I am Kiran, the second daughter of Mr. Jiwandas Yangad, was born on 11th Dec, 1971. Being born to God fearing parents; I was very much regular to all Christian activities right from my childhood. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior in one of Dr. DJS Dinakaran’s meetings held in Chembur, Mumbai in 1981. But priorities priorities in life were still wrong. For me, my family was first, friends were second and Christ was next. It was when one of my best friends Glady committed suicide under the train on 20th December 1988; as she failed in the 10th standard retake exams. That made me think about life and eternity. By God’s grace during those days I was an active member in the youth group in Church of the Nazarene, Vikhroli. We had a student from Union Biblical Seminary (Pune) Mr. Thomas John, who was doing his practical ministry with our Church. He was leading our youth group through the Bible truth. I began to question him about the death of my friend, earthly success and failures and life after death. He very openly made me aware that if my friend has committed suicide then she is lost forever. I realized that Life was much more than having good time with family and friends. God is to be the Lord of my life and at the center of my life. There is a mission that God has for me. I have to be an instrument to bring others to the fold of Christ so that they are saved too. Thus in one of the youth meeting in March 1989 I was led by the Holy Spirit of God to recommit my life to God and I began to share Christ with my friends in collage and other places wherever I got an opportunity. People sometimes made fun of me and most of the time they considered me different than them. They could not share some of their jokes with me.

Regarding education I did my Bachelor of Commerce (June 1990-March 1993) from Rathnam Collage in Bhandup from Mumbai University. After graduation I worked with a garment company in Lower Parel as Assistant Merchandiser for 1 year (1993-94), I worked in another garment company in Lower Parel as an Assistant Accountant from 1994- June 1995). It was when I and my dad along with Vinayak kaka went to attend my younger sister Leena’sgraduation (B. Th,) at Bangarapet, South India Bible Seminary in 1995 that God called me for His ministry. During the three days spiritual Life Conference, Dr. Stephen Manley was the main speaker, his messages on the Cross and death of Christ stirred my heart to respond to the call of God for the ministry. There were so many hindrances that God had to clear and assure me of His presence and help before I could respond to the alter call. I was working as an Assistant Accountant, my dad was looking for the right match for me for marriage, my dad was alone and I was the one taking care of him as my elder sister Jyoti was married and Leena was in the Bible college and the main thing that I believed was that I was of no use for God’s ministry as I had no talent of singing, playing instrument or preaching. So I questioned Lord and asked why He was calling me? The Lord spoke to me through the verse that came to my mind. Zach 4:6 “Not by might, nor by power but by my Spirit says the Lord God Almighty.” I felt deep peace and joy in my heart knowing that I just have to be available and God will use me. I responded to the alter call and committed my life for part time ministry. I shared this with my dad and my pastor Rev. D. H. Wankhede they both were very happy. My pastor encouraged me to go to South India Bible Seminary to pursue my Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.). That was from June 1995 to March 1999.

During the last phase (somewhere in Jan 1999) of my B. Th. My classmate Mr. Thomas Sathrak from Chennai felt God’s leading to propose me for marriage. I had no idea about what and how to respond. And I told about this proposal to my dad and my younger sister Leena. My Sister was very much positive about it. Thomas’s parents were a bit confused as we belong to different cultures and it was a kind of shock for them when Thomas wrote to them about me in a letter. He has four sisters and three brothers. However they wrote back that we all will meet for graduation and talk about it. During the graduation my dad talked with Thomas’s brother-in-law Rev. Bhaktapushparaj and his younger brother Mr. James Joseph, but no decision was made at that time. Then, Thomas contacted me through a letter. I felt God’s leading and I responded to his letter. That is how the Lord brought us together. After my dad wrote to Thomas’s family I went to Chennai first time in my life with dad and my younger sister Leena to visit Thomas’s family. We stayed there for three days and before leaving for Mumbai we were engaged on May 20th, 1999 and then married on 14th July 1999.

We both served in Church of the Nazarene as pastors for four and half years with Western Maharashtra District (1999-2003). Thomas and I were ordained on 15th Jan 2003 in Bhandup, Mumbai, by the General Superintendent Rev. Dr. Cunningham.

