AGAPEBANGALORE
AGAPE BIBLE CHURCH
AGAPE CATHEDRAL - THE SYNOD OF ANGLICAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH - KARNATAKA ARCHDIOCESE
Agape Bible Church is an independent, non-denominational Tamil Church located in the heart of Bangalore city proclaiming the gospel of Christ Jesus by all means, at any cost, without anymore delay!
You are welcomed to join us and share in our vision and run with us towards the goal, Christ Jesus has called us towards.
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF CHRIST AND WE LIVE BY IT.
OUR VISION & MISSION
Reaching the Unreached, teaching the Reached and touching the Untouched with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, by all means, at any cost, without anymore delay!
WELCOMING YOU HOME
We are a non denominational, community based, multi ethnic Church located in Bangalore city, Karnataka in the southern part of India. We are committed to teaching the word of God, training disciples, sending missionaries and Church planting in the remotest parts of Southern India.
We hope you have a great time browsing our site to find out what God is doing through Agape in this part of the world.
We would love for you to join us at one of our services or partner with us in some way for the kingdom work and God's glory.
Agape Bible Church is part of Agape Bible Fellowship, a registered Charitable Trust with the Central Govt. of India. © 2024
About Us
OUR JOURNEY COMMENCED ON AUGUST 5TH, 1990..
We are an Independent, Indigenous, Evangelical, and Charismatic Church located in Bangalore, India. Our mission encompasses sending Church Planters throughout the state of Karnataka for the purpose of evangelism, Bible training, and supporting native missionaries. Our primary objective is to teach, demonstrate, and allow people to experience the boundless love of God within the Church community. We extend this love especially to marginalized individuals such as orphans, street children, rag pickers, eunuchs, and others who have been abandoned by society. It is worth noting that in all our mission and social activities, we diligently adhere to all government rules and regulations. At Agape, we carry out our mission by establishing churches and sending dedicated pastors and missionaries. We also ensure that all their financial needs are met as they work towards fulfilling our mission or any other requirements they may have during their mission service. Over the years, Agape has successfully planted churches across the state of Karnataka and has trained numerous missionaries who have gone on to become pastors. These missionaries receive support, care, and guidance from our home Church in Bangalore, and after a period of mentorship and supervision, they are released to operate autonomously while still maintaining their connection to the leadership and oversight of the home Church. Our missionaries are equipped with training in the local state language, with a strong emphasis on the importance of communicating in the local language. Currently, Agape directly oversees the operation of six churches, and many others receive guidance and support through discreet direction.
OUR MISSION: WHAT WE DO AND WHY
Manifesting Love Through Action At Agape Bible Church, we believe that love is most meaningful when it's put into action; it's about helping others discover Jesus in the tapestry of our daily lives. Exemplifying God's Love Our congregation, known as Agape Bible Church, is dedicated to showcasing God's love through tangible acts of kindness, making us a practical and living testament to His grace. No matter who you are, where you come from, or what your beliefs may be, we extend a warm invitation to visit us and allow us to share God's love with you. Reaching Out to Bangalore - Embracing Our Beloved City Nestled in the heart of Bangalore, also known as Bengaluru, we hold a deep affection for this city's rich traditions, diverse cultures, and the warmth that people from all walks of life, faiths, and languages bring with them. Our love for Bangalore stems from the fact that Jesus loves this city passionately, having given His life so that every resident and visitor may experience a transformative journey and embrace the glorious life He has ordained for them.
Centered on Jesus - Our Ministry Model As a non-denominational, independent community, we are a diverse group of individuals driven by our profound passion for Jesus. We model our ministry after His, inviting everyone to walk the path of life He illuminated. Jesus's love extends to all, and His desire is for everyone to encounter the truth. We follow His example and guidance without imposing any agendas on anyone. All we ask is that you come and see for yourself, and trust that God will work wonders in your life.
