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- Strangers in a Foreign Land - Revised Edition Available in July 2011
Strangers in a Foreign Land - Revised Edition Available in July 2011
In 1998, Agape Partners International showcased its first publication venture-Strangers in a Foreign Land. This was essentially the first of its kind book in systematically identifying the struggles of survival and related issues of the Indian Christian Community in the United States edited by Dr. Thomas Idiculla. Various eminent writers from different walks of life presented their views with facts and figures in this book. Bible Scholars, Bible School Students, and Researchers on Ethnic Issues have benefited immensely from this book during the past decade. Twelve years have passed and Agape Partners International is proud to present the revised edition of this publication due to popular demand. The book will be available on Agape Partners, as soon as it’s available for purchase.
It takes an honest look at various issues within the Indian Pentecostal community in the United States. An unvarnished evaluation of the past, present and future of the community, different perspectives from a number of authors, writings on a wide variety of topics, and the practical recommendations presented in this book make it a timely and invaluable resource. "This book will certainly prove to be a valuable tool for parents and ministers who aspire to lead the young generation to spiritual maturity." from the Foreword by Ezhamkulam C. Samkutty, Ph.D.
CHAPTERS
CHAPTER 1: Strangers in a Foreign Land: An Introduction: This book will help identify the most important issues in the Indian Pentecostal community, offer constructive recommendations to bridge the gap between first and second generation immigrants, and help equip pastors and youth leaders for effective ministry. Thomas B. Idiculla, Ph.D.
#
CHAPTER 2: The Indian Christian Community: The Past and the Present-Among the Indian Christians, Pentecostals are allegedly the fastest growing religious group among Indian immigrants in North America. Recent survey results on the number of Indian Pentecostal churches by state and year are presented. Sam Kannampally, Ph.D.
#
CHAPTER 3: The First Generation: Struggles and Survival-God in His sovereignty has brought Indian Christian to America. It is important to adopt a balanced, biblical view of culture which will help Indian families to live harmoniously in spite of new cultural demands and inter-generational conflicts. Samuel Mathai, Ph.D.
#
CHAPTER 4: The Second Generation: Spiritual and Cultural Conflicts - Cultural and social issues such as the pressure of the “in crowd,” dating, and marriage are discussed. A prophetic word is presented on the strategic role and future of the second generation in God’s agenda. Ashish Raichur, M.S.
#
CHAPTER 5: The Second Generation: Struggles and Survival-Most Indian Christian youth do not experience any conflict with most doctrinal issues. Conflicts occur when spiritual values and cultural values are intertwined. The medium and style of worship, interpersonal relationships, the method of choosing one’s spouse, submission to parental authority, and standards of holiness are such areas of conflict. C. Thomas Luiskutty, Ph.D.
#
CHAPTER 6-Youth in Transition-There needs to be a distinction between ages, cultures, backgrounds, and preferences of second generation Indians. These distinctions are important in understanding the present situation and how to approach it. Sam Ninan, M.A.
#
CHAPTER 7-Stresses Facing Indian Families: Role of Biblical Counseling-The Indian community is presently at the threshold of a cultural transition, the impact of which is most keenly felt at the level of the traditional family unit. Four areas of conflicts: identity conflict, managing losses, parent-child relationships, and the attitude toward mental health are discussed. George Kurian, Ph.D.
#
CHAPTER 8-Christian Parenting in America: An Immigrant’s Perspective- The greatest challenge Indian Immigrants face in the United States is Christian parenting. From personal experiences and biblical reasoning it is shown that the most important factor in bringing up children as Christians is a prayerful life. John Wessly, Ph.D.
#
CHAPTER 9-Ministering to Young People of Indian Origin-Youth minis¬try is examined from a pastoral perspective, giving special attention to the importance of young people’s faith develop¬ment. In fact, youth ministry should be regarded as a form of disciple-making. Thomson Mathew, D.Min., Ed.D.
#
CHAPTER 10-Multicultural Ministry: A Challenge for the Indian Christian Community: Support for multicultural ministry can be found through a survey of pertinent Old and New Testament passages of Scripture. Being Christian is more important than being Indian, although Indian culture must be considered a tool of outreach in the hands of a sovereign God. Stephen Samuel, M.Div.
