MR K. SAMUEL, a member of Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church, celebrated his 100th birthday on Feb 11, 2012, alongside family and church members. A clip of the event was featured on MediaCorp’s news programme and a Tamil variety show.
Mr Samuel has served in ushering, reading the Bible for worship services and even going to church early to clean the pews and prepare for the service. He would walk the 15 km to the church, even in his nineties. His health and eyesight are still good, and he still sings. He credits his longevity to the grace of God.
Originally from the village of Vathuvar Petti in Madurai, Mr Samuel moved to Singapore in 1940 with his wife, Mdm Mariammal, who passed away in 1969. ey have nine children, the youngest of whom is the Rev Dr Vinson Samuel, who had served as the President of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference and is now a pastor in Canada.
Mr Samuel has 34 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren – the crown of old age, as stated in Proverbs 17:6.
The Rev Isaac Raju is Pastor of Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church and Chairman of the Board on Evangelism, Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference.