Albert Jayaraju is a pastor in Karnataka, India. He has a calling to shepherd the people of his congregation by teaching them the Word of God, providing godly counsel and by meeting their physical needs. Albert also has a desire to make sure the local pastors in his area are trained so that they can minister in the most effective ways possible. For several years, Albert has been organizing training classes for the pastors and church planters in his area. We realized that his passion for training pastors fits perfectly with our Timothy Leadership Institute. He and the group of pastors he's training are the first students to graduate from the TLI in 2008.

In late October, 2005 Albert contacted HHI to tell us about a horrible cyclone that had destroyed his village. He wanted to provide help to the people as a testimony of God's love and compassion. HHI's donors gave generously and in partnership with Albert, we were able to help 75 families that had lost their homes.

Albert's Testimony.....
I was born and brought up in a Hindu family. Everyone in my family, including me, worshipped idols. My grandfather was a priest in the temple and he wanted me to do the same thing. That's what my whole family wanted me to do.

When I was in high school I came to know Jesus Christ through some of God's people who came to my village. I accepted Christ and was baptized. Then some problems started. I faced many problems and I was even beaten very badly. God showed me comfort from the words in the Bible. I read Psalm 27:10, Romans 3:23 and Hebrews 13:5-6. I did not leave Jesus.

Today I praise God because some of my family members are turning to Christ. I am so happy because I can have prayer with my family every week. And not only my family, but some of the same people who were so angry when I turned to Christ have now come to Christ too.

I am blessed to have a wonderful family, a wife and two children who all love Jesus Christ and work with me in the ministry. I thank God for the life that I have in Him.