Seventh-day Adventist Telugu Work: Malaysia - Master Guide and Churches

Master Guide and Churches

Pastor V. Samuthram, after returning from Ministerial training in Narsapur, was called to serve in Bagan Datoh and Teluk Anson churches in 1957. Meantime, Pastor P.G. Rethnam was transferred to Sungei Way, (Selangor) Telugu church.

Soon after his return Pastor Samuthram organized the MV society. His enthusiasm in developing this phase of work, and the honors displayed on the sash he wears, inspire young men and women to become missionary volunteers.

He worked with the young people for more than a year in leading and developing the MV classes. Some of the young men are canvassing in the nearby towns. They hope to receive enough compensation to entitle them to scholarships for ministerial training in India. The young men formed a football team as “Orion Footballers”.

As the membership grew and the old building began to deteriorate, there was a need for a new church. Towards the close of 1957 it was proposed that the old building be put into good shape through extensive repair. This plan of repairing the church was presenting to the manager with the estimated cost. The manager suggested of building a new church instead of repairing the present one. The estate would be happy to allotted another plot of land in a more prominent location with approximately one acre of land facing the main road. The new location was secured and the members set to work, they raised funds and cleared and leveled the land to great extent by their own labor. Finally with the donation from the Bagan Datoh estate and the Union, the church building, funitures, road and bridge was built. This church accommodates 168 people. Pastor Samuthram worked hard collecting funds for the church.

On 24 October 1959 the newly erected Bagan Datoh Church was dedicated to the service of God. The invitations for the dedication were sent to many, including N.J. Cowie, Manager of the Bagan Datoh Estate, Pastors H.C. Currie, S.J. Lee from the Union; Pastor T.C. Chin from Mission headquarters. Pastor Currie preached the dedicatory sermon. There is no church of similar construction in this town.

Pastor Currie and Pastor Samuthram worked tirelessly to raise funds for the church building. An Indian money lender in Teluk Intan was impressed to see a white man in town soliciting and he gave a large sum of donation for the church building. Five candidates were baptized during the dedication service.

Active laymen are ready to do the Lord’s work. Brothers V.N. Joseph, P. Benjamin, P.T. Jacob, and others later went to India for Ministerial training. There were many active laymen e.g. Philip, Ethiayah, K.S. Abraham, Y.J. Moses, P.T. Jacob, P. Moses and Israel.

Many of the active members remained faithful to the Lord. Mr. K.S. Abrabam is a retired school principal of the Tamil/Telugu school in Lower Perak. Dr. Y.J. Moses is teaching in Union College in Nebraska, USA. Pastor P. Benjamin retired from Peninsula Malaysia Mission. He served more than 30 years as pastor and later as a Departmental leader to the Telugu and Tamil churches. Pastor V.N. Joseph also served as a Pastor for about 30 years in Tamil and Telugu speaking churches respectively. Many of their off-spring are well educated and blessed.

Pastor Samuthram also conducts services in Teluk Anson in another town. He cares for the flock in Bagan Datoh in the morning and in the afternoon this church in Teluk Anson. ( The Messenger, October 1958.p. 5)

The members in Teluk Anson were meeting in a club and needed a decent place to worship. Pastor Samuthram and the members got busy looking a place for a church building. After much painstaking effort a place was located.