Remembering DB Abraham
In October 1990 three of our fellowship here at Newbold visited India. They came into contact with Pastor D B Abraham at Eluru in Andhra Pradesh. Subsequently Pastor “DB” visited us at Newbold on two occasions, when he also shared the Word of God with us. Mike Winch (and Bill & Janet Heap of Dovetales International Trust) continued to teach at the Bible Schools founded by Pastor “DB” and to preach in the churches he started at Eluru and in some of the other places amongst almost 1,000 church-plants from the original fellowship, as well as to share fellowship with him. Pastor “DB” was called Home in November 2004 and the following was written by his eldest daughter Beulah.
Dear Saints,
Greetings to you all in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
First of all, deep from our hearts we express our thanks and gratitude for all of your earnest prayers that offered for the family and the ministry especially for Dad since you came to know he is very sick. We acknowledge Gods grace and through your prayers and support only he could do whatever best he can. Joel and Malachi have taken leadership responsibility to look after the ministry that is entrusted to us.
Pastor DB Abraham was born in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India on 25th December 1948 on Christmas day as eldest son to Samuel and Rebecca.
In the year 1968 on Good Friday he joined Indian Naval force as a communicator. He was married to Elizabeth in the month of February 25th, 1974. God blessed this couple with four children Beulah elder daughter, Hephzibah second daughter, Joel only son third one in the family and Tabitha younger daughter.
While he was in Navy he traveled nearly 46 countries and he knows 13 languages. He was a very talented and dynamic personality. He was an extra ordinary man of God.
Life Testimony
He lived a life that was normal in the world standards in Navy. There wasn’t much difference between sin and virtue. Money, social status and recognition were of great importance to him. And as such that made him a man of drink, dine and dance. The Navy climate and situation were very favorable to it.
One thing is that this type of living wouldn’t go far very long. Yes! Within it was all shallow and empty. He tried different religions side by side hoping to fill in his empty heart. But that did not work at all. What happened was a well accommodated mannerism with people of all religions. To a Muslim he was a Muslim, to a Hindu he was a Hindu, to a Parsee he was a real Parsee and to a Christian he was a good Christian and so on. He was really dissatisfied, externally very jovial but internally so miserable unhappy. No religion seems to solve his problems. At one stage he behaved as an atheist. Hated the very notion of God. He became Humanitarian. But this could not go very long.
On one Sunday something happened to him he usually proceeding to the club. But he attended the Sunday service unfortunately. The preacher straight came to him and began conversation with him asking this question “Brother! Are you in Christ?” He bluntly replied “that’s why he was here, Sir.” The preacher asked another question to Brother DB “Brother Is Christ in you?” He answered he have some personal problems. Brother DB escaped from that spot. As usual he went to the club but the questions the preacher said kept on hitting directly into his heart. The whole night he couldn’t able to sleep.
Another surprise waited for him the next day. His wife Elizabeth living far away at home around 900 kms at Hyderabad wrote to him a letter. Elizabeth his wife accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour and surrendered her life to Jesus. She admonishes Brother DB please “Make room in your heart for Jesus. Accept him as your personal Saviour. Once Jesus comes into your heart you will have real peace and joy. He will lead us to Eternal life.”
Brother DB was in full of troubles and lot of confusion “Can Christ come into his heart”. As usual he went to club and drank a lot but the questions repeatedly came into his ears and troubled him very much.
He made a decision Is Christ were to be a true God, a God come into the heart of a person God show up himself to him. The ways of memory were carrying him to few incidents strange and miraculous happened to him some years ago.
First incident
Once he was almost thrown into the Congregation of seashore Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea called Gulf of Minar during a man over board exercise. He was just there sinking shock of death upon him, helpless and man eating sharks around him. All of a sudden a life saving rope falls into my hand. He was thus saved. But who threw the rope he could not find the answer. On that day Jesus showed me “Son, was it not I that threw the rope to save you from the sharks.” This answer was so convincing.
Second incident
Brother DB met with a house fire accident. Some one clearly and loudly called his name. This made him aware of the dangerous situation and he was escaped. The inner voice told him “Was not I who called you by name and helped him to escape the fire?”
Third incident
He was sinking in a swimming pool. Three to four times He came for life breath then could swim no more. He was helpless. He knew that death was nigh. There, in such horrible situation He saw a young man. He has a long beautiful beard, the face was so lovely, and He gently pushes him forward and forward. Now his hands could feel the ladder in the pool. His hands helped him to climb up the ladder as well. Came out of the danger and fell on the floor. Slowly came to full conscience. But who the “Fellow” that helped me? Now the answer comes “Was it not I that helped you out in the swimming pool?”
