Creative Strategist

I am seated on the dais as a special guest of Craig Memorial Church in Kakinada, India. The service has barely begun, and the temperature inside the church is already over 32º. Sweat soaks through my shirt, and my tie feels more constricting with every passing minute. Around my neck, the garland of fresh marigolds I was greeted with — its fragrance sweet, its color vibrant —has become an added weight in the stifling heat. A floor fan, too distant to be effective, swings lazily, offering only fleeting, taunting bursts of air. Under the stage lights, surrounded by a sea of attentive faces, I can’t help but ask myself, How did I get here?

A Shared Story

Craig Memorial Baptist Church, like CBM, is celebrating its sesqui- centennial — 150 years of ministry — and I’m here to bring greetings on behalf of CBM, our alumni, and the entire Canadian Baptist family. 

In preparing for this moment on this stage, I spent hours sifting through the McMaster Archives, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of stories, names, and contributions to our shared mission. Where to begin? One story has stayed with me as emblematic of who we are as Canadian Baptists. It’s the story of how our work in India began — through an invitation. This is a very, very short version of how this came about.

The Catalyst

In 1873, the invitation to assist in missions work in India was extended to two people: John McLaurin and A.V. Timpany, both Canadians serving with the American Baptist Union out of Boston, Massachusetts.

As his residency in Boston came to an end, McLaurin applied to the Baptists of Ontario and Quebec for support and supervision. He invited the Baptist church association to fund, direct, and commission him on their behalf. It is this moment — marked in the calendar of March 1874 — that we celebrate today. The meeting at Beamsville Baptist Church records that they accepted his request, marking the start of what we now know as CBM. But CBM wouldn’t be known as it is today without that first — and powerful — invitation to help spread the gospel in India, which came from a man named Thomas Gabriel.

A Mission Pioneer

Here is an abridged version of the life of Thomas Gabriel, taken from a manuscript* published in 1924 to mark the 50th anniversary of his faith-filled invitation:

Thomas (Talluru) Gabriel, an Indian man born on December 15, 1837, in Masulipatam, was a pioneer in the early years of the Baptist mission in India. Raised near mission schools, Gabriel pursued a career in telegraphy with remarkable determination, becoming a skilled operator and eventually securing a respected government position. Yet, his personal journey took a transformative turn when he encountered Christianity. In his early twenties, he joined the Lutheran Church, and soon after, his faith deepened through interactions with a Baptist, Mr. Das Anthravady, who inspired him to embrace baptism by immersion. This encounter set Gabriel on a path that would lead him to leave his secure job and devote his life to ministry.

Gabriel’s faith journey profoundly impacted his family and community. His parents converted to Christianity, taking on the name “Gabriel” in solidarity with his newfound identity. He also inspired several family members to join the faith, which laid a strong foundation for his mission work. With a vision to reach even more people, Gabriel opened a tannery to support his ministry financially, though it eventually failed. Facing mounting financial pressures, Gabriel journeyed to Madras in 1871 to seek assistance from the Strict Baptists in England. During this trip, he crossed paths with Canadian missionaries Rev. John McLaurin and Rev. John Timpany, who were moved by his passion and vision.

Gabriel continued his ministry, baptizing many converts, including several family members, in villages around Kolair Lake. But his financial situation became increasingly dire, and in 1873, he reached out through McLaurin and Timpany to the Canadian Baptists, hoping they would support his mission in India. Recognising Gabriel’s dedication, the Foreign Mission Society of Ontario and Quebec responded and decided to take up his cause. McLaurin arrived in Cocanada (now Kakinada) in March 1874, supporting Gabriel in baptising 133 new converts by the end of the year.

Unfortunately, Gabriel fell seriously ill just months later and, despite every effort, passed away on January 1, 1875. In his final days, he expressed his unshakeable faith, declaring Jesus “most precious.” His legacy lives on through the early Baptist movement in India, a testament to his vision and the Canadian Baptists who answered his call.

Here, sitting on the dais in Kakinada, I am reminded that I came here because I was invited – just as those who began this work 150 years ago were invited.

A Legacy of Shared Mission

Here, sitting on the dais in Kakinada, I am reminded that I came here because I was invited — just as those who began this work 150 years ago were invited. It’s humbling to represent all those who have served and walked with these partners, bound by the same thread of faith and commitment that connects us to McLaurin, Thomas Gabriel, and the beginnings of this shared mission.

The faint breeze of the fan passes over me as I reflect on this legacy of faith, partnership, and invitation. It’s a legacy not simply rooted in the past but one that also guides CBM into the future, beckoned by the call to participate in God’s mission. I’m honoured to take part in this ongoing journey — one that, like today, began with a simple yet profound invitation.

*Telugu Trophies