A HISTORICAL RECORD of key pastors in the Indian churches in Malaysia and Singapore has been compiled into a book entitled A Great Cloud of Witnesses.
The book, just published by the Council of Churches of Malaysia for the Fellowship of Indian Denominational Churches (FIDC) Singapore & Malaysia, features 34 pastors from the Anglican, Lutheran and Methodist denominations. In addition, the end portion of the book carries vignettes of six Anglican ministers.
This volume is a collection of biographical stories of those who had served in this region with distinction, foresight, courage, faith and love. While many of these pastors came to Singapore and Malaya from India and Sri Lanka (then Ceylon), a few were home-grown.
Of special interest to Methodists in Singapore are the articles on such faith heroes as the Rev C. William Underwood, the Rev James Arumugam Supramaniam, the Rev Solomon Swaminathan Pakianathan, the Rev Michael Robert Doraisamy, the Rev Charles Blackshear Paul, the Rev S. M. evathasan and Bishop eodore Royapan Doraisamy (the eldest son of the Rev Michael Robert Doraisamy, for those who are unaware).
In his foreword for the book, Bishop Dr Robert Solomon, President of the FIDC, wrote: âFIDC felt the need to tell the story of some of the key pioneer pastors in the history of our various churches so that they can be remembered, and their lives and ministries can act as an inspiration for the present generations in our churches.
âWe hope this volume will inform, inspire and spur the readers to love God deeply and serve Him wholeheartedly.â A total of 1,500 copies of the book have been printed.
They are available from the offi ce of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference at the Methodist Centre (tel: 6478-4809) and the Anglican Diocese of Singapore at $5 a copy.