No Turning Back
The Gunti Story
Venkanna and Pochamma Gunti were members of the Dalit caste in India in the early 1900s. The Dalit people were considered the lowest caste, labeled “untouchables” by the rest of the people around them. This destined the young couple for a life in abject poverty. Though they worshipped the Hindu gods, they felt abandoned and alone.
When a kind white man unexpectedly moves into their village and begins to share about his powerful God, Venkanna is enamored. Soon, he learns what it means to follow Jesus, and must decide if he will turn away from his false gods, no matter the cost. The Guntis experience first-hand the grace and provision of the one true God, and their legacy of faith lives on in India even generations later.
Historical Photos
No Turning Back is a true story! The Guntis and Mr. Parker were real people who experienced real challenges in their walks of faith. Below, you can see real photos of the individuals featured in this story!
Christianity in India
Mr. Parker boldly shared the gospel with people in Hyderabaad, India. India is a country in South Asia which is currently the most populous country in the world! With a population of nearly 1.5 billion people, India is a vibrant place full of fallen people in need of a Savior. Sadly, less than 6% of these people know Jesus. The majority religion is Hinduism.
Thanks to God’s work through people like Mr. Parker, there is a small but strong number of Christians. However, there is unfortunately a lot of hostility toward Christians from Hindu extremists, and persecution is common. Some states have even passed anti-conversion laws. Remember Christians in India in your prayers.
Resources for Further Learning
Want to learn more about the Guntis and their legacy of faith in Hyderabad, India? Here are some resources for you to explore!
2019 BVI Trip to India
For several years now, BVI has had an active licensing and distribution agreement with Good Life Ministries, a children’s outreach ministry founded in 2000 by the grandson of Venkanna and Pochamma. In 2019, our Executive Director and his family traveled to Hyderabad, India to see the ministry in action!
Barnabas Aid | The Persecuted Church
Elinor Young’s memoir, published in 2022, records her story in her own words.
Behind the Scenes
BVI had the unique opportunity to work with a native Indian artist connected with Good Life Ministries to illustrate No Turning Back. Pictured above is Tom Luttmann, our executive director, with Das. Das labored for several months to bring this story to life. We were excited to see all of the cultural context he was able to bring to this project to ensure the accuracy of the illustrations.
Ever wonder how BVI illustrations come to be? Getting each illustration to the final published version is a long process! This is how most of the illustrations begin–as simple concept sketches by one of the project managers. From these abstract sketches, our talented artists (like Das!) are able to build on the concept and add the details that become the final image.
