Rev Anil K. Samuel Reddipogu served with Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference for nearly 20 years and has recently returned home to India. / Photos courtesy of Rev Anil Samuel Reddipogu
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Serving the Telugu-speaking Indian community in Singapore
Rev Anil Samuel conducting a service at Telugu Methodist Church
M
y journey from India to Singapore to
Every Sunday, I would visit my Telugu friends
serve the Telugu-speaking community in
at Short Street and at their dormitories during
Singapore has been an exciting and enriching
weekends for Cell Group prayers. Seated on
journey of faith.
the pavement under the streetlights, I would listen to their stories and encourage them
In 2001, Mr John B. Samuel introduced me to
with the Word. That has been my greatest joy.
the Telugu ministry at Tamil Methodist Church (TMC) Short Street, where Telugu Fellowship
Many a time God stopped the rain when
was in its infancy. I had discussions with both
we prayed. When God allowed the rain
him and Rev Ranganathan Prabhu on serving
to continue, the floor mats became our
the Telugu people in Singapore. My parents
makeshift tents, and sometimes lorries by the
and siblings prayed as a family, seeking God’s
roadside were our shelter for prayer fellowship
will and direction.
and Bible study. In all this, our hearts were filled with awe to see God open hearts to the
Soon, Rev Dr Vinson Samuel informed me of
gospel of Christ.
Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC)'s invitation to lead the Telugu Fellowship at TMC
As more families joined the Telugu Fellowship,
Short Street. At the same time, ETAC arranged
the leadership of the TMC, Telugu Fellowship
for me to pursue a Master of Ministry at Trinity
and ETAC came together to pray and discuss
Theological College.
the formation of a new church. In July 2008, the Telugu Methodist Church (Singapore) was
On 18 January 2004, TMC Short Street gave me
established, based at the same premises as
a warm welcome when I attended the Telugu
TMC Short Street. Since then, many ministers
Fellowship in the evening at 7 p.m. It was a
have supported the church’s work, and many
great joy to see my Telugu people worshipping
disciples have been groomed to be leaders to
the Lord. Most of them were young and filled
serve the Lord. Praise be to the Lord, for he has
with energy, their faces lit up with big smiles.
continued to bless our ministry.
Many of them came to attend the service even after a long day’s work on Sundays. July 2022 Methodist Message 5
