PMI Missionaries
Paul Billy & Shirley Arnold
Ministry Area: South India
Responsibilities: Church planting
E-mail Address: pbaatpmi@vsnl.com
Project: Bangalore Church Land
Paul Billy graduated from Covenant Seminary in 1993 with an M.Div. and returned to India to pioneer the Reformed church planting ministry in southern India.
God enabled the planting of Bangalore Presbyterian Church in 1994 and Panruti Presbyterian Church in 2003. Teams are being prepared to plant three additional churches by 2008. Paul Billy and his father teach national pastors and evangelists who have no formal theological training.
Reaching out to the children living on the streets of Bangalore led the Arnolds to open a "drop in" facility and a home for the children.
Latest Report: (updated 8/23/2007)
Dear friends,
From the first week of April to the last week of May we lived out of three suitcases in a Chevy Trailblazer and homes of gracious friends. During this time we traveled 16000 miles and were overwhelmed with your hospitality; understanding and warm welcome that made us feel at home half way around the world. Thanks to you, our children still keep talking about the trip, the wonderful friends they made and the different places that we visited. But most importantly we thank God for His watch care over us as we kept a punishing schedule and the privilege of being renewed by our time with you all. We were able to visit most of our supporters and Churches and made a few new contacts as well. Through this God has fueled our passion for His work and has enabled us to take on our new assignment which is bigger than we can even dream of doing in our own strength. We rest on His enabling and your continued support.
God provided health, strength and resources to get back to life and ministry back in India on June 1st. Our children started school 2 days after we returned with no problems or lack of anything. Some of you know that they were preparing for a scripture contest during our trip. Elsie recited all 25of her verses without a mistake and came first in her class, Jesudhas studied 50 verses and came third in his. Both were prize winners at school. Joseph continues to enjoy his school and we hope next year to put him into the same school as Elsie and Jesudhas.
During our time in the States we met with our board in the beginning and towards the end. We had very important and useful discussions with them. One of the important matters that came up for discussion was MTW Asia International Director’s request to PMI to allow me to be the Director of New Ministries in India for the region south of Delhi. God has led our board to allow me to be on loan to MTW since our vision and goals are the same. I will continue to be a PMI missionary but serve on loan to MTW. What does this mean for Paul Billy Arnold? First it means that 70 percent of my time will be devoted to Church planting focus. This would mean developing interest in the Reformed faith and introducing the Presbyterian Church to friends who may or may not have heard of us through seminars and conferences. The next step would be to equip those who are drawn to us and help Church planting works to be established. In the remaining 30% of my time I will provide leadership for Bangalore Presbyterian Church, Street Child ministry in Bangalore and Homes of Hope. For each of these ministries God has provided good leadership so that my ministry would be to give the overall vision and minister to the leadership as we serve together.
We had the privilege of hosting Rev. Mike Graham TE of Hickory Grove Presbyterian Church in the Nashville area who came to speak to our Church planters in our monthly continuing education program in June. In July we hosted Rev. Marshal Brown, the campus minister of RUF in University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, he ministered to our church planters and spoke in our Youth Retreat in July. In August we had Rev. Sam Yoo, TE of New Life Mission Church in Buena Park and leaders from their Church. Pastor Sam did a seminar on Premarital and marital counseling for our Church planters, a seminar for leaders of Bangalore Presbyterian Church and Family retreat for Panruti Presbyterian Church and Bangalore Presbyterian Church. Panruti Presbyterian Church is witnessing some challenging times even as they see more being added to the family of God. Many attempts have and are being made to close down this Church. In the midst of this we seek to put up a place for them to worship in.
Rev. Mike Graham of Nashville teaches Church planters.
Future leaders of BPC being taught by Rev. Sam Yoo.
Our first Introduction to the Reformed faith and Presbyterian Church seminar was held on August 9 and 10. Though our speaker was not able to make it to the seminar, Rev. Abhishek and I taught these classes. As a result of this we now have a group of men who we are working with and opportunities to train many in their areas of ministry. Some folks who could not attend the seminar are asking that we conduct this seminar in their locations. Beginning this September I will begin traveling to areas where there is potential for us to conduct these introduction seminars. Along side we are working to establish groups among contacts of those who attended our seminar to teach them the Reformed faith more in depth.
Some of the Pastors who attended the Introduction to the Reformed faith and Presbyterian Church.
In the past month I have been praying and meeting with men who we seek to discern whether or not God is calling us to serve along side in planting churches in Bangalore and other parts of India. It has been difficult and yet a work that I am convinced God has let us to do.
Praise God for
- Fruitful trip to the US and safety in travels
- Successfully conducting Introduction to the Reformed faith and Presbyterian Church seminar.
- Progress in the Street Child ministry
- The joy Shirley and our children give to me and to each other
Pray along with us for
- Follow up with Pastors who attended the Introduction to the Reformed faith and Presbyterian Church.
- Wisdom and insight to make the right decisions in forming Church planting teams for different parts of India.
- Greater appreciation of God’s grace in my life and it being demonstrated in my life to my family and those God has called me to serve alongside.
- Panruti Presbyterian Church building and protection for our team
Thank you for joining with us in this awesome work that God is blessed us with.
Growing in dependence on Him who is able,
Rev. Paul Billy Arnold
Presbyterian Mission International
12330 Conway Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
Telephone: (314) 434-4044
Fax: (314) 434-4819
