Suraj Komaravalli, October 2025
Greetings in the name of Jesus from Asia. Please take a moment to read a few ministry highlights from Asia that I hope will encourage you to pray for me and my responsibilities with CBM:
Philippines
It was a blessing to visit, discuss, and witness the work of CBM in partnership with Kabuganaan Philippines Ministries (KPM) in the Philippines from June 24–29, 2025. Together with Adrian Gardner (Director of Partnerships, Americas and Asia), we had the privilege of signing an MOU, preaching in local churches, and visiting various ongoing projects. This partnership continues to hold great promise in transforming the lives of children through care, nutritious food, and educational support in challenging areas such as Libas and Nipa. The joy and gratitude expressed by the children through their songs were a powerful testimony to God’s work in their lives. The partnership also includes initiatives such as university scholarships for youth, income-generating programs for women, and a creation care project addressing deforestation and flood mitigation. Looking ahead to 2026, KPM aims to strengthen sustainability across its projects and begin transitioning some initiatives to local churches, enabling them to take on new community-focused programs.
Asia team retreat
This was the first Asia Team Retreat held under my added responsibilities at CBM. The Asia Team members, including Rev. Adrian, gathered in Thailand from June 30 to July 5 for a time of fellowship, sharing, brainstorming, learning, capacity building, and networking related to our ministry roles and partnerships across India, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Thailand, Philippines, and Southeast Asia. As we strengthened our relationships, we also envisioned deeper collaboration and mutual capacity building to advance CBM’s mission and vision. We were privileged to visit CBM partners in Thailand and were deeply encouraged by their transformative work – rehabilitating victims of substance abuse, empowering the landless to gain identity and dignity, supporting children with food and education, and equipping young people through theological training to serve God’s Kingdom. Truly, God has been gracious, and many lives are being touched and transformed through these ministries.
India
CBM in India conducts annual workshops for women, youth, pastors, spouses, and partners to strengthen their capacity, enhance networking, and equip local churches to become effective agents of change in the communities they serve. In August, I had the privilege of delivering the keynote address on “Baptist Doctrines: Their Distinctives and Implications for the Church Today” at a workshop for CBCNC pastors in Andhra Pradesh, India. The sessions provided pastors with an opportunity to reflect on the core doctrinal values of the Baptist faith and to reexamine the church’s unique role in ministering within India’s challenging context. In September, in partnership with Miqlat Ministry, we conducted a workshop on Integral Mission for participants from local churches, a theological seminary, and Miqlat staff. I had the honour of sharing on Integral Mission from a biblical perspective. Likewise, in October, together with C. P. Raju, I helped facilitate a special Project Management Training for representatives from all our India partners. During this session, I spoke on “Capacity Building and Networking from a Biblical Perspective” and then on the “Project management and long-term sustainability.”
Kazakhstan
In September, together with Kelly Paul, Program Officer for Asia, I had the opportunity to visit Kazakhstan for meetings with our partners – the Almaty Bible Institute (ABI) and the Baptist Union (BU). The visit included preaching engagements at ABI, Baptist Union leadership gatherings, and local churches. During the trip, I also participated in discussions on a new project focused on leadership training and church planting among the predominantly minority Christian population in Central Asia. It was encouraging to learn about the impact of the “LEPTA Project,” which seeks to develop a contextual theology for Central Asia through collaboration with theological educators, pastors, and students. I also visited several Baptist Union initiatives run by local churches, including ministries caring for the elderly, supporting children with mental challenges, nurturing children’s spiritual growth, and rehabilitating victims of substance abuse. These experiences highlighted both the deep needs and the exciting potential for future partnerships in Kazakhstan.
Prayer Requests
1. Please pray that I may continue to serve the Lord faithfully and wholeheartedly. Pray for good health, a deepening faith, and a sensitive heart to hear the cries and needs of those I serve.
2. Pray for my ongoing ministerial support, so that I may continue serving the Lord through CBM’s mission in Asia. If the Lord leads you, you may contact the CBM office in Mississauga for more details.
3. Pray for all our partnerships across Asia—that the Lord would guide us, fill us with hope for transformation, and lead our partners toward greater sustainability in their ministries.
4. Pray for God’s strength, wisdom, and courage to face the growing challenges of religious extremism in various parts of Asia, that we may continue to stand firm in faith and witness.
