“BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT I AM”
I am Dr. Samuel Bathiran, born in Tamil Nadu, South India.
My parents raised me in Christian faith and practice from my childhood. For a long period of time, we attended a Baptist church as a family and heard God’s Word there. From my childhood, I understood the sufferings of life. Since I was born in a family under poverty, I learned the realities of life at a young age; and my parents were, indeed, suffering as a result of their commitment to raising us.
I was taught the reality of life by God who controls all of my life circumstances. It was in this context that my mother died in the year 2000. The loss of my mother was a great tragedy for our family. Another great tragedy we faced in our life was that, while I was a seminary student, my father became paralyzed and was unable to get any job. That responsibility then fell fully on my shoulders. My family burden increased more than before, and it was very difficult for me to take care of my family, and to continue my seminary education at the same time.
However, I truly acknowledged that God had set a great responsibility before me. Years after my mother’s death, my father died in 2012. I actually considered it due to the poverty of my family that I lost my parents; because I was unable to provide for their medical expenses. I carried that responsibility for my family from a very early age.
But I also readily acknowledge that God had greater plans for my life. I gradually began to understand His faithfulness as He describes it in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” And again, all of my youthful experiences reminded me of the words of the Psalmist, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I might learn thy statutes.” (Ps 119:71)
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Inevitably, prior to my conversion, I was living a sinful life. I heard God’s Word regularly, nevertheless, I didn’t take it seriously in many instances. Then it happened: I was saved by Christ through His grace. The incident that motivated me to think more about God and His grace was the crucial moment when my mother was about to die. In the year 2000, she died as the result of a dog’s bite. We couldn’t get her treated in the hospital: It was a financial crisis because of the poverty in which my family lived.
Prior to her death, she did one important thing: She communicated to God constantly in prayer. That reflected her genuine Christian spirituality. Even at the point of her death, she prayed to God, praising Him for everything in the midst of all the suffering. She died with prayer. This event deeply influenced me to think more about God; and gradually strengthened my faith in God as I began to know Him through His living and life-changing Word.
After that, my Christian philosophy began to develop with interpretation and application of the Christian scriptures. From that time onwards, whenever I studied the Christian scriptures, I understood not only the meaning of the Word but also the significance of it.
Realizing that I was a sinner in need of a Savior who could redeem me from my sins and from the condemnation of the world, I repented of my sins and placed my trust in Christ alone for the salvation of my soul. I found from the Scriptures that the sovereign God, who had touched my heart and opened my eyes to my need of a personal savior, is Jesus Christ. From then on, I began to grow in knowledge and understanding of what God through Christ had done for me.
From this wonderful moment, I totally surrendered my life to Christ. I began to pray sincerely with all of my heart, and read Bible with all of my mind. Indeed, God redeemed me from my sinful ways. Whenever I prayed, I found peace in my life. I also found more enthusiasm in my life for attending Church, participating in all of its activities, and growing in Christ-likeness as a genuine disciple of Christ. Now I boldly testify of God with the Psalmist, “By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.” (Ps 71:6)
God, who saved my life, also called me unto the glorious ministry. A few days later, I received my calling from the Lord. Before my mother died, she had requested the church pastor to send me to a Bible College so that, after my seminary training, I too might serve Him as a pastor. After my mother died, when I heard this from the pastor, I wasn’t initially willing to enter the ministry because of my family’s situation. But my father also wanted me to be a servant of God despite our family’s situation. But I denied my parents’ idea: In my flesh, I wasn’t willing to make any such decision because of the love and concern I had for my parents.
However, God called me to the Ministry in His own time. While I was praying, I often felt such a calling in my heart for doing God’s ministry. I believe it was God who laid that feeling on my heart. And, as the days went by, I confirmed this calling as I studied the holy words of Christian scripture personally.
