On the afternoon of 18 September, Mission Manager Immanuel and YJM staff member Raja drove for about 90 minutes from Guindy to the rural village of Enathur for the dedication of a new Advent Christian Conference church.
Enathur is a small village about 50 kms from Chennai. The new church is an outreach church plant of the South Agaram Advent Christian Conference church, which is on the northwest edge of Greater Chennai City, which is pastored by Rev S Stephenson (at left in picture below). The pastor of the Enathur church is Rev Cornelious (at right in picture below).
Since the beginning of his ministry in Agaram in 2009, Rev Stephenson has slowly and steadily developed this ministry. There are now 12 families – around 60 people – in membership and there are others presently preparing for baptism. Immanuel reported that “The church building is small and nice.”
About two years back YJM helped the members with a modest sum to assist with the commencement of construction and at the dedication service presented the congregation with 20 Advent Christian hymn books and a further small sum as encouragement.
During the service of dedication and celebration it was stated that the total cost for the building was around 13.5 lakhs rupees –1,350,000 rupees or about NZ$27,500. The Advent Christian Conference contributed about 250,000 rupees towards the cost of the building, but the balance was raised from donations from individual members and friends and supporters from other churches, including one very generous gift of 150,000 rupees (NZ$3,060) from a member of another large AC church at Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai city.
During the dedication service it was stated that there is considerable potential for growth in the village and surrounding areas. Please thank the Lord for this further place of Christian witness and worship and pray that God will bring blessing to many through His people in Enathur as the Gospel is faithfully preached.