NOTES OF INSPIRATION

FEATURE STORY

Allow us to bring  a piece of the world to you today as we explore the culture of India through music, ministry, and purpose.

Notes of Inspiration, United States of America gives a warm and hearty welcome to India! 

Today our special guest is Sam K. Jebaraja from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India! 

Sam K. Jebaraja

My Culture

India, my country, has got amazing cultural diversity throughout the country. All the states in India from south, north and north-east have their own distinct cultures and almost every state has carved out its own cultural niche. That’s why we call it “Unity in Diversity”. The state which I live in is “Tamil Nadu” which is in the southern most part of India. One of the oldest civilizations, in the world, Tamil Nadu has a great tradition of heritage and culture that developed over two thousand years ago and still continues to flourish. Tamil is the language of our state, the literature of which is considered to be one of the most endowed literatures in the world.

Music played an important in the past centuries and still plays a pivotal role in culture of Tamil Nadu, with a number of genres of Tamil music, still kept alive in the different regions of the state. Popular genres of Tamil music are “Naatuppura  Paadal” (country folk music) and “Carnatic Music”(a form of Indian classical music).

 About me

I’m the fourth child of five children to my parents and the only son too. My mom was a prayer warrior, now she’s no more and Dad (82yrs old) is a Hindu convert and still with me. Those days when I was born, people preferred to have sons than daughters because when girls get married parents had to give the groom’s family a huge amount of cash as Dowry, a lot of house-hold things and also Gold ornaments. If failed to give birth to a boy child, wives or the daughter-in-laws were ill treated. So, after four daughters (first one died immediately after birth) my mom had to fast and pray hard to give birth to me and so christened me Samuel! I was dedicated to do God’s ministry when I was born but I had been into worldly affairs doing things on my own. But still, the time I spent most was in Sunday schools, church meetings and crusades. I learned to play the guitar at the age of 13, went for classes just 3 months and after that into ear music only.

Music

God gave me the knowledge to play bass just one year after playing guitar, with good guidance from my friends John Sitther, David Rajaselvan and James Vasanthan(find him in Wikipedia). I started my music career in Sunday schools, churches, then in school and college. I did my Bachelor degree in Commerce but most of the time spent my days in playing bass and guitar in meetings, crusades, radio programs and recording Gospel Albums. After graduation I got a Government job where I worked for 16 long years. The burden God put inside me to use my talent for Him started to work slowly. I started praying over that again and again for days. I used to cry whenever I watched Bro .Ron Kenoly’s and Bro. Don Moen’s DVDs. I too wanted to be a part of such a praise and worship band of my own language. When I resigned my job, I had been to Chennai (the capital city of Tamil Nadu State) I attended an unknown church where a street evangelistic group from South America.

Experience a sample of the cultural and rich Indian flavor of music of this band. In this video watch for Sam’s Bass Guitar Solo. It’s spectacular! ~NOI Staff

My Ministry

El-Salvador had taken over that church service that morning. Before entering into it a friend who accompanied me asked me 3 questions “1.You’ve left your job, 2. You’re coming to a new place & 3. You’re leaving your old Parents and what are you going to do in Chennai?” Moreover I had one more question in my mind that who else will recognize my talent in this huge city which has got more talented people. But when that young lady from El-Salvador started to preach about the five loaves and two fish, she said, “when  Jesus asked for food the small boy gave everything to Him and that became a blessing for multitudes” and continued saying,” so just surrender yourself to Jesus and you’ll be a blessing for multitudes”. Though it spoke to me a little, I still wanted 100% confirmation from God. Then during prayer and alter-call, to my surprise but according to my faith she started repeating the questions I had encountered, saying, “You’ve quit your job, you’ve come to a new place, you’re leaving your family aside and doubting your own potential. But never doubt God’s plan. Just surrender yourself and you’ll be a blessing for multitudes”, she finished. So I just poured out and surrendered myself leaving the government job and my home town Tirunelveli where I had nothing to worry about. And then I got settled down in Chennai city and as promised, God has made me a blessing to so many. And now I am a part of many Praise and Worship bands in Chennai. The worship leaders and music directors who help me, encourage me and use me in their ministries, concerts and recordings are Pastor Alwin Thomas who is my Pastor and a well known worship leader and preacher (very popular in the Tamil Christian population around the Globe), Bro. Isaac Joe(who travels around the Globe too to preach and do English & Tamil Concerts), Bro. Albert Solomon, Bro. John Prasad Jacob ( from Malaysia) and James Vasanthan(Gospel and Film Music Director), Bro. Prakash  Williams, Bro. Davidson Raja and Bro. Stephen Sanders.

Pastor Alwin Thomas and Sam K. Jebaraja

Take a listen to the magnificent and rich Indian cultural sounds of this song entitled, “Bless India” that was composed and sung by Pastor Alwin Thomas.  Sam is playing the bass guitar. Minister Alwin Thomas is Sam’s Pastor.

BLESS INDIA MX

 Education

God gave me another wonderful privilege to do my Theological course in School Of Theology at City Harvest Church, Singapore under great leadership of Pastor Kong  Hee which gave me a broader look of Christian life and more faith.

 

 

My thoughts about Patrice Tankard & Notes of Inspiration

Notes of Inspiration has encouraged me a lot very often. The thoughts our dear Sister Patrice shares are really inspiring. The sentence which I really like comes under category ‘Musicians’ which reads as “By accepting what God allows to happen in our lives and with a positive attitude of faith and trust, this submission and obedience is “music in praise” to the Almighty God”! –Patrice Tankard

http://notesofinspiration.com/2012/05/for-the-musicians-music-in-praise-a-different-dimension/

 

Patrice Tankard                   

                     

  I take this opportunity to thank God for what and who I am now and also thank dear Sister Patrice Tankard for  giving me this platform to share my testimony. I’m blessed with a loving wife Mercy, a daughter Adeline Keziah and a son,  Adrian Jubal. All glory and honor belong to Jesus! Amen.

By Sam K. Jebaraja

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 6th, 2012 at 12:00 AM and is filed under Special Guests. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.