He repented all his sins and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. In the month of August 11th, 1976 Pastor DB Abraham received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. He slowly started preaching the gospel within Navy campus at Mumbai. He has taken water baptism in the year January 11th , 1977 and filled with the Holy Spirit. Many fervent believers’ joined hands with him new souls were added. Thus he started doing ministry. He established a church within Naval in an Island called Karanja near to Mumbai. Nearly 100 people became believers. Every day he shared gospel to at least one person. From that day onwards till his death he was testifying about Jesus Christ which ever place he went.
In 1980’s he came back to Secunderabad (home town) with his wife and four children. He started doing ministry till he went to Eluru. Later DB Abraham resigned to his naval job in the year 23rd April 1983 on Easter day and took up the ministry in full time basis as God called him to do this.
CALLING TO MINISTRY TO ELURU
In the year 25th November 1985 God lead him to start the New Life Fellowship at Eluru with his wife and four children. He came all in faith upon the provider to this small town called Eluru. Of course a humble beginning and he struggled a lot but today the NAVA JEEVANA SAHAVASAM (New Life Fellowship) has put forth large extensive branches all over state of Andhra Pradesh.
God has given him two main promises.
ISAIAH 43: 1-7 and GENESIS 12: 1-3.
Within 18 years of period there are 700 plus churches established under the New Life Fellowship Association Andhra Pradesh. There are 300 Pastors are working in this fellowship. More than 800 people are disciples under the Leadership of Pastor DB Abraham and he sends them to the field in different places of Andhra Pradesh and India.
VISION
His vision was to establish Bible colleges in four major cities of Andhra Pradesh. He reached to Hyderabad New Life Bible College for Senior Pastors Training Program and Junior Training Program started in the month of June, 2001. Three batches successfully completed their graduation.
In the year June 2002, Ministry Training Center has been established only for couples at Vishakhapatnam. First batch successfully completed.
In the year 4th July 2001, his beloved wife Elizabeth went to be with the Lord.
Eldest daughter Beulah got married to Malachi on 17th June 2002. He had one little grand daughter Mahima Betty.
PASTOR DB WAS CALLED TO HOME
Pastor D.B Abraham was complaint of multiple myloema since three years i.e. from 2001. Initially he suffered with low blood pressure and with less percent of hemoglobin which later diagnosed as a multiple myloema. Doctors administered him lot of drugs like pills, injections and high-dose steroids chemo therapy and etc... But above all he was enabling to keep himself survive for couple of years only because of Gods abundant grace and through all your prayers. On July 4th, 2001 His wife Elizabeth left behind D.B and four children named Beulah elder daughter, Hephzibah second, Joel third who is only son and Tabitha younger one. We know how much difficult it is to bear and run the Life without wife, moreover she was special gift from the Lord for D.B who was very much like to involve in the ministry stand with her husband in times of difficulties and joyous moments. As he is trying to forget the tragedy all of a sudden Pastor DB came to know he is also suffering from dreadful disease. But amidst of all these miserable situations he did not give up his ministry in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Though the life became complicated but he neither complaint nor murmur. He often states ‘I am fighting fit’ we are impressed and inspired to see his enthusiasm and zeal for the Lord. And we are rededicated to serve the Lord completely. He has done his best that he would do and achieve number of souls for the Kingdom expansion.
After a three year of period. the immunity in the body has come down completely and infection developed due to his sickness. Finally LORD CALLED HIM ON 2nd NOVEMBER 2004 at 2:00 p.m on ‘All Saints Day’.
FUNERAL SERVICE: People from Mumbai and our pastors from different parts of Andhra Pradesh had come and conducted funeral service at Eluru town where he began humble ministry and spread it to all over Andhra Pradesh and even sent some missionaries to other parts of India. As Pastor DB taken to the burial ground great procession followed District Leaders, Senior Pastors, believers and near and dear ones. More than 3000 people came and paid their tribute.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: The program started with praise and worship. Few testimonies. A special song presented on life testimony of Pastor DB. The Lord had spoken to us through his servant a special topic on Greek word ‘HINNEH’ which means ‘HERE IAM’. It indeed encouraged us all. Our Pastors comprehended something of the magnitude of Gods work in the Church in our day. Message included under prophetic anointing. God has promised new divine direction in order to achieve greater things for the Lord. In response to the word ‘HERE I AM’ from our side God also answers from His side ‘I AM HERE’. Thus topic was vividly explained to the Pastors and believers and to the whole congregation. More than 2000 people gathered to express their tribute to Pastor DB and condolences and also comfort our family.
He called as an Apostle in this era.
II TIMOTHY 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Now it is our turn to carry forward the work of the Lord to Andhra Pradesh, India and many nations.
Joel and Malachi have taken the responsibility to go ahead with vision through Pastor DB Abraham by the anointing of the Lord.
Please pray for the family, ministry, finances and for administration set up.
The ministry report will be sent to you later.
Thanking you once again.
Yours in His Grace,
Malachi and Beulah
On another page on this website you will find the final Ministry Report written by Pastor D B Abraham at the beginning of 2004. We leave it on the site as it gives insight both into his vision from the Lord and the ministry he exercised.
