Vol 15, No 2 Apr 2018

STANDING FIRM, BUT NOT STANDING STILL

PTS Newsletter Presbyterian Theological Seminary

In this issue:

46TH

Graduation Service

What Will the Graduates Do?

Distinguished Alumni Award

Graduating class of 2018

46th GRADUATION SERVICE HELD AT PTS: The Forty sixth Graduation Service of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary was held on 28 April, 2018 at the Young Strom Chapel on campus in Dehradun. The service started with the processional hymn, “Christ Shall Have Dominion.” Twenty eight students graduated including seventeen in Bachelors and eleven in Masters degrees. Rev. Dr. Russell St. John, Lead Pastor from Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church, USA addressed the graduates with a message titled, “The Method of a Minister.”

STROM MISSION LECTURE: The annual Strom Mission Lecture was held on 26 April 2018. Dr. Paul Cornelius, Regional Secretary, Asia Theological Association presented a paper with the title: “Engaging a Whole Generation: Reclaiming the Future of the Church.” Reaching and retaining the millennial generation was the concern of the speaker. Rev. Phil Fiol, Rev. Jaison George, both Pastors, Mr. Ramesh Chand, Faculty Member, and Mr. Christopher David, a student, responded to the paper. It was a timely reflection on the mission of the present day church. WHAT WILL THE GRADUATES DO? While a few are still considering various options, most of the graduates have ministry plans. Please see below what our graduates are going to do: Anand Gurana will be working with Christ Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Assembly in Andhra Pradesh. Sandeep Barma will assist his father in pastoral ministry in Nepal. Rani Barma will assist her husband Sandeep Barma to work among the women and children of their church. Mr. T. Kipgen will work among the youth of his church in Manipur. Ashok Kumar will work as an assistant pastor at Bangalore Presbyterian Church. Rajadurai will work in Tamilnadu with Christ for All mission organization. Pramod Giri will work as a Dean of men in a hostel in Nepal. Ram Tahal Gupta will do church planting in Nepal with his local church. Stephen Raj will be working as an Intern at Agape Presbyterian church in Bangalore. Sunil Subba will work with his home church, Presbyterian Free Church in Sikkim. Pritam Khaling will work with the United Church of India in Darjeeling. Sanjiv Rai will continue to do further studies in PTS. Hungyo Yuimi will go back to his home church in Manipur. Yungran Vushum will be involved in Counselling and Bible study in his home church in Manipur. Gideon Raj would like to be involved in a teaching ministry. Vipul will be working at Saharanpur with the Reformed Presbyterian Church in India. Anil Kumar will be doing church planting in Goa. James Mohite is considering working with the Christian Reformed Fellowship of India in the western states of India. Vula Nath will be working with the Church of North India, Diocese of Rajasthan. Soni would like to work among women and children in New Delhi. Renubala Nayak will work as a dorm mother at the Grace Academy hostel in Dehradun. Avijit Horo will work at the Amazing Grace Church in New Delhi. Asha Sen will work with her church among women and children in Dehradun, Rishikesh and Saharanpur. Pravesh Tamang will be assisting his pastor in Kalimpong under the Presbyterian Free Church. Bonifas Khora will work in a church planting ministry in Sudhowala under the Reformed Presbyterian Church in India. Arjun Nepali will work in a church planting ministry with Valley Bible Fellowship in Dehradun. Sushma is considering teaching in a Mission school. Anu SR will be working with the Zalgo Mission in Bangalore.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD: This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award was given during the Graduation Service to Rev. Samuel Macgregor. Rev. Samuel is the President of the PTS board; He is also pastor of the Covenant

Reformed Presbyterian Church of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in India (RPCI).Ever since he came to know Christ, he had great desire to preach the gospel. He overcame formidable hurdles to remain true to his primary call to preach whenever and wherever opportunities arose. His call to pastoral ministry was severely tested as he went through prolonged suffering and pain, but he persevered and the Lord caused him to emerge from this hardship even stronger than before. His congregation was once a handful of people who worshipped without much true identity without proper place of worship. Today this handful of people has grown into a thriving congregation of several hundred believers. He also serves various societies such as, Hope for Children Society, Grace Academy, etc.

