Dr. Jeevaratnam Buraga

"Contender for the Faith"

  FOUNDER OF:

       Bharat Bible College

       Nazarene Grammar High School

       Siloam Evangelical and Social Outreach Network

       Siloam Fundamental Baptist Church

       Bible Beacon

       Trinity Baptist Church

God’s ways are past - finding out! His ways and thoughts are higher than ours, Isaiah 66:8. This precious truth makes us stop asking those battling questions “Why, Lord? Why did you take your servant home, when there is so much more of your work to be done?” I couldn’t help ask the Lord this question repeatedly at the sudden death of my beloved brother Jeevaratnam Buraga!

Dr. Jeevaratnam was the eldest son of late Mr. & Mrs. Anandam Buraga. He was born on 11th Oct 1935. Passed through Convent High School at Hubli, Karnataka. Used to read the Bible regularly and at the age of 14, he showed keen interest in delving into the truths of the Scriptures. He used to display insatible appetite in learning God’s Word, which after his conversion at the age of 14 lead him to join Hindustan Bible Institute, Chennai. After his graduation from HBI, Dr. J Buraga finished his BD degree programme at Union Biblical Seminary, Yeotmal. He had returned to HBI in 1958 as a lecturer in Theology along with his Registrar’s post, he proved to be the most capable and loved teacher at HBI at that time. He was married in 1959 and his dear wife Grace the eldest daughter of the well known evangelist late Mr. P. I. Jacob has been a tremendous support to him.

Mr.  & Mrs. J Buraga had already been blessed with their 2 daughters Elsa & Alice by 1969; and were later blessed with their only son Daniel Calvin in 1975.

Then came the year 1963 in God’s providence he got the opportunity to study at Faith Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA, USA from where he graduated in honors in M.Div degree. He immediately joined Temple University, Philadelphia for M.A. He earned his Ph.D from Osmania University, Hyderabad in the year 1999.

While he vigorously pursued his Theological studies, his God-given vision of starting a Bible College in Andhra Pradesh, India in order to train young Indian Christian for evangelizing the country grew larger. The Bharat Bible College became a reality in Andhra Pradesh in the year 1969.  The spirit of God burdened his heart about this college, and it was no easy task. God who has called him in Christ enabled him to share this burden with God’s people, with whom he strove together in prayer.

What we see today is the result of God’s working through this man. The Lord has touched hundreds of thousands of men and women throughout India and overseas. The Lord blessed him with a profound knowledge of His Word, with an uncanny gift of discernment. He was very firm, and rightly so, in believing on and holding on to the infallibility and the authority of God’s Word for doctrine and practice. He would not sacrifice biblical doctrine for anything in the world. The Lord Jesus and the Word of God were his life’s breath “For the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ” was the theme of his life. “Evangelism is the touchstone of Theological Education” was his motto of starting the Bible College to train young Christian for the dissemination of the knowledge of God’s Word and for the spread of the Gospel of Christ in India. The God who called him and the Lord Jesus Christ whom he had preached were first in his life. Many a time he cared little for the health of his family members including himself. He could say along with the apostle Paul “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

His life and work in and through Bharat Bible College stand as a challenge for the future leaders to continue in the path of whole some doctrine and a life that pleases and brings glory to the Lord Jesus Christ.

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