Talluru Thomas Gabriel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Talluru Thomas Gabriel[7] (born December 15, 1837;[1] died January 1, 1875[1][4]) was the founder[8][9] of the Canadian Baptist Mission[4] in India.
15 December 1837
Founder of CBCNC Talluru Thomas Gabriel Pastor | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | Talluru Marayya[1] 15 December 1837 |
| Died | 1 January 1875 (aged 37)[3][4] |
Burial place | Jagannaickpur CBM-Cemetery, Kakinada |
| Known for | Inspiring missions |
| Church | Canadian Baptist Mission/Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars |
| Ordained | 1870[5]-1871[1] in Chennai[5] |
| Title | Pastor[6] |
Early life and education
Thomas Gabriel was born in Machilipatnam[1] and grew up at Narasapur and Rajahmundry where he studied at the Lutheran School. After securing employment with the Telegraphs[4] Department in 1857, he worked at Rajahmundry and at Kakinada. Gabriel was influenced by the Lutheran[1] missionaries of Rajahmundry and became a Christian[5] through the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church.[4]
In addition to Thomas Gabriel's employment, he was active[10] in his new-found Christian faith. Gabriel was later transferred to Mumbai[5] but his sickness made him to go to Chennai in 1867[1] and in the Hospital, he came across Pastors of the American Baptist Mission/Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches and got baptized.[citation needed]
Ministry
Gabriel gave up[11] his job at the Telegraphs Department in 1869 to take up an ecclesiastical assignment with the Godavari Delta Mission but it was short-lived as he quit it in 1870 and got into business[4] in Kakinada to support himself after having exhausted all his money for the sake of the gospel.[1]
A chance stopover in Ramayapatnam at the Ramayapatnam Baptist Theoogical Seminary made Gabriel to appeal to the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec[12] through[13] John McLaurin to take up the Mission in northern coastal regions and thus led to the founding of the Canadian Baptist Mission in 1874[1] at Kakinada[14] with the arrival of John McLaurin[15] who came from Ramayapatnam to Kakinada by sea.
Gabriel died on 1 January 1875[16] uttering his last words, Jesus is precious.[16]