NEWS FROM THE FIELDS – Eastern Himalayan Church Council: Rev. Sudan Tsering Lepcha graduated from PTS in 2000. He is at present serving as the Moderator of the Eastern Himalayan Church Council (EHCC), which is a Presbyterian Church Council affiliated to United Church of Northern India. EHCC alone has 109 churches and six fellowships in the districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurdar and Jalpaiguri. EHCC is a self-reliant council having branches in coal fields of Meghalaya and eastern boarders of Nepal. Several PTS alumni hold key positions in this church, such as Rev. T.S. Molommu (PTS ’04), serving as General Secretary. The churches constitute bodies called Kirk Sessions for decentralization of power and functions. Other leaders within the church who are graduates of PTS are Rev. Lochan Kabo (’10), Rev. Silvanus Lepcha (’10), Rev. Kushal Rai (’10), Rev. Noel Lepcha (’07), Rev. Nick Vanlalthanga Chhetri (’10), Rev. Pralad Hingmang (’10), Rev. Sachin Gurung (’10) with wife Mrs. Ruth Rai (’10), Rev. Sriraj Rasaily (’05), Rev. Vikas Rasaily (’04), Rev. Jolen Lepcha (’15), Rev. Sudan Namchu Lepcha )’14), and Mrs. Geeta Rai (’01). PTS ALUMNI UTTARAKHAND MEET: Forty PTS alumni came together to form Dehradun chapter on 11 May, 2018 at the PTS campus. The program started with devotion led by Principal Dr. Mathew Ebenezer. Under the leadership of Rev. Vijai Tagore, Mr. Ramesh Chand, Mr. Anid D’Souza, Mr. Isaac G, and Rev. L. Roshyama, the gathering discussed

topics such as the Purpose and Vision of the alumni, how PTS can help the alumni, and how the alumni can contribute to PTS. The Association also aims to promote fellowship and prayer among the members. New office bearers were elected for the coming year: Rev. L. Roshyama Hrangchal (President), Rev. Rajkumar (Secretary), Mrs. Neelam Singh (Treasurer), Communication & Media Secretary: Mr. Isaac Gajendran, Members: Mr. Anil D’Souza and Mr. Ramraj Dhanraj.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ALUMNI SEMINAR (Speakers Rev. Suraj Chellaiah in Bangalore, Rev. Vijai Tagore in Sikkim and Silliguri)

BANGALORE: Date 7 June. Contact: Rev. Paul Raj 8217862271, Rev. Kuppusamy 8667284295

SIKKIM: Date 4 June. Contact: Rev. Shyam Subba 9832555056, Rev. Pemba Nuri Sherpa 9434447492 KALIMPONG: 26 May. Contact: Rev. Sudan Lepcha 9832570840

As we do not have an updated list, alumni are kindly requested to take initiative to contact the persons above to confirm and to attend the seminars in their region.

CLASS 0F 2018

RAJADURAI, B.MIN

PRITAM K, B.MIN

VIPUL, B.TH

ANIL KUMAR, B.TH

RENUBALA, B.TH

SANDEEP B, B.TH

STEPHEN RAJ, B.TH

RANI BARMA, B.TH

JAMES M, B.TH

SONI, B.TH

ASHA KUMAR, B.TH

SUNIL SUBBA, B.TH

AVIJIT HORO, B.TH

SUSHMA, B.TH

SANJIV RAI, B.TH

PRAVESH T, B.TH

ANU SR, B.TH

T KIPGEN, M.MIN

YUNGRAN V, M.DIV

VULA NATH,M.DIV

BONIFAS K, M.DIV

HUNGYO YUIMI

ASHOK K, M.DIV

ANAND G, M.DIV

RAMTAHAL, M.DIV

GIDEON RAJ, M.DIV

PRAMOD, M.DIV

ARJUN N, M.DIV

PROJECTS Sponsor a student: There are several student candidates who are in need of support. Sponsor a student for 3 or 4 years, by investing approximately $ 1800 per year/$150 per month, covering tuition and boarding. Any amount you can give is appreciated. Gifts and donations, indicating its purpose can be sent to any of the following: Gifts and donations indicating its purpose can be sent to any of the following: 1. Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Saving Bank Acct No. 306802010008768, Union Bank of India, Dehradun. Swift Code No: UBININBBDER, IFSC: UBIN0530689. 2. Association for Reformed Ministries Abroad. C/o Mrs Jean A. Schreur, 4544 Van Buren, Hudsonville, MI 49426, USA. 3. Mission to the World, 1600 North Brown Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, USA.

WEBSITE: Please do visit our website www.ptsindia.com for more information about us. The

Newsletter and the Daily Prayer Guide are available at our website. Upon request, these can be

sent to you by email. Please write to: revroshyama@ptsindia.com

Rev. L. Roshyama Hrangchal, Editor & Vice Principal, Development & Projects.