#
CHAPTER 11-Discipleship and Leadership in Indian Pentecostal Churches-There is a significant lack of nurturing discipleship in Indian churches today. A lack of training among the leadership and apathy within the laity are two of the most significant reasons for this deficiency. John Daniel, D. Min.
#
CHAPTER 12-Praise and Worship in the Indian Christian Community-Praise and worship face a unique set of challenges in an ethnic setting. Choice of worship language is one prime example. It is critical for church and youth leaders to understand some key principles in order to not alienate certain groups and instead build a strong worship ministry in their own church.
Philip Thomas, M.S.
#
CHAPTER 13-A Call for Unity and Love-All Christians must strive to know the essence of love as described in the Scriptures and follow them to bring unity and love within the body of Christ. The same precept to achieve unity and love applies to the Indian Pentecostal Community in the United States. Tom John, D. Min.
#
CHAPTER 14-21st Century Strangers in a Foreign Land: Present and Future-Our community has a future as long as we continue to take proactive and reactive steps to address the problems we face, by training and equipping our young people, elders, and ministers. Leslie Verghese, MSW.
#
EDITOR
Thomas Idiculla, Ph.D., is the founder and President of Agape Partners International and Director of Mental Health Services Evaluation Department at McLean Hospital, one of the largest psychiatric hospitals of Harvard Medical School in Boston. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kerala, and Master’s degree in Social Work and Doctoral degree in Sociology from Indore University. He received his second Doctoral degree in Clinical Social Work from Boston College. He also worked as Assistant Professor in Social Work at Indore University. He received the Young Social Scientist Award in 1992 from the Madhya Pradesh State Government. He has contributed several articles to various Indian Christian publications. Thomas, his wife Suja, and children Miriam, Stephen, Jeremy, and Aaron attend India Pentecostal Assembly of Boston in Waltham, (Boston) Massachusetts.
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Sam Kannampally, Ph.D., works as a Post-doctoral Research Associate in the Chemistry Department, Tufts University, Massachusetts. He received his B.S. from the University of Kerala, M.S. from Agra University, and Ph.D. from Tufts University, Massachusetts, in Chemistry. In addition to research publications in his professional field, he is a contributor of articles to various Christian. His wife, Jessie, and he have two children, Anita and Vineeta.
Philip Thomas, M.S., is the Worship Leader at Full Gospel Assembly of God in Toronto, Canada. He has also served as the Worship Leader at India Pentecostal Assembly of God, Waltham, and (Boston) Massachusetts. He received his Bachelor’s degree (Computer Science) from Brandeis University, MA, and Master’s degree (Computer Information Systems) from Boston University. He is employed as a Consulting Manager at Digital Equipment Corporation. He has spoken at conventions, conferences, youth seminars, and church meetings in the US, Canada, UAE, and India. His wife, Jejee, and he have two sons, Daniel and Joel.
ASSOCIATE EDITOR (Revised Edition, 2011)
Leslie Verghese, LCSW Leslie is a Licensed Psychotherapist in new York. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in Christian Counseling. He has also earned Field Instruction privileges from Fordham University to work as a field supervisor for MSW students. In his secular job, Leslie is working as the Director of the Clinic Services of Lifespire which is a premier social service agency in New York providing rehabilitative clinical services to over 1500 developmentally disabled and seriously and persistently mentally ill individuals. He serves as the Executive Director of Agape Partners International. Other ministerial involvements and achievements include: Curriculum Coordinator of SSNAK Inc., conducting seminars and trainings on various topics relating to family, marriage, teenage sexuality issues, abuse prevention etc. Leslie is a preacher, interpreter, Bible teacher and an accomplished author who has published a number of articles in Christian and professional journals and periodicals. He is married to Jessy and has four children Japhia, Joshua, Johana and Jaynah. He can be reached at leslieverghese@gmail.com and his daily blog is available at www.leslieverghese.com.
