“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). This apostolic charge to Timothy has reverberated down the ages to us through the pages of the Holy Scriptures. This is the mandate to the church and her leaders to pass down the sound doctrines of the Scriptures to each coming generation.

From the time the Lord called me and appointed me as the pastor of Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church, it has been a passion in my heart to be obedient to the mandate of 2 Timothy 2:2. Having been in the ministry for about three decades, my prayer and passion to be an instrument in God’s hand to fulfil this biblical mandate has only increased. Hence, I am grateful to God for the opportunity to be part of the ministry of Far Eastern Bible College to this day – and in addition, for our church’s efforts to establish GBI ministries around the world in preparing a new generation to carry on the work of His Gospel kingdom.

During the past two and a half years of the pandemic, the Lord has continued to enable me to teach and guide online those who join GBI’s Pastoral Biblical Studies (PBS) in matters of theology. This course was conducted with the special intention to equip and strengthen those whom God has called to proclaim the Word and feed the flock. Six preachers (from Singapore, China, the Philippines and India) have been joining this weekly study. We pray that they will all be faithful expositors of God’s Word in their God-appointed places, and be instrumental in God’s hand to prepare another group of godly men for the ministry in the years to come.

Please find below the testimonies of two participants who had joined the Pastoral Biblical Studies. God willing, more testimonies will follow in the coming weeks’ bulletins.

—Pastor Prabhudas Koshy

Pr Kelvin Lim

Thanks be unto the LORD for the privilege to be part of Gethsemane Bible Institute’s Pastoral Biblical Studies (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:18).

• It has been a blessed time of learning God’s Word together with fellow preachers from our mission churches.
• The lessons from Systematic Theology (e.g. Ecclesiology, Revelation and Inspiration of Scripture, Canon of Scripture, Preservation of Scripture), and the in-depth study of certain selected passages in the Bible, were indeed divine blessings unto me.
• The passionate discussions on various topics were as what Proverbs 27:17 describes: “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
• At times, the truths taught were not easy to comprehend, yet are necessary so that we might grow together in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
• Furthermore, this class could also be a platform for us to build rapport with and update one another regarding our ministries for the Lord in His vineyard.
• May the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ be declared unto every sinner whom we shall come into contact with, and may the perfect Word of God be taught in many churches unto every saint, that they may be established in the faith according to the high calling of the LORD our God. To Him be glory for ever and ever, Amen!

Pr Donald dela Cruz

I praise the Lord for enabling me to join the Pastoral Biblical Studies of Gethsemane Bible Institute. I appreciate the many lessons I’ve picked up during the duration of the online course. Our current class is about the preservation of the Holy Scriptures. Generally speaking, nobody in the Christian realm questions the inspiration of the Holy Bible, except liberal scholars and their followers. However, it is not the case with the preservation of the Scriptures. The majority of Christians today do not believe that God has preserved the Bible in the original languages. The most striking lesson to me in the current course is that “God will preserve His inspired Words for the sake of His people.” The reason is found in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” Herein we have the divine promise concerning not only the inspiration, but also the preservation of the Scriptures. If God would have allowed the perversion of His Word, then in the present times, we would not have His perfect Word to enable us to be “throughly furnished”!

Studying God’s Word in preparation for the ministry is very different from studying while you are in the ministry. The topic was already discussed when I was studying full-time at FEBC. While I am familiar with the topic, the re-learning of the doctrine of the Scriptures provided a wide perspective of its significance and benefits in the ministry. The topic becomes relevant to me because of my experiences while serving in the ministry. I have seen cultic churches, such as Mormons, deceiving people with their strange doctrines. Some people in my locality asked me about their claims on the Book of Mormon and others. I replied that God has only given us one Book for our instruction and that is the Holy Bible. I warned them that the Mormons exalt the work of a man (Joseph Smith’s book), rather than the work of God (the Bible). That alone should ring alarm bells in the hearts of true believers!

