Milestones

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, Matt 28:19

With this vision and mission from the Lord Jesus Christ, it was in the year 1969 that God filled His faithful few with the Holy Spirit and moved them with a strong desire to start Baptist Church in this great city of Hyderabad. As the Bible says “All things work together for good to them that love God” The formation of the states of Andhra Pradesh with Hyderabad Capital, the resultant influx of people from the districts into the City, and gave an added impetus to the project of the new political situation generated in the minds of the people, gave an added impetus to the project of the faithful few. God answered their prayers and helped to conduct their prayer meetings and fellowship gathering in private houses and institutions, St. Luke’s Hindustan Church, YMCA, YWCA, and Christ Church, Ramkote, in 1969. At the request of the congregation, the Church Organizing Council of STBC (Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Church) was formed with 24 delegates from 12 Churches 2 missionaries’ and 10 visitors. The Congregation unanimously elected Rev. R. Moses Premanandam, the then Regional Secretary of STBC as chairman and Dr D. Vijaya Simha as Secretary. The Organizing Council unanimously constituted Baptist Church Hyderabad, on a historic day 14th December 1969, in the precincts of Christ Church, Remkote, Hyderabad.

With the honest effort and holy Zeal of the members of the Committee, the Constitution was framed and registered under the Public Societies ACT with Registration No. 69/69 in 1969. Yeoman services were rendered by our beloved Missionaries of BIM, Rev. Dr T. G. Gipson, the then Evangelism Secretary, and Rev. Dr L. F. Knoll, the then Mission Secretary, in the form of invaluable advice and guidance. Rev. P. Joseph the Army Chaplain, lent his services as honorary visiting Pastor while Rev. Dr A. B. Masilamani was a guest preacher and Evangelist G. Joseph visited houses.

God answered the prayers of the faithful and devout in the form of the appointment of a regular first full-time Pastor in the person of Rev. G. Samuel on 22nd June 1970. Ever since Rev. G. Samuel took charge of the ministry of the small congregation, the Almighty God started performing His miracles and showering His blessings in innumerable ways. As a result, the Church has grown from strength to strength and has become one of the Mega Churches.

The Church continuously grew under the counsel of the founding members, elders and able leadership of Pastors, Rev. Dr G. Samuel and Rev. B. Karunakar Thyagaraj.

1971

The Church was affiliated and inducted into the Fellowship of Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches in the year January 1971.

1972

The year marked the affiliation of Baptist Church Hyderabad with the City Baptist Church Association, Secunderabad Field, and the Deccan Association of Telugu Baptist Churches.

1973

In January 1973, at the invitation of the Church, an ordination Council was formed and Pastor G. Samuel was ordained as reverend on 7th January 1973 in the Christ Church, Ramkote.

The year witnessed the publishing of the Monthly News Bulletin ‘Sanghavani’ in the month of February 1973 and is published every month even to this day.

1974

In this historic year of 1974, God almighty enabled our leadership to purchase and register the Property "Dawood Manzil" meaning the "House of David." in the heart of the City. The Church was dedicated by Rev. K.C. George on 14-12-74 for the glory of the Lord.

1975

People from different states and languages started to attend the Worship Services. To have greater influence of the Word of God over the lives of the people of all races and languages, English Worship Service was introduced on 5^th January 1975 for the non-Telugu speaking congregation and was inaugurated by Mrs. Magorie Gipson.

In the same year on 29^th March 1975 a new baptistery was constructed within the church premises and was inaugurated by Rev. Dr. A. B. Masilamani, the Founder Director of New Life Associated.

1978

Yet another Milestone, a historic day came in the year 1978 the 'New Sanctuary' was dedicated for the glory of the Lord, for the ever growing congregation to come together in worship.

1979

Ministerial works in the Church started to move at God speed and soon it was 10 years. The vision of the church now has become larger and it was time for the church to stretch out its arms towards the many unreached districts & towns. With mission and vision of carrying the Gospel to the unreached, OCPM (Outreach Church Planting Ministry) was initiated in the year 1979. Today we have more than 50 OCPM churches.

1980

After witnessing the manifest blessing of the God almighty in the lives of the members and the ministry of the church, it was now time to bless the future generations by sowing and laying a strong Christian foundation based on the word of God. With this mission on hand it was inexorable to start the Junior Church for the children below 12 years of age.

1984

The mission of reaching the unreached, making many disciples of Jesus Christ was reaching its pinnacle in the History of Baptist Church Hyderabad. It was impossible to stop for any reason. During this time, the need for self transportation was identified and for the very first time we have our own ‘Gospel Van’ purchased on 31st March 1984.

