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Goals | History |
Organization
Mission
The Mission of South Asia Church is to serve God in an Atmosphere of worship with
which we can identify; foster spiritual unity and growth in our group; create a South
Asian Christian identity for our youth; make a statement of unity to other ethnic
cultures present; give opportunities to everyone to participate in church activities; provide
a "home away from home" for South Asian Students at Andrews University; develop our
cultural heritage to honor God; support mission projects locally and/or overseas; define
our role among non-Christian South Asians in Michiana; and launch into outreach and
in reach ministries sharing God's word and providing Christian nurture.
Program
Besides conducting the the Sabbath School and the Church Service, we also hold prayer meetings periodically. We need to meet
more often in small groups for prayer meetings. The memorial services conducted for various people have indeed strengthened
the bereaved. Our Christmas caroling in non-Christian homes have been quiet satisfactory. Christmas program and New Year's
Eve's consecration and communion service were spiritually uplifting. We need to improve on our visitation ministry and camp-
out opportunities. We involve the students and youth in our Church programs. They have opportunity to preach in the divine
service, teach Sabbath school lesson, preside over the meeting, lead out in the
singspiration, attend the committee meetings,
take part in the program and do various other religious as well as social activities. We are committed to
providing training
to our young people so that they can accept church leadership eventually. We involve children in our program as well.
Fellowship
The South Asia Church is always sensitive to the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of the people.
We have gone to other States to pray for the sick, to attend funeral, to console the bereaved and to encourage people who were
going through difficult times. We have provided them funds and food as a token of our support and caring love. We should be doing
more in terms nurturing one another. I realize we are all busy, but we still need to make some time for fellowship and spiritual
bonding with one another.
Appeal
The South Asia Church is always sensitive to the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of the people.
We have gone to other States to pray for the sick, to attend funeral, to console the bereaved and to encourage people who were
going through difficult times. We have provided them funds and food as a token of our support and caring love. We should be doing
more in terms nurturing one another. I realize we are all busy, but we still need to make some time for fellowship and spiritual
bonding with one another.
Finance
It costs about $10,000.00 to operate our church annually. This dies not include pastor's
salary. The pastor receives no salary or stipend. He serves on a voluntary basis. Our
annual church income is even less than $1,000.00 which we receive in the form of South Asia
Church expense offerings. We send all the tithes received from our congregation to the
Pioneer Memorial Church (PMC). One might wonder how we are meeting the deficit. Only a
handful few families are donating hundreds of dollars in cash and kind. They do it happily
because they love this church. They think they are doing it for the Lord. These donations
are food, utensils, supplies, stationeries, equipments, birthday gifts, visitor's gifts,
post office box rental, Christmas gifts, mother's day flowers, travel and cash. Our annual
budget presented to the administrative committee adequately explains this reality. But our
budget does not show the cost of the countless hours of free labor given by individuals for
the church. I feel that the South Asia Church is somewhat like the apostolic church where
members donated their money and land for the cause of spreading the gospel.
Goals
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To conduct Sabbath services including Sabbath school and Church service for worship and fellowship
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To Conduct Friday night prayer meetings.
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To conduct weekend camp meetings and retreats.
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To go on a mission trips to other churches.
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To witness to non-Christians through Christmas caroling, visitation, friendship ministry and other outreach programs.
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To attempt to build a strong financial base for church activities.
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To attempt to build a strong financial base for church activities.
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To train our youth for leadership roles by giving them opportunities to lead out in various church
activities.
History
The History of the South Asia Church traces back to 1970s, when some South Asian
graduate students of Andrews University initiated the periodic gatherings of the students and
community members for religious and social purposes. During almost the first two decades
these gatherings were held at various homes for Friday night prayer meetings. Among those
who made notable contributions in terms of leadership of this "church" group during its
embryonic stages are (in alphabetical order of their surnames): Sam Abraham, Gordon
Christo,
George Daniel, Pramod Gaikwad, Sam Gaikwad, Moses Jebaraj, Samuel Kaligithi, Melchizedek
Ponniah, K. V. Rathnam and John Willmott.
Our records indicate that on May 1, 1993, the South Asians, mostly Andrews University
graduate students and some community members met at the Berrien Springs residence of
Moses Jebaraj, a seminary student, and decided to conduct the monthly Sabbath services
in our ethnic mode to involve our people in church activities and also to keep alive
the good cultures and traditions of our native regions. Samuel Kaligithi, then a
seminary student, was one of the main persons who provided initial leadership in
operating the monthly services. In 1994, when Samuel left to accept a call from the Ohio
Conference, Sunith Das was asked to be the pastor. During the past eight years the South
Asia Church's infrastructure, mission and objectives became more clearer than ever before.
As we enter the twenty-first century and the third millennium, we have the reason to believe
that the South Asia Church will heighten its goals. Normally, we met on the first
Sabbath
of the month and sometimes on the other Sabbaths too as needs arise on the campus of Andrews
University. Besides, we conduct Friday vespers in people's homes for a closer fellowship.
Now more and more of our people have chance to be involved in preaching, class teaching,
presiding, singing and other church activities.
Organization
Although the South Asia Church was initially started for the South Asians so that they can
worship and fellowship once a month in their own ethnic mode, there has been a philosophical
shift overtime. The South Asia Church is open to all -- South Asians, non-South Asians,
students and non-students. It is not restricted to any particular ethnic group or groups.
Presently it is being operated under the umbrella of Pioneer Memorial Church (PMC) and therefore
it is an affiliate congregation of the Pioneer Memorial Church. The attendees at our services,
who are members of the Seventh-day Adventist and non-Seventh day Adventist Churches, come from
different ethnic backgrounds. More and more people from other ethnic groups are attending our
church.