This month, the PTS community was blessed with different indigenous worship services organized by the Worship Class, comprised of students of M.Div II & III. The class was divided into four different regions of India namely, north, south, northeast and Himalayan (Nepali speaking students).  The goal was to see and experience the integration of Biblical elements of worship and cultural methods of worship.

Regardless of the church traditions and local cultures, students from four different regions got together to organize services during the chapel hours. The PTS community worshiped the Lord by singing in different languages, playing musical instruments, experiencing cultural ways of pronouncing benedictions, liturgies, ambience, costumes, worship styles including seating arrangements.  Through these indigenous worship services, the PTS community witnessed biblical worship in a diversity of cultures. A small taste of heaven?

News from the Field: Rev. Bijoy Chhetri went back to his home church, Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Sikkim after completing M.Div in 2005. He oversees fifteen churches in Sikkim. His ministry includes preaching teaching and administering sacraments and marriages, and olso organizing Sunday school teachers\' training, leading the Men\'s Guild, teaching in men\'s Bible classes. He is also President of National Missionary Society - Sikkim area overseeing 25 evangelists working in different states of Sikkim. He and Mary Lepcha have 11 year old daughter and 1 year old son. There are not enough trained pastors in this region. Pray for Bijoy and other PTS alumni having similar responsibilities. * Miss Joycee, Women Coordinator and Rev. Lalngailien Puruolte, Youth Coordinator of the RPCNEI, Manipur have been extensively traveling in different districts of Assam and Manipur organizing Women Seminar and evangelistic ministries. * Pastor K.K. Dasan (\'98), started his own church in Kerala after leaving PTS. He used to play for an MRF team (an Indian Motor tyre company) prior to joining PTS and continues to organize a basketball tournament as a means to evangelism in his home state of Kerala.

Testimony: Priyanka James, a 2nd yr B.Th student was born and brought up in a Christian family in Clement town of Dehradun. After completing her higher secondary education she worked as an Air hostess for three and half years. Though she was happy with the money, fame and friends, she came to a point when she realized that she drifted far away from the Lord. She realized that her heart was heavy and did not know where she was heading. As she cried in the corner of her room, (in short) she committed her life to the Lord. From there she promised to forsake all and follow Jesus Christ. After coming back to her home, she prayed for another year and finally, she was directed to PTS to be equipped for ministry. As part of her weekly practical (assigned) ministry, Priyanka has ministry among medical nurses and college students of Dehradun

The entire student body was divided into twenty five teams and sent for autumn ministry (3-13 October, 09) within and outside the states of Uttarakhand as far as to Kolkata and Delhi. For most of them, it is an exposure to a different field of ministry.  This practical outreach is part of their academic requirement.

Friends who dropped by: Dr. Scott D. Ayler from the University of Sharjah, UAE .
* Pastor Dasan and Johnson (98) both from Kerala.
 
Teaching Staff Workshop: A Teaching Staff workshop was held on 26 September, 09 at PTS where some significant changes were made in the M.Div curriculum in order to meet the current theological and mission trends. This is also in response to the evaluation team of the Asia Theological Association of which PTS has been affiliated. The teachers and board members will study the proposed changes further. It will then be used from the next academic year.

Travel: Principal Dr. Mohan Chacko will attend an International Conference of Reformed Churches and also present a paper in New Zealand. Vice Principal Rev. L. Roshyama Hrangchal and Faculty member Mr. Ramesh Chand will be attending Partners' Conference in the Netherlands, representing PTS organized by De Verre Naasten. Board Chairman Rev. Samuel Macgregor and board member Rev. Solanki are also attending the conference from the Reformed Presbyterian Church of India. Mr. Jaison George will attend an All India Conference on Churches in Missions in Hyderabad within this month.
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PROJECTS

Student Support:
There are several student candidates who are in need of support. Sponsor a student for 4 or 3 years by investing Rs. 55,000 or US $ 1,222 (M.Div), Rs. 45,000 or US $ 1000 (B.Th) per year as full support to cover tuition and boarding, or any amount as partial help.

Faculty Apartment Repair:
The floor of one apartment sank in the living room and bedroom when there was earthquake few years ago. The floors need to be re-made with marble chips. The cost of the project is Rs. 60,000/-

Computer needed: Three computers and one laptop are needed for Faculty members costing Rs. 23,000 ($510) per one desk top computer and Rs. 30,700/- for a laptop computer.

A mini bus (tempo traveler): A mini bus is needed to be used for outreach ministries, class related and for official purposes. The cost is about Rs. 865,000. This is the main fundraising project for the 40th Anniversary of PTS.

Gifts and donations indicating its purpose can be sent to any of the following:
Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Saving Bank Acct No. 306802010008768,
Union Bank of India, Dehradun. Swift Code No. UBININBBDER, IFSC: UBIN0530689
MTW, 1600 North Brown Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, USA.
ARMA, 12964 N. Bellwood, Holland, MI 49424, USA.