District Apostle Helper (DAH) Devaraj was commissioned by Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider to place two Apostles from India into retirement. Since both the retiring Apostles, Lazrus Patel and Christranjan Nanda wished to be retired in their home congregations it was decided that two separate retirement Divine Services would be conducted. One in Banswara (Rajasthan) on the 13th of January and another in Amath (Odisha) on the 27th of January 2019.
Amath is a remote village in Odisha surrounded by lofty mountains. On the 26th and 27th of January 2019, New Apostolic members travelled to Amath in order to express their gratitude towards Apostle Nanda for his thirty years of service as a faithful minister of God.
The Divine Service was conducted by DAH Devaraj who was accompanied by Apostles Sanjay Shastri, Prabhakar Beergi and Devadas Basappa. It was decided that the accompanying Apostles would conduct three separate seminars for the members the day before the retirement service.
Celebrating our Republic
On the 26th of January, to commemorate India’s Republic day, the Apostles were given a traditional welcome and then led by the sisters to the place where the Tri-Color flag was to be hoisted. The choir joyfully sang the National Anthem and the National Flag was hoisted.
A Trio of Seminars
The Apostles and ministers were then welcomed into the seminar venue by a tribal song and dance performance by the youth from Chhattisgarh which was composed by one of our very own ministers.
DAH Devaraj commenced the seminar with a small spiritual part using a text from the Gospel of John, 15:15: “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
After the spiritual part, the group was split into three and each group attended seminars that were most relevant to them. The sisters learnt about strong women characters in the bible through the seminar conducted by Apostle Shastri. He also addressed the important role that the sisters play both in their families and in the congregation. Apostle Prabhakar conducted a seminar for the ministers where they were taught about their role in ministerial service and their duty in pastoral care. Apostle Devadas talked enthusiastically to the youth about the priorities in lives and their role in the congregations.
Divine Service – A Down-Pouring of the Spirit
On a very rainy Sunday, on the 27th March 2019, the members gathered together for the Divine Service. Although the heavy rains had left no dry place to sit, all the members stood together listening eagerly as the DAH Devaraj shared a text from the book of Ruth 1:16: “But Ruth said: ‘Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people; And your God, my God.’”
The DAH Devaraj spoke about Ruth and Naomi. Both women chose to follow God and in turn were redeemed through him. He reminded the congregation that if they stay steadfast to the Lord then they too will be redeemed.
Grateful for Our Past and Future
Four deacons were ordained for Turlakhaman district and one deacon and three priests were ordained for the ODS-Borigumma district.
The service then culminated with a retirement blessing which was given to Apostle Nanda by DAH Devaraj, to relieve him of his duties and thank him for his service. The working area of Apostle Nanda will now be taken over by Apostle Prem Mohan Ray.
After the Divine Service the congregation expressed their love and thanks to their dear Apostle Nanda for his many years of service to God’s children.