1986

The Lord almighty continuously brought in many sheep to his fold. People from various states, languages, ethnicities, and cultures were now coming in for the incorruptible word of God preached from the pulpit. Our First ever Hindi Worship Service was started in the Year 1985 to cater to the spiritual needs of the people.

1987

‘Go therefore and make disciples…’ this word of God was seen to manifest in Baptist Church Hyderabad in the first ordination of our OCPM pastors in the year 1987. The first disciples of Jesus Christ from the ministry of Baptist Church Hyderabad are Rev. U. Samuel, Rev. B. Samuel Babu, Rev. G. James Robert, Rev. V. Asher, Rev. G. Moses, Rev. R. K. Victor, Rev. Verghese, Rev. B. Susheel Kumar, and Rev. V. Abraham.

1988

As the church grew in its congregational strength, it was also pertinent for the Pastoral team to grow. After a long wait Rev. B. Karunakar Thyagaraj was appointed as Associate Pastor in the year May 1988.

1989

On 8th January 1989, the foundation stone for the extended sanctuary was laid by Rev. Mrs. Glady M Peterson, the area director, BIM.

‘Jesus the Only Hope’ Good News festival was organized by Baptist Chruch Hyderabad and hosted Dr. John Bisagno and his team of 30 members on From 21st to 25th October 1989.

1991

The Hyderabad Baptist Trust was established as the social arm of Baptist Church Hyderabad and was registered on 12th October 1991 with headquarters at Baptist Church Hyderabad.

Hyderabad Baptist Trust caters to the needs of the poor and neglected sections of the communities irrespective of caste and creed, to show Christian Love and Care in the name of Jesus Christ.

1992

The year of impartation; on 5th July 1992 Baptist Institute of Evangelism was started with ten students to cater to the growing needs of the Church Planters in the Outreach Ministry. The aim of this Institute is to impart training to those people who have dedicated their lives for the ministry of our Lord.

1993

On 24th January 1993 Saakshi a Spiritual Telugu monthly magazine was published and later was approved by Government as Siluva Saakshi. The magazine has been a real blessing for all Christian non-Christian brethren. It has the popularity of both interstates. The Editorial Board under the leadership of Rev. Dr. G. Samuel had made tremendous efforts to improve the magazine.

On 6th September 1993 land measuring 17 acres and 37 guntas was purchased and registered for Baptist Center India.
On 7th November 1993, foundation stone was laid by Rev. Dr. Wayne Allen, Rev. Benjamin S. L. Chan and Mrs. Theressa Allen for Prayer Mount Baptist Church, Baptist Conference Centre, and Baptist Home for Orphans and poor respectively.

1994

In 1994 the Church celebrated 25 years of God's faithfulness. Our Church hosted Rev. T. G. Gipson, our beloved Missionary who inaugurated the celebrations from 10th to 14th December.

Silver Jubilee Complex was dedicated by Rev Benjamin S.L. Chan, Area Director East Asia and Indian BIM Valley Forge USA on 14th November 1994.

1995

The Church has grown immensely by the grace of God and the prayers of many believers. On 26th November 1995 the groundbreaking for the prayer tower life was done by Dr. Gene Davis. In the same year, the Banjara service commenced.

1996

Baptist Seva Sadan was inaugurated and dedicated for the glory of God on 17th November 1996 by Rev. Mike Stoope.

HBT Clinic was established on the first floor of the same building to attend to the medical needs of the members of the church.

1998

Baptist Church, Hyderabad was growing rapidly and the church was being filled with the believers. Under the able leadership and pastoral care of our First Pastor Rev. Dr. G. Samuel, the Church was extended to accommodate more people for worship. On 14th December 1998 the Extended Baptist Complex was dedicated by our beloved pastor Rev. Dr. G. Samuel.

1999

Gospel had to reach to all men alike irrespective of caste, creeds, religion, and ethnicities. With this vision, Gospel Crusades were held in Banjara Thandas during this year.

On March 12th 1999 Rev. Benjamin S. Chan, Area Director BIM, South Asia & India, dedicated Alice Findlay Memorial Baptist Library at Baptist Church Hyderabad.

On 29th 1999, the foundation stone for Baptist Bible Seminary India at Baptist Centre India was laid by Rev. Dr. John Rawlings, Founder-Director, Rawlings Foundation, Founder Baptist Fellowship, U.S.A.

2000

Saramma Memorial Baptist Church at Gandipalem, a special project of our church was dedicated for the glory of God on 26th 2000 making it a base for Relief and Rehabilitation Committee to visit the flood-affected villages in the year 2000.

2001

Baptist Church at Miryalaguda, and Boduppal were established and a parsonage at Baptist Church Nagarjuna Sagar were inaugurated by our beloved First Pastor, Rev. Dr. G. Samuel.

