California
Indian Christians unknowingly bid farewell to minister
Christians placed garlands of fragrant, tropical flowers and brightly colored shawls around the neck of Paul Subhan, wishing the longtime minister well on his upcoming journey.
None of them realized that they were saying goodbye to him for the last time.
Subhan, who dedicated much of his adult life to spreading the Gospel in his native India, died May 15 of an apparent heart attack. He was 75.
He was scheduled to fly to the U.S. just days after the sendoff service at the Chinnacumbum Church of Christ. He would spend three months in the U.S., visiting supporters and promoting Gospel for Muslims, the ministry he directed.
Instead, he fell ill and was rushed to the hospital with high blood sugar. Although he seemed to improve at first, he fell into a deep sleep and never awoke, a minister for the Chinnacumbum church said.
Subhan, born into a Muslim family, converted to Christianity and was trained by J.A. Johnson, a missionary in the Indian city of Chennai. Subhan preached for a Church of Christ in Nandavaram. Though he named his ministry “Gospel for Muslims,” he shared his Christian beliefs with numerous faith groups.
In a recent newsletter, Subhan wrote that the churches he helped plant in India “continue to grow in number and in maturity of faith as they persevere through hardship.”
None of them realized that they were saying goodbye to him for the last time.
Subhan, who dedicated much of his adult life to spreading the Gospel in his native India, died May 15 of an apparent heart attack. He was 75.
He was scheduled to fly to the U.S. just days after the sendoff service at the Chinnacumbum Church of Christ. He would spend three months in the U.S., visiting supporters and promoting Gospel for Muslims, the ministry he directed.
Instead, he fell ill and was rushed to the hospital with high blood sugar. Although he seemed to improve at first, he fell into a deep sleep and never awoke, a minister for the Chinnacumbum church said.
Subhan, born into a Muslim family, converted to Christianity and was trained by J.A. Johnson, a missionary in the Indian city of Chennai. Subhan preached for a Church of Christ in Nandavaram. Though he named his ministry “Gospel for Muslims,” he shared his Christian beliefs with numerous faith groups.
In a recent newsletter, Subhan wrote that the churches he helped plant in India “continue to grow in number and in maturity of faith as they persevere through hardship.”
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