Today’s Leader of Faith
Brother BJ Paul,
Home Call : 16 May 2003,
Servant of God, Translator, Songwriter, Musician. A coworker of Bhakt Singh – instrumental in pioneering the establishment of many churches
Brother B. J. Paul (1922–2003) was a devoted servant from the time of Jehovah-Shammah, well known to many. On September 25, 1950, he set out from the Jehovah-Shammah assembly along with Brother Bhakt Singh and continued gospel ministry, eventually moving to Hyderabad. Among those who relocated to Hyderabad for ministry, he was one of them. The first Lord’s Day gathering and breaking of bread in Hyderabad took place on October 1, 1950, at the home of Bro Lawrence, where Bro Paul was also present. He actively participated in starting the first Sunday School ministry there, showing his dedication to the Lord’s work. In September 1952, he became the first full-time worker of the newly formed assembly, Mispah, in Visakhapatnam. He could be considered a leader among the Zion songs because many of the songs in that hymnal were composed by him! Bro. Paul had a deep love for spiritual songs, particularly those with meaningful lyrics and tunes that glorified the Lord. Through this service, he praised his Saviour and glorified God. The Lord used him through these songs to help others worship the beloved Lord. Recognizing his talent, Bro. Bhakt Singh entrusted him with the responsibility in 1952, during the Holy Convocations, of collecting all the hymns sung up to that time, organizing them thematically, and publishing them as a single book for the first time. On that joyful occasion, he also composed and included the hymn “Lemmu Tejarillumu Neeku”
Born on October 14, 1922, in Chandodu, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, to devout Christian parents Booduru Joseph and Leelavathi. His grandfather Jacob and grandmother Rachel were great prayerful people who named him Paul and prophesied that he would serve God like the apostle Paul. Thus, because of God’s election, he was twice saved from a poisonous snake bite and once from a severe fever during his childhood. Thus, the Lord saved him from many dangers. He was brought up in the fear of God, completed his education, and with passion towards music earned a degree in Carnatic music. He hoped to establish himself professionally in the film industry as playback singer. But the Lord did not let him stray from His plan, but established him so that the Lord Himself would be glorified through the talents of his servant.
Then, on August 29, 1945, he received the assurance of salvation and was baptized, believing that his sins had been washed away according to 1 John 1:9, 1 Peter 1:19, and Ephesians 2:18. In due time, God called him to full-time service, as recorded in Isaiah 41:8-13. He immediately obeyed, resigned from his job, and told his parents, who were overjoyed. But their happiness did not last long. Because, the Lord Himself told him that he should leave everything and go wherever the Lord led him from November 2, 1945. The day before, on the 1st, while Brother Bhakt Singh was going to Madras by train, brother Lazarus, the servant of God, took him to Gudur Railway Station and requested Bhakt Singh to pray for young B J Paul on the railway plat form. B P Paul was greatly strengthened by the prayers offered by the servant of God Brother Bhakt Singh and was overjoyed. B.J. Paul, responding to the call of service revealed by the Lord, left home on the 2nd without telling anyone, he left home with nothing but a Bible and sandals on his feet, without a single penny in his hand. As the Lord had directed, he had to set everything in order in advance, so he traveled from Gudur to meet his boss in Nellore and got his resignation accepted.
B.J. Paul set out on his missionary journeys with the determination to be led only in the path shown by the Lord, with complete faith, without asking anyone or anything. Details of his missionary journeys :
1. Nellore : On November 2, 1945, during a train journey, under the inspiration of the Lord, he sang the song “Charitham, Sucharitham sriyesuni jeevitham” holding the Bible. People approached him to give alms thinking he is begging by singing. He said, “I do not ask you anything, but I bring you good news of salvation.” This was his first gospel proclamation.
2. Vijayawada : Till November 5, 1945, Mr. John, who was introduced to him made arrangements to conduct open gospel meetings for 3 nights and invited him as the main speaker and singer. This was his first gospel ministry.
3. Rajahmundry : Gospel meetings were held for the salvation of souls until the first week of February 1946.
4. Kakinada : For a few days in February, he preached the gospel alone.
5. Vizag : For about four months till June 1946, he held gospel meetings under the leadership of Pastor Percy Lazarus and Pastor Kanta Rao. There, he prayed alone on the sea shore for 27 consecutive nights to strengthen himself through prayer.
