Emmanuel was raised in a Christian orphanage. Later he spent some time as an instrumentalist with the musical group Caedmon's Call. While playing with them in John Piper's church one day, he picked up the book The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink. He read it and became convinced of the truth of God's sovereignty, and began to read more and more Reformed literature. I'm not sure of the timing of all this, but at some point he also went to a seminary in India, which taught Arminianism. He was also married to Sonali, who had been raised Hindu but is now a Reformed believer also.
Upon returning to India after finishing up with Caedmon's Call, Emmanuel didn't know of any other Reformed people and felt very alone. But then one day he heard Rev. Haak on the Reformed Witness Hour. After some time, he got in touch with Rev. Haak. That began about a year of weekly Skype meetings with some other Protestant Reformed ministers--Revs. Kortering, VanOverloop, and Woudenberg. For the last 10-12 months, three men from our Session have also been involved in these Skype meetings. (So these meetings have been going on for a total of close to two years now.) The hope in involving our men was that CERC could eventually take over the continued work with Emmanuel--further instruction in doctrine, in preaching, in Reformed worship and church government, etc.
That brings us to Emmanuel & Sonali's trip to Singapore. It was time to meet face to face with Emmanuel, instead of continuing only with Skype meetings. CERC's Session is at the very beginning stages of investigating whether someday we will be able to do mission work in Kolkata through Emmanuel. Emmanuel does a lot of preaching and witnessing on his own in Kolkata right now, but would like church oversight for his work. He has a gift for bringing the gospel to those around him, including the Muslims and many Hindus in Kolkata. He also has a heart for those in the villages around Kolkata, and loves to teach the villagers God's Word.
Here are a few pictures that Emmanuel had sent before his trip to Singapore, showing a couple of the villages he works in:
And some pictures of his trip to Singapore:
A subcommittee of CERC's Session meeting with Emmanuel
He met with this group twice and with the entire Session once.
Trying on our new Indian clothes from Emmanuel & Sonali
Sonali with Jason and Jessica
Emmanuel with Megan and Jessica
Sonali also sang a song for our family about the beautiful, life-giving Word of God. This is in the Bengali language, which is spoken in Kolkata.
Yesterday evening we met Emmanuel & Sonali and Seow Thong & Jean (from CERC) at the airport to say goodbye before the Singhs flew back to India.
With Sonali and Jean
Emmanuel & Sonali with our kids
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matthew 24:14
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