I had also encountered a Christian who has read the work of Peter Ruckman. He was so impressed by the writings of Ruckman that he adhered to his doctrine that the King James Bible (English Translation) is superior to the Scriptures in the original languages. Praise God that I was refreshed by the online classes on how we come to the position that the Hebrew and Greek Texts underlying the KJV Bible are the preserved texts of the inspired Scriptures. I highlighted to him that when Jesus and the apostles spoke about the Scriptures, they always referred to the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek texts. Inspiration for Bible inscription (the Spirit-inspired writing of God’s revelation) ended with the Book of Revelation, and therefore the KJV Bible is a faithful English translation of the inspired original language texts.
I praise the Lord for the manifold blessings I have received from these studies. As an additional blessing, I am also strengthened by the testimonies of the other missionaries. I am full of joy when I see other preachers attending the classes, especially the Lord’s servant from China. There are many unique struggles in every mission station. Hence, to have this opportunity to hear about God’s work in other “corners” of His vineyard is very refreshing. Praise the Lord for sustaining His servants!

Sermon Text: Psalm 8
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 1st May 2022

Sermon Text: Psalm 7
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 24th April 2022

Today, with much thanksgiving to God, we publish the testimonies of the first batch of three students who are completing their course in GBI, Vizag. We praise the Lord for the enabling grace upon Pr Sujith Samuel who has laboured assiduously for the past 5 years to set up churches and GBI in Visakhapatnam (Vizag) and its vicinities. Let us pray earnestly for open doors for those who are trained to preach.

Pastor Murthy James

Greetings in the name our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! I’m Pastor Murthy James, a student who is completing the course in Gethsemane Bible Institute.

Firstly, I thank God for the opportunity to study in GBI. I feel very blessed to complete the course in this institute. During the course, I have learnt a lot of spiritual truths that help me a lot in my biblical thinking. As I attended the lectures on many doctrinal subjects during the course, they gave me a clear-cut understanding of the Scriptures. Really, this period of study in GBI has been a very wonderful period in my life that enhanced me spiritually to serve the LORD.

I was very motivated to learn about TULIP (5 points of Calvinism), and I am still very excited about the truths it imparted to me. Oh, how essential are those doctrines! It taught so clearly God’s election, depravity of man, salvation by faith alone, the eternal security of believers, etc. In addition, I greatly benefited from the course on Systematic Theology taught by Rev. Dr Prabhudas Koshy, who explained theological topics in a very efficient and devotional manner. While learning the doctrine of Ecclesiology, I learned biblical truths concerning the church and its government, which would certainly help me in my pastoral ministry to organise and guide the church. The classes on the doctrines of Pneumatology, Eschatology and all the other topics were interesting, and helped to mould my Scriptural understanding on those topics.

Likewise, learning Westminster standards, taught by Pr Sujith Samuel, a faithful servant of God, was also a great experience in His Word. Every subject (including the online courses from FEBC) of each semester was very profitable. The topics taught were essential, which deepened my understanding of the Holy Scriptures and also increased my spiritual devotion. Learning from God’s revelation in His Word filled me with fear towards God and excitement to serve Him.

As I graduate, I thank God for His help and guidance through the entire course. I am also thankful to each faculty member who has taught me with utmost efforts and with God’s love. May God bless the organisers of GBI, and use the ministry of GBI to expand His kingdom on earth. Please pray for me and my ministry work.

Kattu Praveen Kumar

My name is Kattu Praveen Kumar. I was born in a Christian family and I lived in K. Kotapadu village for 34 years. After receiving Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour, I was later baptised on 8th April 2007. In 2008, while I was fasting and praying, I was overwhelmed by the reading of the Word of God from Psalm 45:4 – “And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.” It excited and strengthened me, filling me with a great desire to be in God’s ministry, and I began to consider God’s work and the church ministry.