My husband Rev. Thomas planted first two Tamil churches on the District, one in Bhandup and one in Badlapur. I assisted Rev. D. H. Wankhede in pastoral ministry of Nazarene Church, Vikhroli. I also worked as an administrator and accountant in the District office in Bhandup. My first son Ebenezer Edwin Thomas was born on 30th August 2000.
After serving the District for 4 years God gave us opportunity to go for further studies at APNTS, Pilippines and miraculously provided all our needs. We both successfully completed our Masters of Divinity (M.Div.). I was also offered Kumlavadin at Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary, Philippines (June 2003-March 2006). Our second son Emmanuel Elphis Thomas was born in Philippines on 23rd October 2005. We returned and served in the Western Maharashtra District for 1 year (2006-2007) on the same positions and I was given additional responsibility of SANBC District Co-ordinator. In 2008 we shifted to Chennai. In Chennai Rev. Thomas pastored a Church at Kadavettiin with Eastern Tamil Nadu District of Church of the Nazarene. I joined a Transformer Limited Company “Bala Industries” in Chennai, for 2 years (2008-11) as an Accountant in Taxation Department.

Though people were very good and respectable to me I was feeling a great vacuum and dissatisfaction in what I was doing. I with the willingness of my husband decided to quit my job and continued praying for God’s leading to serve Him. God lead me to my SIBS teacher and mentor Rev. Saggu Abraham (Old Testament Professor). He encouraged me to do my further Studies. God lead me through him to SAIACS. Before entering in to SAIACS I was really confused as to how to go for studies even before our sponsorship was accepted. District Superintendent Rev. Muthukumar Swamy had given his recommendation to us and things were good. I had secured my admission too, but we learned that we were not able to get the sponsorship. So whatever I had earned in the two years of secular work in Chennai I put for my admission in SAIACS. And when we took the step by faith God was faithful and he miraculously provided all our needs, like Children’s admission money and education fees, daily needs and so on. We completed our studies with God’s help and encouragement from people who faithfully prayed for us and faithfully supported us through the collage. Our professors raised funds for us. Some of them are, Rev. Dr. Atul Aghamkar, Dr. Havillah Dharmaraj, Dr. Idecherrian, Dr. Stevem Guest, Dr. Ravi David, Karan Fulton, my dad and some students like Rajendra (from Andra Pradash, paid children’s monthly fees from his pocket money).

After successfully completing, Thomas’s M.Phil. in Pastoral Theology and Counselling and my M.Phil. in Old Testament, by faith and hard work (June 2011-March 2014), we had to be in Bangalore as our elder son Ebenezer was in 10th standard that year in 2014. Miraculously God brought us in contact with Rev. Thomas George (Principal of Bethel New Life College). There was a vacancy for OT professor in his college at Horamavu and he also guided Thomas to South Asia Bible College in KRpuram to serve as an Academic Dean and professor. Thomas’s college was some 7 Kilometers from our rented house. Thomas travelled on bike every day. We served in the respective collages for 1 year, I served as an OT professor, Dean of Students and B.Min Co-ordinator in Bethel New Life Collage. By God’s grace and miracle Ebenezer got through his 10th standard with 75% marks. And Emmanuel also got through his 4th standard.

After Ebenezer completed his 10th standard, we moved back to Mumbai. We brought Broono (born 5 Jan 2015) our female doggy with us who was 3 months then. She is part of our family now and she is 1 and ½ years now. We joined Ambassadors for Christ as Training and Field staff to do pioneering work in Mumbai. Thomas’s vision is to shepherd the Church and I desire to lead the youth of the city to Christ. We also love to teach and counsel the young people with a heart of mission of God. Ebenezer was baptized on 28th November 2015, by Rev. P. H. Manawre at Light House Retreat Center at Badlapur. He is in 12th standard this year (2016) studying at South Indian Collage in Ambernath. And Emmanuel is in 6th standard studying in St. John Bosco High School, Badlapur. We are praying for God’s guiding for the coming year as we will be completing 1 year with the Ambassadors for Christ in August 2016.