Church has always been an integral part of my life, especially growing up as a pastor’s kid. As a family, we moved many times, and often the only place offering comfort and familiarity for me was the church, the family of God. Each church catered to our needs differently and nurtured us. We are blessed by the church, and in turn, hope to be a blessing.
The English Seventh-day Adventist church in Tambaram, Chennai, has recently encouraged me, inspired me, and helped reignite my passion for God’s church. I first heard of this church from my sister, Suzanna, who was pursuing her bachelor’s degree in the vicinity and decided to join the small group. At first she was concerned about the church service being in a language in which she wasn’t fluent, but with time and many prayers, the small English Sabbath School group grew into a full-fledged English-language church. My sister’s excitement was infectious. I was happy for her, but I didn’t realize the enormity of God’s work in that church until I became a part of it last year.
As I got to know the church members and listened to their stories, I came to know the way the church had grown. It’s a familiar path that many church plants take. A small group of members started out worshipping together in English in a classroom. Others who were eager to attend an English-language worship service became part of the group. Soon the classroom became too small for them to worship in conveniently. Members then dreamed of worshipping in a church building that would accommodate their growing needs. A call went out to raise funds for a new church building. Everyone, even children, were ready to contribute and participate.
In September 2016, construction began on the first floor of the existing Tambaram Tamil church. The members, including men, women, and children, offered their time, effort, prayers, and finances for the construction of the church. Finally, on March 26, 2017, the English Seventh-day Adventist church at Tambaram was officially dedicated and inaugurated.
That was a day of celebration and thanksgiving. God had answered many prayers and had granted the desire of the members’ hearts.
Every member, pew, and equipment had a story to tell. These stories inspired me. Above all, it was a joy to see dreams become a reality. I was again reminded that God is still in the business of transforming dreams into reality.
The Tambaram Seventh-day Adventist English Church is not just housed in a beautiful building. The passion of its members to worship the living God in a restless world is an even greater blessing. My family and I were blessed to be part of this church, and I’m sure it will continue to bless many who become a part of it.
We all are called to dream for our church. Because God is a visionary, we His people, created in His image, are called to dream for His church.
I am glad that we serve a big God. That means we can dream big!
