Bro. Pichchai John Prakash, Dip. C. S (Serampore), B.Th. (Serampore), at a special service received the Dip. in Theological Studies of the Seminary after completing four years as a resident theological student. He hails from the Suthanthirapuram CACM church in the Vanni Region. He has been commissioned at the Uduvil CACM on Pentecost Sunday, the 19th of May 2024 at 3.00 pm. People from various congregations including those from his hometown and his home church, about 160 in number, attended the service.
The service was led by the Principal of the Christian Theological Seminary of Sri Lanka, the Rev. A. W. Kamalakumaran, and the commissioning of the graduate was conducted by the chairperson of the Church of the American Ceylon Mission, the Rev. A. S. Thevagunananthan.The service commenced with a ‘thevaaram’ led by the Rev. P. Thevamithiran, followed by a call to worship, and a prayer said by the Rev. Daniel Ranjit, pastor of the Uduvil church. The congregation then joined in the singing of a popular thanksgiving lyric. The Rev. M. Jeyanantharajah, pastor of the City Mission Church, Jaffna led the congregation in a solemn litany of thanksgiving in choral form, followed by a litany of confessional prayer in similar lines led by the Dean of Students of the seminary, the Rev. Joseph Gnanapragasam. The litanies concluded with a prayer of praise.
The scripture lessons- Exodus 3:1-12; Philippians 3:5-15; and St. Mark 3:13-22 were read by Bro. S. Atputhajeevan, third year student of the seminary, Mrs. Nalayini Moorthy, member of the Uduvil church and Bro. P. John Pirakash, the outgoing pastor. After the singing of the lyric ‘thaasarae ith tharaniyai anbaai’ the Rev. A . S. Thevagunananthan, in his message, emphasised on Priestly, Pastoral and Prophetic Ministry of the candidate with illustrations from his own personal experiences and travels overseas. Mr. P. Prakash has been assured of the support of the officers and colleagues in his ministry. This was followed by a confession of faith in choral singing. The prayer of intercession was led by the Rev. V. David Nirukshikan, a pastor in Vanni Region and the lecturer at the Christian Theological Seminary. In the act of commissioning, the principal recommended the candidate with his words and the chairperson conducted the commissioning by exhorting and soliciting the candidate’s commitment and confidence in God. After saying a prayer, the congregation while standing responded with their words of support singing a lyric on saving souls for Christ. This was followed by a song of commitment and a prayer said by the Rev. T. Thevanesan, the former head of the church, followed by the Lord’s Prayer and Benediction.
The service concluded with the singing of the college song of the seminary and the vote of thanks was delivered by Prof. J. Prince Jeyadevan, secretary of the seminary governing council, followed by Bro. P. Prakash with his words of gratitude.
Bro. P. Prakash is posted to Jeyapuram in the Vanni Region, near Pooneryn, where the ministry includes social engagements with people spent in multiple displacements and now being resettled and supported by funds of ‘Compassion International Lanka’.
The congregation at Jeyapuram looks forward much from Bro. Prakash dedicated leadership to instil biblical values and promote spiritual nourishment among many other challenges. He is not alone, but the Lord’s protection and guidance, wisdom and discernment to care for himself, members of the congregation and the local community.
We extend our best wishes to Bro. Piragash as he steps into this new chapterof his pastoral ministry. We wish him well for his fruitful ministry.
