About Reuben Sathiyaraj
Pastor of Agape Bible Fellowship
By Carole Edgecox
Written While Serving as a Community Health Consultant

Reuben Sathiyaraj was born in the state of Tamil Nadu on May 17, 1959. He was born into a poor Christian village family and was the youngest of six children: two girls and four boys. His parents were uneducated but felt it important that their children should be educated, and all six children attended the Church of South India Christian school.

When he was two years of age his father died. This event had a profound effect on the direction his life would take and the eventual making of the man: Pastor Reuben M. Sathiyaraj. Looking and talking to Reuben Sathiyaraj, I thank God that he was led into the ministry. He has vision, commitment, courage, and compassion, all of which are necessary to make church leaders that God can use.

When his father died his mother dedicated him to God. This single act at the age of two years was to shape and influence his entire future life. As a child and young man he rebelled against this dedication and began leading two distinctly different lives. To his mother he was the dutiful God fearing son, but inside he was rejecting this dedication to God and was burning with rebellion. Two of his brothers had entered the ministry, and his mother was confident that he would also enter the ministry, as he was the one she had dedicated to God, not his brothers. However, when he was sixteen years of age and his education was completed, he finally declared the rejection of his faith to his mother. There was a terrible row, in which he picked up a huge boulder, threw it at her, and ran away from the house to Madras.

In Madras he mixed with the roughnecks. He had no direction, no faith, and no family. He started up a business with two friends who robbed and dumped him. He roamed the streets of Madras penniless, dejected and destitute. For three days he was without food and watched a banana seller, hoping that someone would take pity on him and give him something to eat. He even contemplated eating the banana skin, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son kept running through his head: Luke 15:16.

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. KJV

Deep despair and depression overwhelmed him, and he decided to end his life by walking into the sea. There was a Gospel meeting in progress on the beach as he headed for the sea, and he recognized the preacher who was quoting Ecclesiastes 11:9.

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. KJV

As an angry young man, Reuben had read this same verse, and in rage had thrown the Bible to the ground and stamped on it, kicking it around like a football. Hearing this verse again brought back vivid memories of that previous time, and again he felt very angry, for this time it put doubts in his mind. Already he felt a failure in life and wanted his plan of suicide to succeed. But instead, on that night he accepted the Lord and committed his life for His glory.

While all this was happening, thoughts of reconciliation with his mother and family were creeping into his mind, and the harder he tried to push the thoughts out of his head the stronger they became. He decided to write to his mother, and like the Parable of the Prodigal Son she welcomed him home. His faith and belief in Jesus Christ flooded back. He started working in a Lab as a quality controller but he felt drawn and compelled to spread Gods word and preach the Gospel. The text 1 Corinthians 9:16 was his inspiration.

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! KJV

Swallowing his pride, he decided to ask his eldest brother, who was a pastor, for spiritual guidance and help. His brother laughed at him and said that there were already two brothers in the ministry and that was enough. However, he tested Reuben's strength and fortitude by saying that if he went into a locked room, fasted for three days, and still felt the same when he came out, he would help him. After three days of fasting, the commitment to enter the ministry was stronger than ever. But when he said this to his brother, his brother flew into a rage, threw a purse of money at him, told him to take the money, and ordered him out of the house. Reuben opened the purse, took only 10 rupees, and returned the purse to his brother. In the middle of the night he left the house; he was seventeen years of age.

Determined to study and preach God's word, he approached a Bible College in the state of Tamil Nadu, and they agreed to accept him for a two-year course. He was penniless again, but this time he had direction and commitment and worked as a gardener in the college grounds. In return he was given tuition, board, and accommodation. After finishing Bible College he was sent to the Andaman Islands for five years as a missionary working among the tribals. He was one of the first missionaries to enter this spiritual wilderness, and the tribal people resisted giving up their pagan rituals and accepting the word of Christ.

When he returned to Tamil Nadu, he taught in Bible School and completed a two-year correspondence course on Missionary outreach. Throughout this time he had a burning desire and vision to preach the Gospel in this spiritually barren land of India. For a number of years he was a roving charismatic preacher, searching out isolated communities and teaching Gods word. In 1985 he was married to Flora, and they settled in Bangalore in 1987. Their two children, Jim Elliot and Sabina Livingbel, were born there. Flora fully supports her husband and assists him in many pastoral activities. In 1990 he sowed the seeds for the now growing and spiritually alive Agape Bible Church. From a small beginning of three families, there are now 700 believers and 250 children being ministered to and hearing the Gospel.

Reuben Sathiyaraj has empathy with the people, especially the street child and ragpicker. He has the ability to see potential in those people, thrown away and rejected by society. He respects and cares for his God given gifts and motivates his fellow workers.

The spiritual growth in this large slum area of Bangalore, is entirely due to the commitment and God given grace of this dynamic and compassionate man, Pastor Reuben Sathyiraj, the man of the people! Please pray for his ministry.