In April the Koinonia College of Theology celebrated our 13th graduating class. Please pray for these workers as they go out into the harvest!
More students than ever attend KCOT, and they come from a variety of places and backgrounds. Here are some of their stories.
John Sunil Waghmare
M.Div
The Koinonia College of Theology has changed my life. Through the word of God and the teaching of the professors at KCOT I have learned many important things about God and his character, how to be a good Christian, and how to lead a congregation. The teachers never go outside of the Bible, you only hear what is true.
I want to become a Good and Faithful Pastor, and servant of God.
Kevin Kath
B.Th., final year
I am from Nagaland in the far northeast part of India. I have spent one year in this beautiful and blessed Institute after transferring from Karjat Calvary Baptist College in Mumbai. I learned many things here which I didn’t expect. Sometimes I regret missing my first and second year. The faculty are are very good in their profession and faithful in their calling – serving, helping and equipping students with skills and knowledge that will be useful for a lifetime. Apart from Biblical education I have also learned how to play worship music and how to use computer to access the internet and eBooks.
I want to become a Missionary/Evangelist, traveling place to place and sharing the gospel. Wherever God wants me to serve and be a witness to Him I am ready to follow His will. My greatest desire is to become international preacher to glorify His name in every corner where He send me to. My God who calls me is faithful and He works everything for good (Romans 8:28).
I want to keep in touch with all my KCOT classmates until the last breath and our Lord takes us. We all come from different places and it will be an encouragement to see one another again. Our professors will be proud to see their students doing good job or holding wonderful ministry, and above all our Lord’s name will be exalted through all our good deeds.
I want to thank the Lord for helping me to complete my course and receive a Bachelor’s degree. I really thank from my heart and highly appreciate Bishop Joseph Hiwale and his family, and all the sponsors of KCOT in America. We were thirsty and you gave us drink (Matthew 25). Our good Lord will bless you abundantly!
Atul Vaity
B.Th
In November 2013 I attended a youth conference at Koinonia College of Theology. I saw that the youth were so energetic and worshipping God with a true heart, they were devoted and worshiping God and praising His name, which influenced me to join this Bible College.
When I came here I had many misunderstandings about church and Christianity, but now I have a good understanding of who Christ is. KCOT has not just helped me learn theology but also how to have discipline in my life. I have developed a missional passion, and gotten great insights into the practical aspects of mission.
After graduation I am planning to take one or two years break and do practical ministry. After that, I may go for an M. Div.
Triveni Bansode
B.Th
I also first heard about KCOT at the Youth Conference we hald in 2013. I saw Bible College students who were very active, having good knowledge about the Bible. I came to know that there are Bible colleges where we can study and also learn useful things for God’s ministry. I decided to come to Koinonia., and 3 years later I got the opportunity to come and study.
The first thing I learned here was punctuality and discipline! The obedience I learned in my Biblical education also helped me learn about spiritual life. I want to do evangelism, ministry in area near my home and also searching Job where I can ministry also.
Satish Jean
B.Th, 3rd year
I came to know KCOT through professor Akash Surya. I knew it was a place where i would learn good biblical doctrine. I am so sure that it was the purpose of God that I study in this blessed institution.
When I came to this college I didn’t know anything! I was a man who feared a lot. But in these past three years I have learned so many things and now I feel capable to preach in the right way. I want to be a evangelist after my study. And I want to serve God.
Biligraham Missal
B.Th., 2nd Year
I came to know this college through my best friend Satish Jena. I was searching for a good college for my B.Th course where I could learn God’s word in the right way. I talked with Satish and he told me about KCOT and how the teaching is good here.
My future plan is, if it’s God’s will, I want to be a social worker, and through that work do ministry among the people. Please pray for me!
Sarita Patil
B.Th
Before coming to KCOT I lived for one year at the Girls Home of Pune, where my mother was working. At that time I was in the 10th standard. At the Girls Home I was able to read the Bible and pray to God more than what I was doing at my home. My life was changing, but when my mother and I went back to our home village everything was the same as before.
When I was in 12th standard my pastor asked me, “if you have a chance to go to Bible college, will you go?” I was ready to come because I knew that I would get a time to study God’s word and I would be changed even more. My family was also happy to send me to KCOT, because it was the desire of my mother that I should dedicate my life to ministry of God. She was praying for me, even though I was not aware of it, and God opened the way for me to study His word!
There are lots of things which I learned from KCOT, theoretically as well as through my experiences here. First of all, I came to know the real God, about His love for me. Before coming to the Bible College I hated my father. When I was 14 years old, because of some clashes between my mother and father, our father told us to leave the home. But when I came to the Bible College I understood the importance of God’s love and about salvation and it changed my view regarding my father. Now I am praying for the salvation of my father.
When I came here I was dependent upon my parents and my brother for everything, I was not able to take my own decisions. After 3 years of living far away from them I was able to get closer to God. I understood that there is no one to help me here, but God helped me through very miraculous ways. I understand now that Yes, there is a purpose of God in my life, and it my responsibility to respond to it positively.
I learned discipline, punctuality, and how to behave as a Christian minister. Yes, it’s true that sometimes I am not able to follow it, but I am trying my best!
What is my future plan? First of all, I want to bring my sister Sharmila to Christ, She is having psychological problems and she is not able to come out of it. I have burden for my sister that she may be cured and will be able to accept Christ as savior. I have a burden for my father also, that God may change his heart and bring him to Him. I am trying to have contact with him, because it has been almost ten years since I have seen him.
I want to do children’s ministry, and become a worship leader in church. God has given me some talents and I want to use them for His glory. Please pray for my ministry and my family!
Vinod Bangari
Diploma Program, 2nd year
Before I came to Lord, I was working as driver. I was a hopeless person. One day I attended a youth meeting where God call me to serve him. But twice I denied him, I ignored the call and continued doing my job. I just wanted to earn more money and become rich, but all I did was worry.
The verse Joshua 1:8 changed my life, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
God spoke to me through that verse and I left my job and decided to serve God. When I came here I did not know how to read well, especially my own language, also I could not speak properly because of my tongue problem. But by the grace of God and this blessed college I have changed like a caterpillar into a butterfly! It’s a miracle in my life, and my plan now is to serve God in my church back at home.