2002

The Inaugural worship service at Prayer Mount Baptist Church was conducted on 7th July 2002.

2003

In the year 2003, our Church elders and the members of the relief and rehabilitation committee visited Shankar Naik Thanda and extended God's love through serving those who are affected by the fire accident. An amount of 15,000 rupees were distributed to twenty families who have lost most of their property in this fire accident. New gospel Centres were opened at Ghatkesar, Karkyalagudem, Ragalagadda.

2004

In the year 2004 distinguished preachers Dr Ravi Zachariah, Founder Director of RZIM, Dr D.G.S. Dinakaran of Jesus Calls ministry and Rev. Benjamin S.L. Chan, Area director South East Asia and India delivered the Word Of God in our Church.

A delegation of 41 members from our Church had the privilege of visiting the Holy Land, Israel.

On October 26th 2004, Rev. Dr G. Samuel and Rev. Benjamin S.L. Chan along with TBF Officials met with our Honorable Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy to discuss various opportunities to sever our community.

2005

In 2005 July our dear Pastor Rev David P. Gollapale and his wife Mrs Esther Priyanka were invited by the world-renowned organization, Lifeway Ministries to speak at various meetings held in Colorado, USA. In the same month, our First Pastor Rev. Dr G. Samuel along with his family and elders of the church attended the centenary celebration of Baptist World Alliance which was held in Birmingham, UK.

2007

In 2007 Brentwood Baptist Church joined hands with Baptist Church Hyderabad in reaching out to the various communities by providing them with the free eye and dental checkups at HBT clinic.

Library was rededicated by Rev. Dr G. Samuel on 4th March 2007, and more books written by Rev. Dr. G. Samuel were added to the archives of the Library (Books, commentaries, Service etc) for the benefit of the Church.

2008

In 2008 Inaugural celebration of the Ruby Jubilee started from 12th - 14th December 2008. The Inauguration was done by our beloved Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. For 40 years, through various programs, we were able to proclaim God's Love and faithfulness through Baptist Church Hyderabad.

2009

Hyderabad Baptist Church continued experience and witness God’s Faithfulness and celebrated its Ruby Jubilee in the year 2009. The Ruby Jubilee Celebration were inaugurated by the Honorable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.

Five Churches were built and dedicated during the Ruby Jubilee Celebrations. Baptist Center India was also inaugurated in the yearDecember 2009.

2010

On 18th April 2010 seven of our OCPM Pastors were ordained and three Pastors from BBSM.

First Pastor Rev. Dr G. Samuel lead a team of 35 members on a Holy land tour for 7 days that helped us to see and understand the depth of Old Testament Scriptures.

2011

On 16th July 2011 our First Pastor Rev. Dr. G. Samuel completes 15,000 days of extraordinary Ministry in the days of Baptist Church Hyderabad.

2012

On 5th April 2012 a Musical Concert 'Sangeeth Vibhavari (Musical Night) in aid of the Orphans and the aged people was held by Hyderabad Baptist Trust at our church.

2013

Baptist Youth Fellowship participated and celebrated Jesus at the 16th Baptist World Youth Conference which was held in Singapore.

After witnessing the Goodness of God and his abundant blessing, it was now time for the Church to extend its territory into the Northern part of India. With a vision to explore India with the Good News of Jesus Christ, a new branch church at Mandi, Himachal Pradesh was dedicated for the glory of God and two pastors were appointed to shepherd the church.

2016

Be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you 1 Sam 12:24. The Congregation of Baptist Church Hyderabad applauds the faithful serving of its beloved Pastor Rev. Dr. G. Samuel and Mrs. Eva Samuel who celebrated their 50th Wedding anniversary on 27th June 2016 and served the Lord as a family from 1970.

2018

New Church Properties were purchased to build OCPM Churches at Burugula Thanda, Kurmeda, Ramavaram, and Bairavunibanda.

2019

Year of the Lord: Baptist Church Hyderabad celebrated its 50 years in serving the Lord and His people. This celebration was consecrated with much praise and worship. We as a Church have witnessed the never ending mercies and God’s faithfulness all through the life of the Church.

A grand stage was set up to honor and glorify the name of the Lord. 50 Pastors were ordained on this special day.

Our beloved Pastor Rev. Dr. G. Samuel also celebrated his 50 years of serving the Lord at Baptist Church Hyderabad made the day more memorable for both him and the congregation.

All the wings of the church testified the goodness of God through praises and songs for the bible says “Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song (Psalm 95:2).” On this day, God turned the Vision to Visibility, Testing to Testimony, and Song to Service. Many have witnessed how God led the church faithfully all these 50 years.