6. Kharagpur : 3 days’ ministry. He was acquainted with Isaac Newton.
7. Calcutta : June 1946, one month introduced to George Stephenson, and held cottage meetings.
8. New Delhi : July 1946 he was introduced to Brother Abraham Joseph who was saved and later served for a long time in Kadapa. He was then serving in Army and he arranged meetings for 15 days in a military camp.
9. Srinagar : August 12, 1946, introduced to Chandra Pandit and prayed with him.
10. Pahalgam : He preached the gospel to Amarnath pilgrims along with K. Jacob, an acquaintance from his childhood.
11. Amarnath : Inspired by the life of Sadhu Sundar Singh, he spent 7 weeks in meditation on the peaceful mountain ranges of the Himalayas, beholding the glory of God and with Divine inspiration he composed 36 poems titled “Flower Bouquet”.
12. Anantnag : Preaching the gospel in meetings organized by Pandit Mohanlal.
13. Srinagar : January 1947, invited by C. A. Hitter, preached the gospel for a month. He stayed in Kashmir for a period of 6 months from August 1946 to January 1947.
14. Calcutta : George Stephenson, realizing his dedicated life, decided that the saffron robes of Sadhu Sundar Singh were the most suitable for him gifted two pairs of robes.
15. Gudur : February 1947 he returned to his parents and testified about the Lord’s wonderful work, His faithfulness, and the salvation of souls.
16. Madras : 1947, as part of the South India evangelistic journey, he first went to Jehovah-Shamma by the inspiration of the Lord and met brother Bhakth Singh. Although the brother did not like the saffron robes, he invited him and allowed him to stay there.
Brother gently told B J Paul ‘The most important virtue is to live faithfully to God, and traditional saintly attire is not required” On the advice of Bhakt Singh, he agreed and decided to remove his saffron robes. Brother Bhakt Singh gifted him two pairs of white dresses and two coats to wear. At that time, everyone was in a humble and needy condition, so All the fellow servants were happy because of the new clothes he was wearing, saying, “You are blessed.” On January 30, 1948, after Gandhi’s assassination, the country’s leaders, including some pastors, wrote in the daily newspapers – comparing Gandhiji to Lord Jesus Christ. He could not stand the comparison of Gandhi with Lord Jesus Christ on radio, in newspapers and even in churches: With a heavy heart tears rolling down from his eyes, he composed a gospel song called ” Premamrutha dharalu chindhina mana yesuku samamevaru?” This is the first song included by him in the Songs of Zion. Until 1950, the Lord used him in many places in Rayalaseema and Andhra regions, along with Bhakt Singh, in ministry, translation, and even composing and singing songs.
17. Hyderabad : He remained in Elim from 1950-1951, as a translator for many God’s Servants and continuing to participate in the ministry.
18. Rajahmundry, Kovvur : 1951-1952 Proclamation of the Gospel in East Godavari and West Godavari districts.
19. Visakhapatnam : As a results of his labour, the first Lord’s Day service was held in September 1952, with the Lord’s Table on the upper floor of Dr. Lazarus’ bungalow, about 18 people were baptized and many were added to the church. Later, they rented a house in Ramanagar and named it Mizpah and continued their worship Service.
20. Congregations served : 1953-1963.Machilipatnam, Kurnool, Guntur, Kothagudem, and Chirala.
21. He served independently in Rajahmundry from 1963 to 1974, and later resided in Chandodu village near Gudur from 1974 to 1979. During this period, from 1966 to 1979, he also travelled extensively across India as the Regional Coordinator for Dr. Billy Graham’s evangelistic team. By 1979, he returned to Hebron, Hyderabad.
22. Congregations served : He served in Tenali, Nandyal, Malakpet, Borabanda, Hebron – Hyderabad from 1979-2003. Till the end, he was also responsible for various ministries in churches and continued composing and writing of songs.
The holy marriage of Brother B. J. Paul was performed with Sister Varalakshmi, the eldest daughter of Brother Samson and Jeevamani, both natives of Hyderabad, on July 16, 1958, at Elim by Brother Bhakt Singh. She had already dedicated herself to the ministry and resigned from her job as soon as she got married. The Lord blessed them with a son, Prince Joseph, a daughter, Hannah Salome, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His children are greatly blessed and are fulfilling their responsibilities as well as the Lord’s service in a humble way. B.J. Paul, who tasted the Lord’s faithfulness at every step of his life, served the Lord faithfully until the end of his life with the same experience.
— John Michael, Rajahmundry