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Ministry among the Gypsies
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Church
Planters Graduation ceremony
Team members of the gypsy community were graduated
in church planting after a two-year course of class-room
education and practical training. It was conducted
by the Institute of Community Transformation under
the overall supervision of the Arcot Lutheran Church.
The graduation ceremony was held in the ALC Broadway
church, Chennai on 30th October 2003 with all solemnity
befitting the occasion.
Rt. Rev. Gideon Devanesan, Bishop ALC, Rt. Rev.
John Franklin, Bishop Emeritus, ALC, Dr. John De’vries,
President of Mission India and his wife Madam Atts
De’ Vries, Rev. Dr. J. Chiranjeevi, Director,
Seva Bharat and his wife Rev. Dr. Kamala Chiranjeevi,
Mr.T. Richard Baskaran, Secretary Church Board of
the ALC, Mr. B. Jesudian Central Manager, ALC, and
Prof K. Jayasekaran Local Secretary, participated
in the Ceremony among others. The service was conducted
by Rev. J. Bavani Rajana, Pastor Loci. The church
choir conducted by Mr. David Balachandran the Choir
master and Mr. Bastian B. Babu was in attendance.
Rev. VVJ. Gurunathan Director, GCT, read a report
of the activities of the Institute.
The Message
Dr.De’vries who delivered the message on that
occasion compared the graduates to ‘seeds’
and said “God knows how many fruits each seed
would bear”.
Members of the Broadway congregation who attended
the ceremony were thrilled to see members of trained
community were being graduated to be the torch bearers
of the gospel and church planting. These church
planters would work among the members of their community.
The ALC, which has a tradition of ministry among
the gypsies under the programme ‘GEM’
(Gypsy Evangelical mission), has already brought
a transliteration of St.Lukes Gospel using Tamil
Script for the benefit of the vahari gypsies.
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Rt.
Rev. Gideon Devanesan, Bishop,
dedicating the graduates |
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| The
'Mission India' President Dr. De' Vries delivering
the message |
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| Mr.
Richard Baskaran, Secretary, Church Board,
addressing the gathering. Professors and representatives
of 'Mission India' are also seen |
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ALC Broadway website Launched
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| Sunday the 12th October,
2003 was a day of joy for the ALC Broadway congregation.
The reason-they were the first among the ALC congregations
to go online with a website of their own. It was
hailed by Mr. Timo Reuhkala, the Lutheran World
Federation, Department for Mission and Development
as a very good example of a single congregation
and how they can inform powerfully |
their
congregational activities internationally.
Yes, this is our objective.
The Bishop of ALC, the Rt.Rev. Gideon Devanesan,
launched the website prayerfully after dedicating
it to the Glory of God, after Sunday service.
That was also the day of Thanks - giving Festival
or what the rural congregations call it "Harvest
Festival". So the entire congregation
was present with a festive mood.
The Bishop appreciated the pioneering efforts
of the Broadway congregation in bringing the
ALC into Internet. He wished the congregation
all the best and said "You should
grow and expand your |
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activities".
Prof. K. Jayasekaran, Secretary of the Pastorate
Committee, explained to the congregation about the
content of the information fed into the website.
He also recalled the services rendered by the Danish
Missionaries who worked in Chennai in the early
years of the history of this Church.
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Rev.J.Bavani
Rajan, the Pastor Loci greeted the Bishop
on behalf of the congregation as it was the
first visitation by the Bishop to this Congregation.
Rev.A.Peter, who had served in this church
for a decade in the 70s & 80s, traced
the history of the congregation.
The Bishop also dedicated a 'generator' for
the use of the church on that occasion and
later participated in this Harvest Festival
celebrations and mingled with the congregation
exchanging greetings.
In connection with the Harvest Festival, the
Women Fellowship members had arranged Stalls
with eatables, nice delicacies etc.The Youth
Fellowship members and Junior Ministry had
arranged games, the Men's fellowship members
auction sales. The Day was celebrated in the
true spirit of the occasion.
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