Dear Friends,
As you prepare to go forth on this mission trip (5–10 August 2025) to our sister churches in the Philippines, I write to you with deep affection, prayerful support, and solemn expectation. This is no ordinary trip! It is a spiritual assignment, a sacred privilege to stand alongside fellow believers, to strengthen the weary, to proclaim the unchanging Gospel, and to serve the body of Christ in a time of both trial and opportunity.
Your visit comes at a particularly “weighty” season. Our dear brother, Rev. Reggor Galarpe, the supervisory pastor of the congregations of Gethsemane B-P Church in Cebu, Bogo, San Antonio and Bohol, is facing a severe affliction in the form of lymphoma. This trial has troubled us all, yet we know that such “valleys” are not void of God’s presence. In fact, they often become holy ground, where Christ’s strength is made perfect in human weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Your presence among the brethren during this time is not merely supportive; it is providential. God sends you as ministers of comfort, joy, and Gospel hope.
You also go as heralds of the Gospel, bringing the light of Christ into homes, hearts, and streets that need to know the love and lordship of Jesus Christ, the only Saviour whom God has sent to the world.
May your words be seasoned with grace, your service marked by humility, and your lives reflect the fragrance of Christ in all things.
I commend each of you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and equip you for every good work (cf. Acts 20:32; Eph. 4:12,16). Go forth in the power of His Spirit, consecrated for His purpose and prepared to serve Him in the beauty of holiness. May this mission bear lasting fruit—for the strengthening of the church, the salvation of souls, and the glory of our great Redeemer.
Soli Deo Gloria – To God alone be the glory.
In Christ’s service,
Your pastor,
Prabhudas Koshy
Dear Pastor,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
We thank God for another semester at GBI, India. By God’s grace, our full-time students from Meghalaya and Odisha have returned to continue their training at GBI. This semester, we have three new students: two pastors from Vizag city and a brother from Odisha.
The addition of Bro. Jonathan Hendricks to GBI, Vizag, to assist in teaching and preaching is very helpful, and we thank God for graciously leading him to us. He is now staying at the Kotapadu campus with the students.
Thank you, Pastor, for taking time to address the students and faculty on Tuesday. Your exhortation served as a good reminder for all of us to be content and responsible with the appointments God has given to each of us.
We look forward to the start of the Elementary Hebrew classes next week. Eleven students have registered for the course this semester. Thank you so much for dedicating your time to teach Hebrew to our students (Monday and Friday). Our students are also registering for your GBI Online courses on 1 Peter, Isaiah III (Wednesday evening), and Paul’s Missionary Journeys by Pr Cornelius Koshy (Thursday). Additionally, some students have enrolled in FEBC online courses as well. We are very grateful for all the opportunities to learn God’s Word.
During the holidays, we completed the mud-filling and borewell digging work on the newly purchased land. Thanks be to God for the help from Bro. Thomas, Sis. Melanie, and Dn Gan in drawing up the building plans and designs. We are planning to submit the drawings for building permit approval soon. Please pray that the Lord will grant us the necessary permits to resume the construction work. May the Lord continue to provide for the building fund through His people.
In Christ,
Pastor Sujith Samuel
