accept his religion. Wanting to remain close to his Christian friends, Brother Joe did not return to India. However, he continued to minister to his family in any way that he could.  

When Brother Joe heard that his brother was interested in this Gospel, he paid for him to come to Portland and see for himself how God was transforming lives. With surprise and pleasure, the retired school teacher prepared for the reunion with his brother whom he had not seen for forty-two years, and who had found reality in Christianity.

At the close of his first Apostolic Faith meeting, he went to the altar and prayed. He found God and afterward said, “I feel good inside.” Before going back home, he said, “I came to pray and I like it. I like that the people pray to God. Everything is good here. I forget about my home and my troubles, and I enjoy myself. When I get home I will tell my family how good these people are.”

Many of the prayers Brother Joe has prayed through the years have been answered. With this one, he could hardly contain the joy he felt in knowing that his loved one had become acquainted with Jesus and experienced His saving power.

One evening, Brother Joe worked late and arrived at church after the quarterly ordinance service had begun. The usher, not recognizing him, said this part of the meeting was for believers only and not open to the general public. Brother Joe replied, "Oh, me belong here! Me saved.” He said this was the church where God told him it was wrong to smoke cigars and cigarettes. God has done much more than that for him: He gave him salvation, sanctification, the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and a home away from home among the saints. Brother Joe really belongs!

The above was taken from writings in Apostolic Faith papers published in 1939 and 1949.