In those days, my idea of ministry was to do whatever I can in the church, like cleaning the church and preparing everything for the worship, helping the poor and needy who are within and outside of the church, preparing and encouraging the believers for outdoor evangelistic meetings, etc. I would also do my best to help the families of those who went to be with the Lord, and those who are getting married with necessary arrangements. However, I was not spending much time in reading and studying the Bible on my own. In 2015, I attended a 6-day seminar conducted by Haggai International. In that seminar, I have learned about integrity, leadership and evangelism. Then I experienced great struggle in my heart to choose between my job and the ministry. There was a lot of pressure from my family, but my desire was to be in the ministry. In that same year, my elder brother Vinod sent me to a Bible college run by the Church of Christ in Visakhapatnam. However, I could not agree with their doctrinal stand, and I stopped going to the college.

Then in 2017, when Pr Sujith Samuel came to Kotapadu, my native village, I heard his message. When we conversed, he encouraged me and asked me to spend some time with him in fellowship. This was also the time that I was studying the books of Ezra and Nehemiah with my church youths. Through that study, my desire to serve the LORD in the ministry started increasing. When Rev. Prabhudas Koshy came to Visakhapatnam in June 2018, he asked me, “Are you ready to serve God?” I replied him that I was ready. Then Pr Sujith encouraged me to study in the Bible Institute, which he started in the city. With his encouragement, I enrolled in GBI, and I was the first student there. Although I had to stop (after only one week) due to some severe problems, God gave another opportunity a year later (July 2019) to return to GBI and continued with my studies. By the grace of God, I studied for the past three years in GBI.

It was, firstly, an opportunity to correct myself in many areas of my life according to His Word. Through GBI, I came to understand what the ministry of the church is all about, and the importance of the Word of God in the ministry of the church. I learned how to study the Word of God, how I should apply its truths in my life, and how I should preach it in the church. I am also thankful to learn how to preach the Gospel to the unbelievers. All these encourage me a lot to look forward to the ministry.

I thank God for the following who have been used by the Lord: our local pastor, Rev. G. E. Stephenson, my family who encouraged me to undergo training, and especially Rev. Prabhudas Koshy and Pr Sujith Samuel for giving me the privilege to study at GBI (even though my study was disrupted for a year).

Joyson Kumar Chinchani

My name is Joyson Kumar Chinchani. I am from the state of Odisha. Though I was born and brought up in a Christian family, I was lost in the world, living a worldly life. By the grace of God, on 22nd November 2010, I was led to attend a prayer meeting and listened to the Word of God. I was convicted of my sins there and then, acknowledging that I am a sinner. I sought God for the forgiveness of my sins that I have done in my past, and I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour.

Then I wanted to know more about Jesus Christ. I started to desire to attend a Bible college to learn more of His Word. By the grace of God, through my elder brother, in 2011, I had an opportunity to study in a Bible college in Secunderabad. While I was studying there, I got baptised. I studied there for two years. After completion of my studies, I did not join any ministry, but took a job in a company because of the severe financial crisis my family encountered.

However, I was sure about my calling to serve the Lord in the ministry. In the year 2017, through my elder brother, I came to know Pr Sujith Samuel and Rev. Prabhudas Koshy. My brother and Pr Sujith conducted a pastoral training in my hometown. The teacher was Rev. Koshy. When I had an opportunity to talk with Rev. Koshy, he asked me to come to GBI, which was being organised in Visakhapatnam, and study His Word. I was happy that such an opportunity was available, and immediately I said “yes” to it.

Subsequently, on 6th August 2018, I joined GBI. I am thankful to God for learning His Word in GBI. By His grace, I am about to complete my course, and I wish to serve God according to His will, seeking His guidance upon me and my family.

Today, as we commemorate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, it behoves us to meditate on the importance and blessings of that amazing event in the earthly life and ministry of the Lord Jesus. To stir our minds to rejoice with thanksgiving, I would like to share with you the fivefold significance of Christ’s resurrection.

First, Christ’s resurrection proved His divine Sonship.

