Peniel Home- Pastor's family retreat

Pastor’s family get together of Madurai-Ramnad Diocese, yet an other episode in 2015 at Peniel house, Natham. A beautiful campus located amidst the green lushes under the mountain, founded by Mr. Samuel and family. They are part of the founder’s team of Bethel Bible Institute, Salem.

Day started with a warm journey from the city in several buses filled with the members of pastor’s families. The bus headed towards Natham road to reach the Peniel Campus, crossing Hawa Valley (a resort), American College satellite campus, Stephen’s B.ed College and few other shops around. Session started with a prayer led by Rev.Gk.Chellappa, Secretary, Madurai Ramnad Diocese and few worship songs accompanied by Rev.Benjamin on keys. Rev. Samuel Packiam, ordained minister, Diocese of Tirunelveli was the guest speaker.

He was the executive secretary of NCCI, Inter-faith relations. He was a research scholar of Westminster College, Oxford and worked on Christian Muslim relations. He was designated as the Director of Henry Martyn Institute of Islamic studies at Hyderabad. He is a man of passion for bridging the religious difference between Christians and Muslims. As a first step, He learnt Arabic. He has written so many papers on the status of Muslim and he concludes that mutual trust is needed for religious establishment with servicing, witnessing, and peace-making.

His talk to the crowd was enriching in the hot summer. The casual talk with the present scenario of the pastors kept everyone awake throughout.

Apart from the serious sessions, the walk among the mango orchids, kids, new faces of the young couples, the hot tea, Uma catering briyani, the slow cycle race for the pastors, and lucky corner for men and women separately, and the gifts definitely made this day, a day to remember. It was so surprising when in both the lucky corner for men and women, same family received the prize. Rev.Gk Chellappa stood first for men and his wife Mrs. Mercy Chellappa stood first for women. The crowd applauded. Best wishes for the rest of the winners also.

The day ended with the prize distribution, heavy ice rain, warm tea and few chit chats about the upcoming elections.

Good day!  Thanking the organizers and the speaker.

C Gladious