01 Jan 2006

January 2006 - Tamil Methodist HERITAGE

30th Anniversary of TAC

Rev. Dr. V. John KovilpillaiIn 1932 petitions were sent to the General Conference for the formation of a Chinese and Tamil Conference. Shortage of one ministerial delegate, defaulted the formation of the Tamil Conference. The Chinese Conference was formed in 1936.

Lack of encouragement from the Mission Board and self confidence among the Tamils deterred the growth of Tamil work. However, our Tamil Pastors were appointed District Superintendents in 1930 - Rev. S.S. Pakianathan, Rev. J.A. Supramaniam and Rev. J.J. Kovilpillai (not the writer).

As Tamil Work grew, concerns began to grow at the low rate of local young men coming for ministry, and stoppage of ministers from India and Sri Lanka. On December 12, 1958 Rev. V.A. Chelliah called for a meeting of all Tamil Pastors which resulted in the formation of Tamil Work Committee, which promoted the formation of TPAC.

From 1958 to 1978 The Tamil Work Committee raised money to send about 20 students to Singapore and India. More effective and constant programme of sending to India began after 1976. The writer was trained in Bangalore (1962-1976). In the years 1962-1963 Rev. Dr. T. Thangaraj, Methodist Missionary to Burma and Andaman's, joined KL church. Dr. T. Thangaraj with Mr. G.S. Arumugam and Mr. Selvaratnam made surveys and spoke to the Tamils about being self-supporting and self-propagating.

In 1968, the Episcopal Address belittled the Tamils and work among Tamils was considered to be not worth the effort. The Tamil Pastors, mostly those who have retired and six young ones, Rev. Eddie Joseph, Rev. I.R. Chelladurai, Rev. Sam Ratnasamy, Rev. James Solamadan, Rev. Noel Thangamuthu and Rev. V. John Kovilpillai, with few lay members wept and prayed at the Port Dickson beach committing themselves to the formation of TPAC and to go on to TAC. It was a very moving experience for me to see very senior pastors crying at the feet of the Master and crying along with them. It was not an easy decision but it has been a great blessing.

In the year 1967 it was my privilege to travel with Dr. Samuel Kamalasen from Singapore to Alor Star (under Board of Evangelism, MAC) and visit all the Tamil churches and conduct meetings in the estates and in our churches.

In an Evangelism Seminar following the Evangelistic meetings, Dr. Samuel Kamalasen challenged the Tamils, "Who will preach the Gospel to the Tamils, but you the Tamils"? In 1976 we became a full fledged conference TAC (Tamil Annual Conference). Since then we have grown and are growing."

What we have achieved is the work of the Holy Spirit, the sacrifices of men and women called Methodist who have worked in our schools, churches and Methodists clinics. God is calling us to greater endeavours, let us rise up and build God's Kingdom for His glory.

As part of our Mission to the Tamils of this nation, churches were encouraged to open up Outreach Ministries by all the existing churches. In the North, Sungai Patani reached out to Jerai and Kapala Batas which have since become Local Churches.

In Perak, Ipoh Town Church helped to form Jelapang into a Local Church. In the East Cheroh and Jerantut became Local Conferences. In the Central District Kuala Lumpur Church reached out to Rawang, Ulu Klang, Sg. Besi Serdang and Semenyih, they are all Local Churches now.
 
Selangor District Churches, Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam are outreach work of Kuala Lumpur Church. In Sungai Way area, Klang has reached out to Puchong, Petaling Jaya church to Subang Jaya and Bukit Rotan to Kayu Ara Damansara. In the South, outreach ex-tended from Melaka to Kluang. Today we have 45 Local Churches in the TAC, with 45 Elders, Deacons, members on Trial, approved Supply Pastors and Sup-ply Pastors. Our total membership, preparatory and constituency roll are 10,516. Total full members in 2003 - 7,611. (Figures are taken from Conference Journals)

The Selangor District and TAC Board of Evangelism organized the 21st Century Church Growth Conference, Prescott Hotel, Klang from 28th to 31st August 2004. The call was for a Ten Year Church Growth Plan. With vision and consistency in our ministry we can achieve the goal - Absolutely Double.

Prepared by Rev. Dr. V. John Kovilpillai
(Excerpt from For 30th Session TAC - Souvenir Booklet)