CONTRIBUTORS
(Late) Rev. John Daniel, D.Min., served as the Pastor of Hebron Indian Pentecostal Church in Houston, TX while contributing to this book. He previously pastored India Pentecostal Churches in New York, and Assam, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Kerala in India. He is a graduate of Hebron Bible School, Kerala, India, (1963), University of Mysore, India (Master of Arts), and Serampur University, India (Bachelor of Divinity). He was ordained on July 31, 1970, by the Presbytery of Indian Pentecostal Church of God (I.P.C). He has served as a teacher and the registrar of Hebron Bible College, Kerala, President of Pentecostal Young People’s Association (Youth Ministry of I.P.C), and as the chief editor of Zion Trumpet, a monthly Christian Journal. He has written many articles for various Christian magazines, and a commentary on the epistle of Galatians. Dr. John Daniel went on to serve as the Convener of the Pentecostal Conference of North American Keralites in Houston and Orlando. He was serving as the President of the IPC Theological seminary in Kottayam and as the Pastor of IPC Orlando, Florida when he was called to glory in August 2007. He is survived by his wife, Kunjamma, whom he married in 1969 and their four children: Grace, Stanley, Stephen, and Nancy.
Tom John, D.Min., is an ordained minister and has served as Pastor of India Pentecostal Assembly in Tulsa, Oklahoma, since 1984. His wife Anna and he have two children, Tammy and Jason. He has been an instructor for extension classes of the Berean School of the Bible under the auspices of the Assemblies of God, a telephone prayer partner for KWHB TV 47, and a frequent guest and minister on KDOR TV 17, Tulsa, Oklahoma, appearing on “Call to Prayer,” “Church Spotlight,” and other programs. His ministry goals include evangelism and missions in other nations of the world.
George Kurian, Ph.D., is a Psychologist working at the Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents, Baltimore. He has two Master’s degrees from Howard University and a Doctoral degree from George Washington University. He is the founder and president of Crossroads Counseling Ministries, Inc. in Silver Spring, Maryland. Through professional counseling services, skills development seminars and consulting, CCMI seeks to strength the Christian community in their individual, family and corporate lives. He has also provided spiritual leadership to the Washington Pentecostal Assembly in Silver Spring, Maryland since 1995. He is certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors and the State of Maryland Board of Examiners for Professional Counselors. He is a Charter Member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
C. Thomas Luiskutty, Ph.D., is a professor and the chair of the Engineering & Physics Department, Oral Roberts University, Oklahoma. He came to the United States as a graduate student in 1970 on completing B.S. (1965) and M.S. (1969) degrees in Physics from the University of Kerala, India. He completed his Ph.D. (1974) in Physics at the University of Louisville. He taught in colleges in Kerala, India, worked in Bhabha Atomic Research Center, and served as the administrator of a Christian school in Louisville, before joining the faculty of Oral Roberts University. In addition to research and publication in his professional field, Luiskutty is a contributor of articles to many Christian publications, and the author of two books. He and his wife, Celia, have three adult children.
Samuel Mathai, Ph.D., is the founder and President of Good News for the Nations. He received his M.Th. (World Missions), from Dallas Theological Seminary, and Ph.D. (Anthropology) from the University of Kansas. He served as the National Representative of International Student Friendship Ministries. He is also a member of Association of Christian Ministries to Internationals.
Thomson K. Mathew, D.Min., Ed.D., is the professor of Pastoral Care and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Graduate School of Theology and Missions at Oral Roberts University. He graduated from Kerala Uni¬versity in 1971 and came to the US in 1972. He received the Master of Divinity (1975) and Master of Sacred Theology (1977) degrees from Yale University. He holds two doctor¬ates - a Doctor of Ministry degree from Oral Roberts Univer¬sity (1986) and a Doctor of Education degree from Oklahoma State Universi¬ty (1992). Following his ordina¬tion in 1976, he pastored a church in Con¬necticut for five years. He joined the Oral Roberts Ministry in 1981 as a chaplain at the City of Faith Medical Center of Tulsa. He has served on the faculty of Oral Roberts University for several years. He is a fellow of the College of Chaplains and a clinical member of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. He has received several awards, including the Indian Pentecostal Writers' Award (1994) and ORU Outstanding Facul¬ty Award (1995). Mathew and his wife, Molly, have two daughters.
