P. Jaya Rao : The Truth and Telugu

(1940-2017)
A brief biography of Br. P. Jaya Rao of Hyderabad

His education and salvation

It is for the first time that he heard the gospel while he was pursuing his post-graduation in Andhra University; Visakhapatnam A.P. Bro Vijaya Kumar was instrumental in making him accept Lord Jesus as his personal saviour when he was student in the University. As a young man he was born again and began his spiritual life to grow. During those days he was attracted by the teachings of Br. Silas Fox and his co-worker Bro Agrippa who ministered the word of God among the Brethren assemblies in Andhra Pradesh.

His family life

After completion of his university education, he married Suvarnamma on 05-05-1963, daughter of Devasahayam and Santhoshamma. God blessed him in his family life with a son and two daughters. God gave him a secular job in the Accountant General office, Hyderabad. His nature of job is auditing the books of accounts of private and public companies and Govt. Departments. For this purpose, he was on tour almost every month to different parts of the present Telangana and A.P. Wherever he went for his job related auditing, he used his leisure time to visit the local assemblies and minister the word of God, to build up the saints in their spiritual life.

In this way he made use of secular job to minister the word of God to the needy believers in many places. Due to his ministry many new souls got added to the local assemblies. He encouraged younger generation to study the word of God and helped realise their spiritual gifts to be used for the strengthening of the Assembly of God.

His faithful ministry of the Lord

Due to secular job in AG's office, he moved to Hyderabad with his family. He was received into the local assembly fellowship at Christian assembly, Bethesda, Kachiguda, Hyderabad in the year 1964. In due course God enabled him to be one among the elders of the assembly and ministered the word of God with other co-workers – Bro Nagabhushanam, Bro, James, Br. Phillips, Bro Lincoln, Br. George Victor, Br. Vijayanandam, Br. Isaiah Bhushanam and Br. Newton. He became a gifted teacher of the word of God in the local assembly and widely ministered the word of God in many parts of the combined state of Andhra Pradesh. He is known for his adherence to the truth of God not only in teaching but also in practical life. He was very firm in the Doctrine of Christ and stood for the truth. In his ministry he encouraged the saints to read the Bible and to grow spiritually. He did not allow any practice or teaching in the local assemblies, which is not scriptural.

New assemblies planted

With the support and consent of the local assembly at Bethesda, worship meeting started in his house at Kishan Bagh, Hyderabad in March 1988 to spread the word of God in the old city of Hyderabad. Local assembly at Kishan Bagh started growing gradually, as new souls got added. He encouraged youngsters in the assembly to study the Bible. God established the assembly spiritually at Kishan Bagh and extension work became fruitful as two more local assemblies got planted at Budvel and Shamshabad in the neighbouring area of the local assembly kishan Bagh, Hyderabad. These assemblies got firmly established in the church doctrine. In the local assembly Br. Nageswara Rao, Br. Varadanam and other young believers supported him.

His special gifts

His knowledge in the scripture and the command he had over his mother tongue Telugu, enabled him to write a number of Telugu hymns which are popular among brethren assemblies in A.P. He wrote about 30 Hymns. He was also a good translator of English into Telugu. He invited many non Telugu speaking Bible teachers from outside A.P. and introduced their ministry to the Telugu speaking saints both in A.P. and Telangana. They are now being effectively used by God in His ministry in this land. Following brethren are invited to minister at Kishan Bagh assembly.’
1. M A Joy, Trichur, Kerala
2. Br. V Mathews, Chennai
3. Br. Billy P Jacob , West Bengal
4. Br. Louis Samraj, Bangalore
5. Br. Babu Pimplekar, Pune
6. Br. Dayananda Awale
7. Br. Ajoy Mathew , Mumbai
8. Br. Thomson B Thomas, Mumbai
9. Br. Barnabas Sunder Rajan, Pune
10. Late Br C. John, Goa
11. Bro Ravi Wilson, Nagpur and many others

Br. Koshy Mathew, Mumbai is one of these public speakers to whom he introduced to believers in Andhra Pradesh. Br. Koshy Mathew wrote the book “Even so come Lord Jesus” which was translated by him into Telugu. He also translated a book written by William MacDonald namely “ Be Holy” into Telugu. Both these books are published by Moriah ministries, Chennai. Br.

Devadanam elder of the local assembly at Kurnool recognized his gift of translation and entrusted the translation of English magazine “The present truth” into Telugu. For many years the translation work of this magazine was continued by him. He was very hard working and used the opportunities provided by the Lord in serving Him faithfully. Many assemblies got established in New Testament pattern church doctrines and practices and a number of believers got blessed. His messages were edifying in nature and God used his dear servant widely in many parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He is the author of the following books in Telugu.
1. Baptisms
2. Cities of Refuge
3. Landmarks
4. Dispensational Teaching
5. False teachers
He strongly differed with the so called wrong Christian traditions and practices which are against the word of God. For his style of teaching and life many believers loved to call him as spiritual father. His messages were simple in language to understand even by common believers, clear and scriptural expounding touched the hearts in the power of the Spirit. He laboured sincerely to teach the scriptural truths among the brethren assemblies. Not only he preached the word but also extended practical fellowship regularly to many needy Lord's servants in Andhra Pradesh. He served and pleased the Lord in the ministry entrusted to him throughout his lifetime

His Home Call

The day before he received into glory, he attended the special meeting at Green city assembly, Budvel, Hyderabad and offered his last public prayer at water Baptism. He obeyed the call of the Lord and slept in Lord on 14- 12-2017. He was 77 at the time of his home call. Large number of servants of the Lord attended on the day of burial and gave testimony about his ministry and exemplary life. Though his physical absence among the brethren is a loss, yet his teachings both oral & written and his ideal life as a faithful servant of God, remain a model for us to follow.

- Br. Janga Shadrack

This article originally appeared in the Harvest Times magazine's October 2018 issue.