OUR PASTOR
Archbishop Dr. Reuben M. Sathiyaraj is the founding Sr. Pastor of Agape Bible Fellowship and Churches who established this Christian denomination in the year 1990. He started his ministry as a 16-year-old missionary to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands in the 1970s with Love of God motivating him to share the gospel of Jesus with the uncivilized tribal groups.
He ended up doing pioneering missionary work in the Andaman Islands and reaching the “Onge” and “Jarawa” tribal groups for Christ along with his team of missionaries.
In the 1990s, God had different plans for him and led him towards pastoral care and Church planting which he started in Tamil Nadu and later on moved to Bangalore with his wife and 2 children.
Today his ministry for God has been strongly anchored in Bangalore with hundreds of church plantings, missionary trainings, and hundreds of pastors and leaders trained, sent out, and planted under his leadership as he continues to teach, preach, and train disciples for Christ with Agape as his home church. Reuben Sathiyaraj was born in the State of Tamil Nadu. He was born into a poor Christian village family and was the youngest of 6 children: 2 girls and 4 boys. His parents were not very educated but felt it important that their children should be educated well, and all 6 children attended the Church of South India Christian school.
When Reuben was 2 years of age his father died. This event had a profound effect on the direction his life would take and the eventual making of the man: Pastor Reuben M. Sathiyaraj. Looking and talking to Reuben Sathiyaraj, I thank God that he was led into the ministry. He has Vision, Commitment, Courage, and Compassion, all of which are necessary to make Church leaders that God can use.
When his father died his mother dedicated him to God's ministry. This single act at the age of 2 years was to shape and influence his entire future life. As a child and young man, he rebelled against this dedication and began leading two distinctly different lives.
To his mother, he was the dutiful God-fearing son, but inside he was rejecting this dedication to God and was burning with rebellion. 2 of his brothers had entered the ministry, and his mother was confident that he would also enter the ministry, as he was the one she had dedicated to God, not his brothers. However, when his education was completed, he finally declared the rejection of his faith to his mother. There was a terrible row, in which he picked up a huge boulder, threw it at her, and ran away from the house to Chennai, the capital of his home State.
In Chennai, he mixed with the roughnecks. He had no direction, no faith, and no family. He started up a business with 2 of his friends who robbed and dumped him. He roamed the streets of Chennai penniless, dejected and destitute. For 3 days he was without food and watched a banana seller, hoping that someone would take pity on him and give him something to eat. He even contemplated eating the banana skin, and the Parable of the Prodigal Son kept running through his head: Luke 15:16.And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
Deep despair and depression overwhelmed him, and he decided to end his life by walking into the sea. There was a Gospel meeting in progress on the beach as he headed for the sea, and he recognized the preacher who was quoting Ecclesiastes 11:9: Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
As an angry young man, Reuben had read this same verse, and in rage had thrown the Bible to the ground and stamped on it, kicking it around like a football. Hearing this verse again brought back vivid memories of that previous time, and again he felt very angry, for this time it put doubts in his mind. Already he felt a failure in life and wanted his plan of suicide to succeed. But instead, on that night he accepted the Lord and committed his life for His glory.
While all this was happening, thoughts of reconciliation with his mother and family were creeping into his mind, and the harder he tried to push the thoughts out of his head the stronger they became. He decided to write to his mother, and like the Parable of the Prodigal Son, she welcomed him home. His faith and belief in Jesus Christ flooded back. He started working in a Laboratory as a quality controller but he felt drawn and compelled to spread God's word and preach the Gospel. The text 1 Corinthians 9:16 was his inspiration: "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"
Swallowing his pride, he decided to ask his elder brother, who was a Pastor, for spiritual guidance and help. His brother laughed at him and said that there were already two brothers in the ministry and that was enough. However, he tested Reuben's strength and fortitude by saying that if he went into a locked room, fasted for 3 days, and still felt the same when he came out, he would help him. After three days of fasting, the commitment to enter the ministry was stronger than ever. But when he said this to his brother, his brother flew into a rage, threw a purse of money at him, told him to take the money, and ordered him out of the house. Reuben opened the purse, took only the bus fare of 10 Rupees, and returned the purse to his brother. In the middle of the night he left the house; he was 17 years of age.
