Nalla Thomas

Nalla Thomas (2 March 1946 – 19 April 2021 ) was an Asian Christian and a spiritual personality, who served the Church in Assam and undivided Andhra Pradesh for nearly four decades comprising the seventies through the New millennium.

He used to compose hymns for enhancing spiritual direction.

Thomas was an Ecclesiastical administrator of Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches Society.

For spiritual formation, Thomas enrolled in near-ecumenical Andhra Christian Theological College, Rajahmundry, studying between 1967 and 1970 for an L. Th. programme during Principalship of Old Testament Scholar, The Rev. W. D. Coleman, AELC.

His study companions included The Rev. D. J. Jeremiah, CBCNC and The Rev. B. J. Christie Kumar, STBC.

It was in ACTC that Thomas could interact with Methodists, Lutherans, Baptists, Anglicans, Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Wesleyans.

After completing ministerial studies in Rajahmundry, he reported back to Deccan Association of Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches.

During ensuing convocation of Senate of Serampore College (University) held in 1971, which was led by its Registrar, The Rev. Chetti Devasahayam, CBCNC, Thomas was awarded an L. Th.

degree.

In 1973, Thomas moved to Madhya Pradesh, where he spent two years to upgrade his studies at Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur, an institution managed by Methodist Church in India, where he studied in a near-ecumenical setting comprising many of the Protestant denominations and the Orthodox Church.

In 1988, along with leadership of STBC, he visited some churches in United States on invitation of American Baptist International Ministries.

He also spent four months at Charleston Baptist Temple, Charleston, West Virginia (United States) as a guest of its pastor, The Rev. David Fish, ABM.

Some of the Protestant groups had been working towards making sacred Scriptures available in Lambadi language.

Towards this end, the Bible Society of India (BSI) took the initiative to get the translation work done.

This was initially taken up by The Rev. B. E. Devaraj, CSI, who was teaching at Andhra Christian Theological College, then in river town of Rajahmundry.

Later on, The Rev. Lal Singh Lazarus, CSI took onus to continue its translation.

On the other hand, STBC was also involved in ministries among Lambadis through Banjara Development Trust.

By this time, The Revds.

Robbie and James Francovich of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship were ministering to Lambadis and showed much interest in the progress of the translation work.

When Bible Society of India Andhra Pradesh Auxiliary approached Thomas seeking to release a copy of New Testament in Lambadi language, he unwittingly became part of history when the scripture portion was released on 25 October 1999 at STBC-Centenary Baptist Church, Clock Tower, Secunderabad in the presence of Old Testament Scholars, The Rev. G. Babu Rao, CBCNC and The Rev. G. D. V. Prasad, CSI, the former being auxiliary secretary of the Bible Society of India Andhra Pradesh Auxiliary and the latter, a translations director of BSI.

Also present was Sri Bidyut Kumar Pramanik, then General Secretary of the BSI.

For early schooling, Thomas studied in Jangaon at STBC-Preston Institute, which was known for imparting good education,.

Then for collegiate studies, he moved to Secunderabad for Pre-university course at OU-Arts and Science College, Secunderabad (now Postgraduate College, Secunderabad).

Thomas discerned his calling towards spirituality and approached Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches, which considered his candidature and usability for Christian ministry.

This was the time when The Revds.

Louis F. Knoll, ABM, Maurice Blanchard, ABM and Tracy Greer Gipson, ABM were leading theological education.

In 2016 on Telangana State Formation Day, Government of Telangana included the name of Thomas among list of 62 awardees of personalities who contributed much in different fields.

Under category of Spiritual Personalities, not only was the name of Thomas included, and there were also two other spiritual personalities comprising Vedic scholar Sri Kodakandla Narasimha Rama Sidhanthi and Islamic scholar Sri Janab Mufti Ajeemuddin Saheb of Jamia Nizamia.

The three of them were honored along with 59 others on the occasion by then governor of Telangana, E. S. L. Narasimhan and Chief Minister of Telangana, K. Chandrashekar Rao.

Thomas stood for Ordination of women in Protestant denominations and went on to ordain two women during his pastorate in Secunderabad.

He was also invited to conclaves of Association of Theologically Trained Women of India during leadership of Smt. Navamani Elia Peter, MCI, The Rev. Florence Deenadayalan, CSI and Smt.

Johanna Rose Ratnavathi, AELC.

As a member of Board of Governors of near-ecumenical Andhra Christian Theological College in eighties, Thomas was able to provide leadership to his alma mater in matters of seminary administration.

He represented Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches on the Board in Secunderabad.

He helped youth in congregations to realise their vocational calling and prepare themselves to take up the path of Priesthood.

Much of the contribution of Thomas was in undivided Andhra Pradesh.

After his return from Assam, he began showing interest in overall leadership of Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches, beginning with Youth development and Spiritual development.

He then was taken aboard the leadership of STBC as Associate General Secretary, whose ecclesiastical jurisdiction comprised states of Tamil Nadu and undivided Andhra Pradesh.

He worked closely with other spiritual leaders, comprising The Revds.

Suppogu Joseph, STBC, G. Samuel, STBC and Ravela Joseph, STBC.