Sam Ninan, M.A., was born in India, and came to the US at a young age. Having gone through high school and college in the US he identifies with the issues faced by the second generation. He has a Master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and is working toward a doctoral degree. He attends Living Water Church of Tampa and is actively involved in community and church organizations, such as Teen In Action, Inc. He has contributed articles to various publications within the Indian community. His wife and he have three children.
Ashish Raichur, M.S., is the founder and director of Frontier Missions, an organization working to reach the unreached and teach the untaught in India. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering and a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. He has been preaching and ministering the word of God since he was thirteen years old. While completing his Bachelor’s degree in Manipal, India, he established a student fellowship on the university campus that has since grown to about 200 people. While pursuing his graduate studies in the US he ministered to a variety of ethnic groups including establishing a Spanish church in New Jersey. His wife, Amy, and he have a son, Joshua.
Stephen Samuel, M.Div., serves as Pastor of Westbury Tabernacle in Westbury, NY. He is an instructor at the Bible Institute in Jamaica, NY, and an ordained minister of the Bethel Gospel Tabernacle Fellowship International, Inc. His parents, Rev. & Mrs. M. S. Samuel, emigrated from India to the United States during the 1960s. Stephen developed his ministry gifts in the multi-cultural church his father pastors in Flushing, New York. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queens College, New York, and a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Massachusetts, graduating Magna Cum Laude from both institutions. In the past, Stephen has been a speaker for the Pentecostal Conference of North American Keralites as well as for other events sponsored by members of the Indian Christian community. He has contributed articles to the Indian Christian periodical "Kahalam" ("Trumpet"), and has ministered in India. Stephen and his wife Elizabeth reside in Jackson Heights, NY.
John Wessly, Ph.D., is the founder, president and CEO of Beowulf Corporation. He has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Physics, and a Ph.D. from University of Baroda (1974). Before coming to the US in 1982 he taught in Mar Thoma College, Thiruvalla, Mar Athanasius College, Kothamangalam, and St. Mary’s College, Sultan Batteri. He also worked at Baroda Electronics Industries as a R&D Manager. In 1984, after completing a Master’s in engineering degree at the University of Illinois, he joined Huntsville United Research and Technology and rose to the level of Sr. Vice President. He has been nominated for Small Business Man of the Year award by the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce. He leads a fellowship group in the Huntsville area and a prayer fellowship in his own business.
It takes an honest look at various issues within the Indian Pentecostal community in the United States. An unvarnished evaluation of the past, present and future of the community, different perspectives from a number of authors, writings on a wide variety of topics, and the practical recommendations presented in this book make it a timely and invaluable resource. "This book will certainly prove to be a valuable tool for parents and ministers who aspire to lead the young generation to spiritual maturity." from the Foreword by Ezhamkulam C. Samkutty, Ph.D.
CHAPTERS
CHAPTER 1: Strangers in a Foreign Land: An Introduction: This book will help identify the most important issues in the Indian Pentecostal community, offer constructive recommendations to bridge the gap between first and second generation immigrants, and help equip pastors and youth leaders for effective ministry. Thomas B. Idiculla, Ph.D.
#
CHAPTER 2: The Indian Christian Community: The Past and the Present-Among the Indian Christians, Pentecostals are allegedly the fastest growing religious group among Indian immigrants in North America. Recent survey results on the number of Indian Pentecostal churches by state and year are presented. Sam Kannampally, Ph.D.
#
CHAPTER 3: The First Generation: Struggles and Survival-God in His sovereignty has brought Indian Christian to America. It is important to adopt a balanced, biblical view of culture which will help Indian families to live harmoniously in spite of new cultural demands and inter-generational conflicts. Samuel Mathai, Ph.D.
#
CHAPTER 4: The Second Generation: Spiritual and Cultural Conflicts - Cultural and social issues such as the pressure of the “in crowd,” dating, and marriage are discussed. A prophetic word is presented on the strategic role and future of the second generation in God’s agenda. Ashish Raichur, M.S.