Determined to study and preach God's Word, he approached a Bible Seminary in the State of Tamil Nadu, and they agreed to accept him for a 2-year course. He was penniless again, but this time he had direction and commitment and worked as a gardener in the Seminary grounds. In return, he was given tuition, boarding, and accommodation. After finishing Bible Seminary he was sent to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands for 5 years as a pioneer missionary working among the primitive tribals. He was one of the first missionaries to enter this spiritual wilderness, and the tribal people resisted giving up their pagan rituals and accepting the Word of Christ.
Already, although only a young man he was showing discernment and leadership skills and was in charge of the group, preaching with fire straight from the Lord enabling the tribals to identify all his biblical teachings with their cultures and way of life. Many Churches were planted and are still expanding today.
When he returned to Tamil Nadu, he taught in Bible School and completed a 2-year correspondence course on Missionary outreach. Throughout this time he had a burning desire and vision to preach the Gospel to his spiritually barren land of India. For several years he was a roving charismatic preacher, searching out isolated communities and teaching God's Word. In 1985 he married Flora, and they settled in Bangalore in 1987.
Their three children, Jim Elliot, Sabina Livingbel, and Ruby Carole, were born there. Flora fully supports her husband and assists him in many Pastoral activities. In 1990 he sowed the seeds for the now growing and spiritually alive Agape Bible Church. From a small beginning of 3 families, there are now 1000 believers and 250 children being ministered to and hearing the Gospel. In addition to this large ministry, he teaches missionaries and lay leaders who reach the villages and is responsible for the running of two rehabilitation homes for the rag-pickers and street children and the Eunuch ministry plus 5 growing daughter Churches with 10 co-Pastors.
Reuben Sathiyaraj has empathy with the people, especially the street child and rag-picker. He can see potential in those people, thrown away and rejected by society. He respects and cares for his God-given gifts and motivates his fellow workers.
The spiritual growth in this large slum area of Bangalore is entirely due to the commitment and God-given gift of this dynamic and compassionate man, Pastor Reuben Sathiyaraj, the man of the people! Please pray for his ministry.
To God be all the Glory and honor!
Mrs. Carole Edgecox from ISLE OF MAN wrote the above article while working as a voluntary Nurse in Bangalore at the ACC ministry among the Street Children and rag pickers.
MISSION WORK AMONG THE STREET CHILDREN
MISSION WORK IN INDIA
Since we believe the main task of the Church is evangelizing its own community, we send native missionaries and support them through prayer and financial provision.
We, as a Church, have sent out hundreds of missionaries to plant Churches, and are presently supporting them.
When the need arises through illness or unexpected emergencies we also help financially in these areas of need.
AGAPE CHILDREN CENTRE
Provision of a safe house, Agape Children Centre, where abandoned, unwanted Street children and rag-pickers can experience Christian love and commitment. We aim to provide shelter for rag pickers and orphaned street children between 5 and 12 years of age, demonstrating Gods love in action and encouraging social skills and hygiene, and enabling them to bathe, rest, play, and wash their clothing.
Why does a Child become a Ragpicker or a street child?
Who would become a Street Child or Ragpicker by choice? We asked this question all the time. Numerous elements became apparent as the motivating causes. These kids are compelled to adopt this lifestyle to survive. They come from violent and shattered homes, maybe second marriages where the mother was burned to death with paraffin and the father demanded more money from the wife's family to support his inebriation; they lack the necessities that the majority of us take for granted. In addition to the unwanted children from the first marriage (more mouths to feed), daily occurrences include beatings, malnutrition, and a lack of stability and love. Some are compelled to work from an early age to make money, some are impacted by peer pressure, and yet others are orphans struggling to make ends meet daily.
