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TMC Penang 125th Quasquicentennial Anniversary Celebration Commemorative Book
TMC PENANG : OUTREACH MINISTRY (BAYAN BARU)
A BRIEF HISTORY

The year was 2002. Rev. Vincent Jayaraj (2002 – 2008) and the leaders of the TMC Penang
strongly felt the need to reach out to other areas of the Penang island for evangelism. ‘Let us begin
an outreach at a strategic location’, these were the words with which a prayerful search began to
establish an outreach point for TMC Penang. After much prayer, Bayan Baru was chosen as a
place for potential growth.

As the focus was on small group evangelism, the ministry started as a cell group / house
meetings in the home of Mrs. Rosalind Gopal in Kampung Jawa, Bayan Baru, on Sunday
evenings. A small group of about 10 – 15 members attended mostly made up of church members.
Unfortunately due to the sudden demise of Mrs.Rosalind Gopal , the house meetings had to be
shifted to another place.

Bayan Baru was an excellent location in many way. It was a large township sprawling with
industries, factories, schools, colleges and universities. Moreover it was also surrounded by a
number of smaller townships such as Batu Maung, Teluk Kumbar, Balik Pulau and Sungai Ara
where several of the members were already residing.

The plan of the church to grow this ministry was to focus on three target groups. Firstly, the
TMC Penang members who were residing in Bayan Baru . Secondly those engaged in shift work
and unable to attend the morning service at TMC Penang our main church and lastly reaching out
to the Indian community in Bayan Baru. It was at this juncture that it was decided to rent a shoplot

and have an evening service there.

Thus began a new journey where a formal outeach ministry was started. The building was
dedicated by the then TAC President Rev. P. Tevaraji on the 5th of February, 2006. Slowly the
number of members attending the weekly service increased to about 20 members. Soon a tuition
programme was started in Batu Maung. About 8-10 children attended. Nepali and Myanmarese

services were also begun in Bayan Baru. About 10-15 Nepalis attended the service. Mr. Arulanthu
was the Chairman of Missions at this point in time. He gave of his time towards this ministries.

In 2004 – 2005, Rev. Elanko Kannan helped in developing the Bayan Baru ministry. The
number of members attending the service gradually increased to about 30 . The composition of
members was a good mixture of our members, expatirates and also a few newcomers.
Mr. Krishnan and his wife, Mrs. Sumathi Krishnan, were the coordinators.

During the pastorate of Rev. Joseph Yesupatham (2009 – 2015), the student pastors were

actively involved in the BB ministry namely Mr. Joseph Ambrose, Mr. Edwin Mohan, Mr. David
Thanivel, Mr. Timothy Raj and Ms. Sharon Thangaveloo. (Currently all of them are deacons serving
in various parts of the world). Unfortunately, the Migrant Ministry was let go.

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