The apostle Paul wrote concerning Christ, who “was made of the seed of David according to the flesh”, that He was “declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom. 1:3-4). It’s not that Jesus Christ wasn’t the Son of God prior to His resurrection. He is the eternal Son of God (Ps. 2:7, 12; Pr. 30:4). When Christ came in the flesh, He set aside the full expression and use of His divine glory and prerogatives. Paul explains it in Philippians 2:5-8 this way: “Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Certainly, His virgin birth, miracles and teaching all bore witness to His deity. The ultimate, irrefutable evidence of the divine Sonship of Christ was the power with which He resurrected from the dead. His bodily resurrection from the grave on the third day was the supreme demonstration of His divine power over sin, death and Satan. Such power can only belong to God, and thus His resurrection proved beyond all doubt that He was indeed God the Son. In fact, Peter asserted in his sermon on the day of Pentecost that Christ being the Son of God, it was impossible that He remained dead in the grave – “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it” (Acts 2:24). It was not possible for Christ to be held by death. Death and grave could not keep the omnipotent Christ under their power. He rose from the grave, as a divine declaration that Christ – who was crucified and died – was indeed the Son of God, truly divine!

Second, Christ’s resurrection guarantees our justification.

Romans 4:25 declares that Christ “was delivered for our offences and was raised again for our justification.” Because His resurrection has secured our justification, we are no more under God’s condemnation. So, Romans 8:34 asks, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” His resurrection and ascension guaranteed the cancellation of God’s handwriting that was against us because of our sin. Colossians 2:13-14 says, “And you, being dead in your sins…, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us…” If Christ did not resurrect, we would still be in our sins. 1 Corinthians 15:17 says, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”

Third, Christ’s resurrection assures us that our Saviour now lives and intercedes for us.

This truth is taught by the apostle Paul in Rom. 8:34 – “Christ that died… is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Heb. 7:25 testifies that Christ’s present intercession on the right hand of the Father in heaven is an assuring truth – “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” The risen Christ now lives in heaven to intercede for us. Heb. 9:24 explains it thus: “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us”.

Fourth, Christ’s resurrection power renews and empowers us to live a new life.

The apostle Paul explains this truth in Romans 6:4 – “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” All of us, who have been united to (“baptised into”) Christ by the Spirit baptism at the time when we first trusted Him, are dead with Him to sin and are spiritually raised up to live a spiritually new life in Christ. Later, in Rom. 6:8–11, Paul further describes the new life in Christ – “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” We are not the same people we once were. We who were dead in our trespasses and sins have been made alive together with Christ (cf. Eph. 2:2, 5)!

Fifth, Christ’s resurrection grants us a glorious hope of our future resurrection.

1 Cor. 15:20–23 declares, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” Likewise, the apostle Paul instructs us in 1 Thess 4:13–14, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” In the words of the apostle Peter, it is the “lively hope” that Christ’s resurrection pledges unto us – “… his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet. 1:3).

Sermon Text: Romans 8:34
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 17th April 2022

Sermon Text: Luke 23:32–43; Romans 5:6–9
Speaker: Pr Cornelius Koshy
Date: 15th April 2022

Sermon Text: Psalms 1–6
Speaker: Pr Cornelius Koshy
Date: 10th April 2022

As a pastor, I am very thankful to God whenever I notice the presence of children in the church. To see them sitting on the front rows of chairs on the Lord’s Day at our worship services, or on Tuesday nights for our Bible study-cum-prayer meeting, always brings a surge of joy to my heart. How pleasing is their singing of hymns! They are ever eager to sing their choices of songs with the congregation. Their close proximity to the pulpit further gives me the pleasure of hearing their enthusiastic singing. I rejoice when they hurriedly come to join me to pray. I also thank the Lord that they listen to the preaching of the Word attentively. Whether it be on the Lord’s Day or other days, it is wonderful to see many parents making every effort to bring their children along to the Lord’s house.

“Forbid Not Little Children to Come!”

Nonetheless, I am also concerned that some other children are afforded very few opportunities to come to church by their parents. Fathers and mothers, it is your God-given duty to provide as many opportunities as possible for your children to be involved in the church activities. Do not let your undue concern for their secular education and other activities deprive these young precious souls of their great need for spiritual nurture.