#
CHAPTER 5: The Second Generation: Struggles and Survival-Most Indian Christian youth do not experience any conflict with most doctrinal issues. Conflicts occur when spiritual values and cultural values are intertwined. The medium and style of worship, interpersonal relationships, the method of choosing one’s spouse, submission to parental authority, and standards of holiness are such areas of conflict. C. Thomas Luiskutty, Ph.D.
#
CHAPTER 6-Youth in Transition-There needs to be a distinction between ages, cultures, backgrounds, and preferences of second generation Indians. These distinctions are important in understanding the present situation and how to approach it. Sam Ninan, M.A.
#
CHAPTER 7-Stresses Facing Indian Families: Role of Biblical Counseling-The Indian community is presently at the threshold of a cultural transition, the impact of which is most keenly felt at the level of the traditional family unit. Four areas of conflicts: identity conflict, managing losses, parent-child relationships, and the attitude toward mental health are discussed. George Kurian, Ph.D.
#
CHAPTER 8-Christian Parenting in America: An Immigrant’s Perspective- The greatest challenge Indian Immigrants face in the United States is Christian parenting. From personal experiences and biblical reasoning it is shown that the most important factor in bringing up children as Christians is a prayerful life. John Wessly, Ph.D.
#
CHAPTER 9-Ministering to Young People of Indian Origin-Youth minis¬try is examined from a pastoral perspective, giving special attention to the importance of young people’s faith develop¬ment. In fact, youth ministry should be regarded as a form of disciple-making. Thomson Mathew, D.Min., Ed.D.
#
CHAPTER 10-Multicultural Ministry: A Challenge for the Indian Christian Community: Support for multicultural ministry can be found through a survey of pertinent Old and New Testament passages of Scripture. Being Christian is more important than being Indian, although Indian culture must be considered a tool of outreach in the hands of a sovereign God. Stephen Samuel, M.Div.
#
CHAPTER 11-Discipleship and Leadership in Indian Pentecostal Churches-There is a significant lack of nurturing discipleship in Indian churches today. A lack of training among the leadership and apathy within the laity are two of the most significant reasons for this deficiency. John Daniel, D. Min.
#
CHAPTER 12-Praise and Worship in the Indian Christian Community-Praise and worship face a unique set of challenges in an ethnic setting. Choice of worship language is one prime example. It is critical for church and youth leaders to understand some key principles in order to not alienate certain groups and instead build a strong worship ministry in their own church.
Philip Thomas, M.S.
#
CHAPTER 13-A Call for Unity and Love-All Christians must strive to know the essence of love as described in the Scriptures and follow them to bring unity and love within the body of Christ. The same precept to achieve unity and love applies to the Indian Pentecostal Community in the United States. Tom John, D. Min.
#
CHAPTER 14-21st Century Strangers in a Foreign Land: Present and Future-Our community has a future as long as we continue to take proactive and reactive steps to address the problems we face, by training and equipping our young people, elders, and ministers. Leslie Verghese, MSW.
#
EDITOR
Thomas Idiculla, Ph.D., is the founder and President of Agape Partners International and Director of Mental Health Services Evaluation Department at McLean Hospital, one of the largest psychiatric hospitals of Harvard Medical School in Boston. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kerala, and Master’s degree in Social Work and Doctoral degree in Sociology from Indore University. He received his second Doctoral degree in Clinical Social Work from Boston College. He also worked as Assistant Professor in Social Work at Indore University. He received the Young Social Scientist Award in 1992 from the Madhya Pradesh State Government. He has contributed several articles to various Indian Christian publications. Thomas, his wife Suja, and children Miriam, Stephen, Jeremy, and Aaron attend India Pentecostal Assembly of Boston in Waltham, (Boston) Massachusetts.
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Sam Kannampally, Ph.D., works as a Post-doctoral Research Associate in the Chemistry Department, Tufts University, Massachusetts. He received his B.S. from the University of Kerala, M.S. from Agra University, and Ph.D. from Tufts University, Massachusetts, in Chemistry. In addition to research publications in his professional field, he is a contributor of articles to various Christian. His wife, Jessie, and he have two children, Anita and Vineeta.