Although my mother prayed for my conversion and for my future ministry, and had desired me to be a servant of God, I acknowledge that it was ultimately the sovereign plan of God to place me there. He had foreknown and predestined me for His glorious ministry even before the foundation of the world. In truth, He had separated me from my mother’s womb for His heavenly service. “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace” (Gal 1:15) After that, I gave my life whole-heartedly to God’s ministry, and committed myself for seminary training.
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At that stage, I prayerfully started preparing myself for the very important tasks for which God had called me to His ministry. Since I realized God’s purpose for my life and ministry; and since I submitted myself to Christ who redeemed and changed my life; I have seen victories in several areas which were stumbling blocks for the Ministry. To Him be the glory! Always, this is my prayer: “But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.” (Ps 70:5)
God has been faithful in His response to this prayer. By His grace alone, I’ve been involved in ministry in various ways since 2001. As a seminarian, I learned much from God. He gave me the knowledge to understand His word, and gave me the opportunity to study His Word in Greek and Hebrew. In fact, by His grace alone, over several years, He taught me to teach biblical languages to others. Besides my teaching work, God also called me to Pastoral ministry in which He led me to invest the treasure of His truth with different age groups in the Church (Adults, Youth, Children…etc.). I thank the Lord for His grace which helped me not neglect gospel work at any point in time.
When God’s Word brought about this transformation in my life, I began to witness to many people via door-to-door evangelism, outreach work, street preaching…etc. “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Cori 9:16). God has reminded me of this verse regularly; ever since I committed myself to His ministry.
At this point, going into the villages, telling the Good news, sharing my testimony, and presenting His word, all became a part of my life. Through my preaching in the villages, many came to know about Christ. In several places within the Coimbatore District, I preached publicly in the streets. I also preached God’s Word in various churches and led prayer meetings in various places. I always rejoice in the preaching and teaching ministry to which our sovereign Lord has appointed me. “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: hereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” (Col 1:28-29)
God called me to serve as a pastor to various Baptist congregations in South India. I ministered the Word there, providing biblical counseling, looking after all the church activities, and, most importantly, engaging in outreach Ministry. God, by His grace, has given me the opportunity to work in various capacities; as Oversight Board-Member, Pastor, Administrator, Professor and Church Planter in Christian organizations in Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur and globally via online. “I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.” (Ps 71: 7-8)
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By studying Calvin’s Institutes, I embraced reformed theology. Later, I became a student of the Puritans. As to my seminary education, I hold a Bachelor of Divinity, a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology from Grace Baptist Theological Seminary. I am also a graduate of The Log College and Seminary [ previously known as The North American Reformed Seminary] with a Doctor of Divinity in Puritan Studies (2014) and a Doctor of Theology in Reformed Theological Thought (jure Dignitatis) (March 2016). I am married to my wife Sanatombi, and we are blessed with four children: Rachel, Elisheba, Enoch and Melchizedek.
Currently, I’m involved in providing seminary level education to pastors from the Puritan Reformed perspective; provide online seminary education with The Log College and Seminary [ www.logcollege.net ] and Puritan Reformed Biblical Seminary [ www.prbseminary.net ]. I serve God with The Log College and Seminary as Oversight-Board Member – Mentor. By God’s sovereign will, I also served as founder – director of Puritan Global Missions (2016-2022). To Him be the glory! The motto of Puritan Global Missions “Ardens Sed Virens” (“Burning but prospering”) so truly reflects our life and Ministry.
In midst of all situations, God’s hand guides us! Paul writes, “As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Cori 6:9, 10). My prayer and passion is to see God exalted in all the nations, with His kingdom established globally everywhere!
At present, as fulfilling God’s mission in the ministry of Christ, I’m longing for and looking forward to being called by my Master, “good and faithful servant” on that great day of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! Now, rejoicingly I can say “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain” (1 Cori 15:10). May all the praises be to His Holy Name forever & ever!
Soli Deo Gloria!
In the Grip of His Grace,
Dr. Samuel Bathiran D. D., Th. D
Founder- Director
Puritan Global Missions