Parents, have mercy on the souls of your children! They may be little ones, but they are precious immortal souls. The care for their souls must far exceed the care for their mortal bodies! Have compassion on the poor souls of your “heritage of the LORD” (Psalm 127:3a)! Your vulnerable kids are day by day being sucked into the “miry pit” of anxiety for worldly success. Beware, for the world is relentlessly seeking to ensnare their souls! No God-honouring Christian parent can afford to be slack in ensuring that his or her children are nurtured in the most excellent Christian environment. Christian children’s participation in the church activities is far more important than their involvement in their school or other extra-curricular activities. If you only care for their earthly success, you are being downright irresponsible in your God-given task to nurture their souls!

Make Provision for Little Children to Come!

By way of testimony, from my experience of bringing up three children together with my beloved wife, and having given over twenty years of my efforts to the pastoral supervision of the children in our church, I can sincerely and candidly vouch that nothing is more helpful and profitable for the nurture of Christian children than providing them with maximum (not minimum or occasional) opportunity to participate in the soul-nurturing activities of the church. Whether they be worship services, prayer meetings, children’s programmes, evangelism sessions, camps or retreats, let us not undervalue their great profitability in the nurture and protection of our children’s souls.

Regular participation in church events with children would mean concerted discipline and commitment on the parents’ part. Notwithstanding all the troubles of taking them to church activities, you would have done the most vital duty of guarding and guiding your children’s souls. Please do not fear or give in to weariness. The troubles that you bear to ensure the spiritual nurture and fortification of your children’s souls will not be in vain. With much prayer and thanksgiving, make every effort to bring your children to the church activities. Just as Jesus admonishes us, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).

As a parting shot, Christian parents and all those who labour in the children’s ministry ought also to pray earnestly for the children’s repentance, salvation, spiritual growth, fruitfulness, etc., for they are dealing with precious immortal souls. Children are priceless in the sight of our Saviour. Their salvation and sanctification are His concern; so should they be the concern of everyone who ministers to them on Christ’s behalf. After all, Jesus specifically says, “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15b)!

Children in the Home

“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord” (Colossians 3:20).
God commands us on our proper conduct towards our dear ones in the family. God is insistent on how His children would regard and relate to one another in the home. All our family relationships are to be managed and nurtured according to the divine guidelines given in His Word. If we truly fear God and maintain a life of piety, then it ought to be seen in our conduct at home, in our relationships to our parents, our children, our spouses, our siblings and our other relatives.

Christian children are commanded to obey their parents. This command to obey requires that children show respect to their fathers and mothers. Holy Scripture repeatedly enjoins children to “Honour thy father and mother” (Exodus 20:12; Matthew 15:4; Ephesians 6:2). Children owe their parents an inward affection and regard. They must cultivate a courteous, respectful attitude towards their parents, and honour their parents with tokens of respect.

Even when children are grown up and their parents become aged, love and respect towards parents should continue. Proverbs 23:22 admonishes us, “Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.” Likewise, Proverbs 19:26 cautions, “He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.” Let no Christian ever be disrespectful to their aged and needy parents. When parents grow weak and frail, when they become helpless, or somewhat burdensome, we must shower them with tenderness, love and respect. Let us recall all their efforts and good advice they have rendered to bring us up, and show our thankfulness through our deeds of kindness and respect. Some parents might have failed in their parental duties; yet, Christians are duty-bound to show respect and care towards them at all times.

Younger children and youths are to obey their parents “in all things”. Their attitude of obedience must be shown in all aspects of life. Only when the parents’ instructions are contrary to God’s Word are children allowed to disagree with their parents. Ephesians 6:1 says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” Obeying parents in the Lord is the right thing to do and is well pleasing unto the Lord.

Sermon Text: Psalm 6
Speaker: Pastor Prabhudas Koshy
Date: 3rd April 2022