Jyoti Chakravartty
On 20 June, Jyoti Chakravartty was ordained at New Cross Road Baptist Church (NCRBC), London. Jyoti’s work is based in the Indian state of West Bengal and he is a Reformed Baptist by conviction.
Clergymen in West Bengal were willing to ordain him, but their opposition to Reformed theology made Jyoti uneasy. Yet, in a country with ecumenical influences and where many set themselves up as pastors on impulse, it is important to be recognised as one called of God, and no maverick.
Having supported Jyoti for a while, the elders of New Cross church thought that in his present situation he would benefit by being recognised as a Reformed Baptist pastor by those with similar theological convictions.
At the ordination service, NCRBC’s pastor Dr Raymond Pulman led and preached, while elders of churches represented laid hands on Jyoti and recognised his gifts and calling to the Christian ministry.
Jyoti himself is no novice to the Lord’s work. With a Bachelor of Christian Studies from Serampore College in Calcutta, he has taught part-time in Bible colleges in India and Nepal, and later worked as a zonal development director of Scripture Gift Mission, India.
Since his theological shift, along with his wife Sushmita and daughter Priya, he has planted and is leading a fledgling fellowship in Calcutta with a burgeoning children’s work.
Through the Creation Science Association of India, which Jyoti founded, conferences on Indian university campuses have seen many higher education students in India introduced to creationism as an alternative to evolution. A publishing arm, Know the Truth Trust, produces pastors’ tools in English, Bengali and other Indian languages.
In a region that has seen increased persecution of Christians, Jyoti’s ministry has come under scrutiny from Satan’s hirelings. He is grateful for the encouragement of UK believers – even if they are a continent away.
Gavin Fernandes
Pic (l-r) Gavin Fernandes, Michael Henson, Jyoti Chakravartty, Bob Holder, Raymond Pulman
