MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT OF SOME GRADUATING STUDENTS

Another busy academic year is coming to a close. Asked about their plans after graduation, some of the students were happy to share their prospects. Many will be teaching in Bible Colleges in India.

Joy T Samuel (MTh-Theology) says, “I look forward to teaching young people in Indian Pentecostal Church Kottayam Theological Seminary, Kerala, training them to be effective workers for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray that God will use me effectively in this area.”

Hokiye Rochill (MTh-Missions) will teach Bachelor of Theology students at the Nito Theological Institute, Nagaland, managed by the Sumi Baptist Churches Association. He says, “ SAIACS has been a blessing to me because it has molded me to strive for excellence in all that I do.”

D S Patrick (MTh-New Testament) will work with two organizations, International Missions to India (IMI) and Gospel Trumpets Ministries (GTM) both of which are working in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, in church planting and social development programs. In the near future, they plan to open a Bible training programme, to equip Telugu speaking young people, rural pastors, and evangelists for church planting.

“It is going to be a big challenge,” says Patrick, “but I am confident that the Lord, who has called me to serve him, is trustworthy.” Patrick married MA student Ruth on the 7th of April.

S Antony Devasahayam (MTh-History of Christianity) will move to Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. He will be joining the Asian College of Cultural Studies of Operation Mobilization as a lecturer in the History of Christianity Department. He is excited about the options open before him and says,” I will visit our mission fields to evaluate our students and preach in the churches in and around Hyderabad city. Later, I hope to write a book on Church History keeping in mind Indian students and the Indian context.”

While many students are going to urban areas, Hannah (Diploma in Christian Ministry) and D. Alexander (MA) are returning as theological educators among the Bondo tribe of Orissa. Alexander says,” Training secret disciples (seekers) who in turn will live in their own villages and teach other secret believers is the challenging task ahead of us. Only three of the 62 tribal groups in Orissa have been reached. The larger vision is to open a small Bible School for the tribal people of Orissa.” Hannah sums up her time at SAIACS as ”filling up our spiritual tanks to do the ministry, back in Orissa –especially the task of translation of the New Testament into the Bondo language.”

We pray for God’s blessings for these and all the other graduating students.

COUPLE CREATE SAIACS HISTORY

Khiangte Lalrinthanga and Chawngthanpari (Pari) are all set to become the first couple to complete their PhD from SAIACS. Before coming for studies at SAIACS, they served as missionaries for eighteen years under the Baptist Church of Mizoram in the Northeastern States of Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh in India. Lalrinthanga has completed his PhD in Missiology and Chawngthanpari will be submitting her thesis for PhD in the Department of Christianity of the University of Mysore through SAIACS.

Pari says, “SAIACS has sharpened my theological understanding and broadened my knowledge academically. I am much challenged by what I have come across and experienced here and I would like to go back soon so that the information and insights that I have gained may be put into practice so that others might be blessed.”

Lalrinthanga sums up his reflections as, “I can confidently say that SAIACS is a God given institution where my wife and I could pursue our higher studies. I have been enabled to strike a balance between the importance of having adequate theoretical knowledge and practical experience for effective ministry. The teaching, preaching and life-style of all the faculty members of SAIACS have richly blessed me.”

We wish both of them the best and the blessings of God as they go back to minister in their home church, the Baptist Church of Mizoram.

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