Philip Thomas, M.S., is the Worship Leader at Full Gospel Assembly of God in Toronto, Canada. He has also served as the Worship Leader at India Pentecostal Assembly of God, Waltham, and (Boston) Massachusetts. He received his Bachelor’s degree (Computer Science) from Brandeis University, MA, and Master’s degree (Computer Information Systems) from Boston University. He is employed as a Consulting Manager at Digital Equipment Corporation. He has spoken at conventions, conferences, youth seminars, and church meetings in the US, Canada, UAE, and India. His wife, Jejee, and he have two sons, Daniel and Joel.
ASSOCIATE EDITOR (Revised Edition, 2011)
Leslie Verghese, LCSW Leslie is a Licensed Psychotherapist in new York. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in Christian Counseling. He has also earned Field Instruction privileges from Fordham University to work as a field supervisor for MSW students. In his secular job, Leslie is working as the Director of the Clinic Services of Lifespire which is a premier social service agency in New York providing rehabilitative clinical services to over 1500 developmentally disabled and seriously and persistently mentally ill individuals. He serves as the Executive Director of Agape Partners International. Other ministerial involvements and achievements include: Curriculum Coordinator of SSNAK Inc., conducting seminars and trainings on various topics relating to family, marriage, teenage sexuality issues, abuse prevention etc. Leslie is a preacher, interpreter, Bible teacher and an accomplished author who has published a number of articles in Christian and professional journals and periodicals. He is married to Jessy and has four children Japhia, Joshua, Johana and Jaynah. He can be reached at leslieverghese@gmail.com and his daily blog is available at www.leslieverghese.com.
CONTRIBUTORS
(Late) Rev. John Daniel, D.Min., served as the Pastor of Hebron Indian Pentecostal Church in Houston, TX while contributing to this book. He previously pastored India Pentecostal Churches in New York, and Assam, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Kerala in India. He is a graduate of Hebron Bible School, Kerala, India, (1963), University of Mysore, India (Master of Arts), and Serampur University, India (Bachelor of Divinity). He was ordained on July 31, 1970, by the Presbytery of Indian Pentecostal Church of God (I.P.C). He has served as a teacher and the registrar of Hebron Bible College, Kerala, President of Pentecostal Young People’s Association (Youth Ministry of I.P.C), and as the chief editor of Zion Trumpet, a monthly Christian Journal. He has written many articles for various Christian magazines, and a commentary on the epistle of Galatians. Dr. John Daniel went on to serve as the Convener of the Pentecostal Conference of North American Keralites in Houston and Orlando. He was serving as the President of the IPC Theological seminary in Kottayam and as the Pastor of IPC Orlando, Florida when he was called to glory in August 2007. He is survived by his wife, Kunjamma, whom he married in 1969 and their four children: Grace, Stanley, Stephen, and Nancy.
Tom John, D.Min., is an ordained minister and has served as Pastor of India Pentecostal Assembly in Tulsa, Oklahoma, since 1984. His wife Anna and he have two children, Tammy and Jason. He has been an instructor for extension classes of the Berean School of the Bible under the auspices of the Assemblies of God, a telephone prayer partner for KWHB TV 47, and a frequent guest and minister on KDOR TV 17, Tulsa, Oklahoma, appearing on “Call to Prayer,” “Church Spotlight,” and other programs. His ministry goals include evangelism and missions in other nations of the world.
George Kurian, Ph.D., is a Psychologist working at the Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents, Baltimore. He has two Master’s degrees from Howard University and a Doctoral degree from George Washington University. He is the founder and president of Crossroads Counseling Ministries, Inc. in Silver Spring, Maryland. Through professional counseling services, skills development seminars and consulting, CCMI seeks to strength the Christian community in their individual, family and corporate lives. He has also provided spiritual leadership to the Washington Pentecostal Assembly in Silver Spring, Maryland since 1995. He is certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors and the State of Maryland Board of Examiners for Professional Counselors. He is a Charter Member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
C. Thomas Luiskutty, Ph.D., is a professor and the chair of the Engineering & Physics Department, Oral Roberts University, Oklahoma. He came to the United States as a graduate student in 1970 on completing B.S. (1965) and M.S. (1969) degrees in Physics from the University of Kerala, India. He completed his Ph.D. (1974) in Physics at the University of Louisville. He taught in colleges in Kerala, India, worked in Bhabha Atomic Research Center, and served as the administrator of a Christian school in Louisville, before joining the faculty of Oral Roberts University. In addition to research and publication in his professional field, Luiskutty is a contributor of articles to many Christian publications, and the author of two books. He and his wife, Celia, have three adult children.