Twenty-five percent of the writing paper, packaging materials, egg trays, low-cost plastic and metal household products, and other items used in our homes are made from the rubbish collected by these kids and recycled. Because less expensive home items are produced and the destruction of the already vulnerable rain forests is slowed down, this has a huge positive impact on both society and the global ecology. It also aids in preventing the accumulation of mountains of decomposing trash in urban areas. The important contribution that rag pickers provide to society shouldn't be overlooked or undervalued.
Since they have no adult to look after them, these kids are left to fend for themselves and deal with all the issues in the neighborhood long before they have reached the necessary levels of mental and physical development. Many diseases, including scabies, lice infestation, chronic dysentery, worms, TB, epilepsy, lung, ear, dental, nose, and throat infections, chronic cuts, unhealed abrasions, and some sexually transmitted diseases, afflict the majority of street children and rag pickers. These conditions are often brought on by extreme poverty, exploitation, malnutrition, and unhygienic living conditions.
According to a recent report, Bangalore City is home to an estimated 70,000 rag pickers, 50% of whom are minors, and 65,000 street children who are living in abject physical and spiritual poverty. They reside in the 750 slum areas that have previously been identified in and around Bangalore city, as well as on the streets, railway stations, and dirty, disease-ridden slums. Because they are dirty, smell horrible, and are dressed in rags, these youngsters are ostracised by society. Having only experienced hardship, they are wary of people and find it hard to accept that they can ever receive unconditional love.
Even if a child had the opportunity to go home, they would be too ashamed to do so since they fear the police, offer false names if they are detained, and are placed in "cooler rooms" where many of them are abused and sexually raped.
A Rag Picker's Daily Routine
As a street child, between 5 and 18 years of age, these children earn their livelihood by polishing shoes, washing cars, finding parking spaces, rag picking (recycling garbage), selling lottery tickets and newspapers, etc. They also work as coolies and helpers in automobile repair shops, construction sites, and hotels. Their average earnings vary between 25 Rupees to 40 per day, while the more experienced ones earn 50 to 75 Rupees. However, these are the lucky ones. The Girls are mostly forced into prostitution at an early age. Arising at dawn, the rag-picker children start their rounds. With feet bare and backs aching, they carry the heavy gunny bags that contain the day's pickings. Sometimes on foot, they travel over 20 kilometers each day for the best pickings. Their clothing is filthy, tattered, ill-fitting, and wholly inadequate for protection especially when the weather is wet and cold.
Life is very hard as they rummage (competing and fighting with stray dogs and cattle) through every filthy garbage heap in the city and railway stations. All recyclable garbage is collected and sorted: paper, plastic, bottles, bones, metals, and rotting discarded food thrown out by households and railway passengers. With this, they fill their bags and often their starving bellies. If the day's collection is bad, they resort to stealing for survival. If good, they rush to the nearest wayside shop to ease their hunger. All have regular scrap dealers to buy their loot. They receive a meager pittance, and sometimes this pittance is withheld to repay a previously enforced loan. Some days they starve. If a better price is negotiated by another dealer, the child is frequently beaten and tied up. However, the issue of greater concern is related to their pattern of spending, where a major part of their income is spent on drugs, alcohol, solvent abuse (sniffing solvents), and gambling. They frequently become involved in street fights. With little money and too much freedom, they are vulnerable and fall prey to any number of situations that threaten life and soul. Late in the afternoon, they resume their second round of collection. Then after sorting and selling their loot, they spend their nights on the streets or in graveyards, where they are exploited and abused. Older rag pickers and perverted people give them drugs or threaten them for sexual purposes, thus exposing them to A.I.D.S., and many more sexual and life-threatening diseases. A rag picker is not a beggar. He works hard and considers rag-picking a profession of choice. It enables him to earn money, daily and offers him ample amounts of free time. They are very loyal and protective of each other, sharing food and money. The rag picker is proud and feels that he is the master of his own life.
