Started with
The Foundation
On the evening of August 12, 2023, a small group of Indian Christians of CSI heritage gathered in the home of Pastor Thinagar Sitther in Denton, Texas, to receive pastoral care and comfort. The group had experienced trauma and discord in their previous parish. Pastor Thinagar, and his wife, Perpetua Sitther (affectionately known as Petti Auntie) spent not only that evening but for the next several months consoling, nurturing, and galvanizing this group of believers. “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God (Matthew 5:9).” Our gratitude towards Pastor Thinagar and Petti Auntie for enabling God`s comfort and peace cannot be overstated. We truly thank God for them.
Then, became
The Fellowship
This small group of believers resolved to organize as a body of Christ. We took the initiative to contact the CSI Diaspora Diocese for guidance and direction. Daniel Cherian, the appointed Treasurer of the Administrative Committee of the Diocese played a pivotal role in advising the group. In the ensuing days and months this faithful group of people worshipped in one another`s homes and prioritized Christian education of the children.
The first step of our development was forming a CSI Fellowship and assigning a leadership team. In September of 2023, Mr. Prem Babu was named President, Mr. Joshua Winston as Vice President, Mr. Daniel Jebakumar as Secretary, Mrs. Jenifer Jeyaraj as Treasurer, and Mrs. Steffi Fedrick as Joint Secretary. This leadership team, in the span of five months, did an amazing job. Amongst their many accomplishments was their commitment to CSI doctrines, to democratic principles, to transparency, to children`s ministry, to programs like the retreat that strengthened our bonds, the establishment of consistent worship timing (Saturday evenings), and to identifying a location to regularly meet. We are grateful to St. Andrew`s Episcopal Church, McKinney, Texas for providing us with our first location of worship. Further, the leadership team was able to ensure the group met all federal and state guidelines by incorporating as a non-profit corporation, ascertaining tax filing status as 501(c)(3) organization, and forming a bank account.
And a new begining with
The Church
Under the auspices of this leadership team the name “Love of Christ CSI Church” was coined. Truly, we are thankful for the divinely inspired name, “Love of Christ CSI Church.” As a congregation we pledge to always share the love of Christ with His creation. On February 10, 2024, the CSI Diaspora Diocese Administrative Committee granted our church “Associate Member” status. On February 21, 2024, the Bishop-In-Charge of the Diaspora Diocese and the then Deputy Moderator of the Church of South India, the Rt. Rev. Reuben Mark, appointed the Rev. Franklin Sherwin Doss, as Presbyter-In-Charge of our parish. This leadership team`s efforts culminated in the General Body Meeting of February 25, 2024, where we approved a constitution and formally elected our first Church Committee.
The first elected church committee consisted of Mr. Stanlin Jebaraj, Mr. Anil Chandy, Mr. Daya Emmanuel, Mr. Daniel Jebakumar, Mrs. Daphne Gilbert, Mr. Ryan Thomas, and Mrs. Steffi Fedrick. The new church committee`s initial acts included moving worship timing to Sunday mornings and to commemorate God`s benevolence towards us with a Special Service of Thanksgiving on Saturday, April 27, to proclaim, in the great assembly, our thankfulness. We are grateful to Faith United Presbyterian Church for providing us with a sanctuary to worship on Sunday mornings. Additionally, we acknowledge the contributions of the Rev. Franklin Sherwin Doss for his guiding presence since November 2023.
Our journey as Love of Christ CSI Church has been humbling and spiritually rewarding. Along the way there have been countless members, friends, and acquaintances whom God has placed in our journey that have provided invaluable help towards the success of this congregation, which number too many to name here. We are also deeply appreciative of the various ministries of the church that have worked tirelessly to ensure a meaningful worship experience, a vibrant fellowship, and a welcoming environment. Truly, we are grateful to God for them all. We hope that God would continue bless our efforts towards advancing His Gospel in this world. Pray for us and our leadership that we may “show forth the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)”.
Pastoral History
Founding Pastor
Pastor Thinagar Sitther
He is a graduate of Hesston College, Hesston, Kansas.
He is an ordained minister of the Mennonite Church USA.
He founded and planted Asian Indian Christian Church of Pittsburgh in 1999.