Samuel Mathai, Ph.D., is the founder and President of Good News for the Nations. He received his M.Th. (World Missions), from Dallas Theological Seminary, and Ph.D. (Anthropology) from the University of Kansas. He served as the National Representative of International Student Friendship Ministries. He is also a member of Association of Christian Ministries to Internationals.
Thomson K. Mathew, D.Min., Ed.D., is the professor of Pastoral Care and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Graduate School of Theology and Missions at Oral Roberts University. He graduated from Kerala Uni¬versity in 1971 and came to the US in 1972. He received the Master of Divinity (1975) and Master of Sacred Theology (1977) degrees from Yale University. He holds two doctor¬ates - a Doctor of Ministry degree from Oral Roberts Univer¬sity (1986) and a Doctor of Education degree from Oklahoma State Universi¬ty (1992). Following his ordina¬tion in 1976, he pastored a church in Con¬necticut for five years. He joined the Oral Roberts Ministry in 1981 as a chaplain at the City of Faith Medical Center of Tulsa. He has served on the faculty of Oral Roberts University for several years. He is a fellow of the College of Chaplains and a clinical member of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. He has received several awards, including the Indian Pentecostal Writers' Award (1994) and ORU Outstanding Facul¬ty Award (1995). Mathew and his wife, Molly, have two daughters.
Sam Ninan, M.A., was born in India, and came to the US at a young age. Having gone through high school and college in the US he identifies with the issues faced by the second generation. He has a Master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and is working toward a doctoral degree. He attends Living Water Church of Tampa and is actively involved in community and church organizations, such as Teen In Action, Inc. He has contributed articles to various publications within the Indian community. His wife and he have three children.
Ashish Raichur, M.S., is the founder and director of Frontier Missions, an organization working to reach the unreached and teach the untaught in India. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering and a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. He has been preaching and ministering the word of God since he was thirteen years old. While completing his Bachelor’s degree in Manipal, India, he established a student fellowship on the university campus that has since grown to about 200 people. While pursuing his graduate studies in the US he ministered to a variety of ethnic groups including establishing a Spanish church in New Jersey. His wife, Amy, and he have a son, Joshua.
Stephen Samuel, M.Div., serves as Pastor of Westbury Tabernacle in Westbury, NY. He is an instructor at the Bible Institute in Jamaica, NY, and an ordained minister of the Bethel Gospel Tabernacle Fellowship International, Inc. His parents, Rev. & Mrs. M. S. Samuel, emigrated from India to the United States during the 1960s. Stephen developed his ministry gifts in the multi-cultural church his father pastors in Flushing, New York. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queens College, New York, and a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Massachusetts, graduating Magna Cum Laude from both institutions. In the past, Stephen has been a speaker for the Pentecostal Conference of North American Keralites as well as for other events sponsored by members of the Indian Christian community. He has contributed articles to the Indian Christian periodical "Kahalam" ("Trumpet"), and has ministered in India. Stephen and his wife Elizabeth reside in Jackson Heights, NY.
John Wessly, Ph.D., is the founder, president and CEO of Beowulf Corporation. He has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Physics, and a Ph.D. from University of Baroda (1974). Before coming to the US in 1982 he taught in Mar Thoma College, Thiruvalla, Mar Athanasius College, Kothamangalam, and St. Mary’s College, Sultan Batteri. He also worked at Baroda Electronics Industries as a R&D Manager. In 1984, after completing a Master’s in engineering degree at the University of Illinois, he joined Huntsville United Research and Technology and rose to the level of Sr. Vice President. He has been nominated for Small Business Man of the Year award by the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce. He leads a fellowship group in the Huntsville area and a prayer fellowship in his own business.