Life on the Streets
All street children and rag-pickers are denied the necessities of survival, even though the bulk of them can earn or scavenge their daily food. exploited and mistreated. Deprived: they are compelled to engage in prostitution, drug sales, pimping, begging, and theft because they lack a job, money, food, and shelter. They are frequently wrongly convicted of crimes and sent to secure homes for correction, or worse, they are placed in adult jails. More significantly, the homeless kids still lack access to the necessities of life, including clothes, food, and shelter as well as the safety of a loving family and a place to call home.
Anti-social Habits Among Rag Pickers
They are involved with drugs, alcohol, smoking, gambling, and unhealthy sexual habits. Since their income is less than their expenses, due to bad habits, they are perpetual debtors to the retail scrap dealers. They participate in stealing, street-fighting, and delinquent activities. Dirty, they are unwelcome guests at weddings, social gatherings, and shopping zones. They are physically vulnerable to health problems and infectious skin diseases. They are victimized socially through poverty, illiteracy, and rejection. With no facilities available for bathing or laundry, they are forced to live in filth and squalor. Daily survival is their only immediate priority. Challenges of Working with Street Children Since they live in corrupt gangs for security and survival, they face society as gangs. It is very difficult to isolate one member since group pressure is so strong that they are soon threatened, forced, and blackmailed to return to their old habits. They soon become dependent, both physically and mentally, on their readily available addictions, enabling them to forget for a while their pitiful existence. This is a huge problem, and expert help is needed to treat their physical and psychological dependence and addiction. There are many disappointments for the worker, as relapses are very common.
Integration into society is difficult, as the public has preconceived ideas about the ragpicker and neither accepts nor encourages the vision to transform him. Life's struggles and hardships have made the rag-picker suspicious and wary of kindness and offers of help. He is unruly and disrespectful, always suspicious and on his guard. This discourages the volunteers, who become disillusioned and lose interest in working with them. The rag picker has never learned the rules and discipline that are demanded by employers, so government employment schemes are not tolerated, and all efforts fail.
The rag picker cannot understand unconditional love and needs to receive food or other incentives, for him to cooperate. However with love, time, and patience, he will respond, and the rewards to the volunteer will be tremendous. The retail scrap dealers feel threatened that their business will be ruined if the rag pickers cease dealing with them, so they constantly threaten the children and spread false rumors about us and our ministry. Requirements for those who work with rag pickers and street children Have a vision and love for slum dwellers Be adaptable to their living conditions Be able to empathize with them.
WHY WE HAVE TAKEN UP THIS CHALLENGE?
- To demonstrate that in God's eyes, all are equal
- To transform the rag picker through education and love to be accepted by society
- To share the gospel of Jesus Christ
- To minister to an unjustly victimized people
- To provide education and confidence to equip them for the future
- To provide health education and give physical and psychological medical care
Thank you for reaching out to us! We're thrilled to connect with you. Whether you have questions about our services, seek spiritual guidance, or simply want to say hello, your message means the world to us.
Our church is a place of support, love, and community, and we're here to assist you in any way we can.
Please feel free to drop us a message using the form below, and we'll respond with joy and care.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
AGAPEBANGALORE
FOR DAILY DEVOTIONS IN KANNADA, ENGLISH & TAMIL reach out to:
+91 9900167714
Contact Us
VISIT US
AGAPE BIBLE CHURCH
12 B Cross, Sonnappa Block,
Pillanna Garden 3rd Stage
Bangalore 560045, Karnataka, India
Phone: +91 779 535 3391
Email: abcabfindia@gmail.com
OUR SERVICE DETAILS
SUNDAY SERVICES
1st Service 7 A.M. & 2nd Service - 9.30 A.M.
Tamil - TUESDAYS 7 p.m. | ENGLISH - FRIDAYS 7 P.M.
BIBLE STUDY
2nd & 4th SUNDAYS AT 4 P.M.
TEENS & YOUTH FELLOWSHIP
EVERY SATURDAYS 10 A.m.
FASTING PRAYER
FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH 5.30 A.M.
DAWN PRAYER
SMALL GROUPS
MONDAYS, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAYS 7 p.m.