(B) Perfect Christian Profile :
While performing all the necessary functions of his daily routine, Father Devadas kept up a life of direct communion with the Lord. This made his personality a perfect and unique one among his centemporaries.He did not do any work out of his own, but after the Lord’s command. That is why he could able to perform all the roles which his mission superiors had entrusted him with great confidence.
(1) School Teacher :
Father Devadas taught all subjects at the kindergarten level. He also taught the higher grade students and imparted to them spiritual and moral education. Even the nottiest boy in the school, would pay heed to him, soon after listening to his kind expression and seeing his pleasant face. He never scolded a child throughout his teaching career. He won all their hearts only with ‘Love.’ He wrote a simple English grammar book specially for school children which became very popular in those days. Any popular aspect of his life is thoroughly wrapped up in his modest character of spiritual reticence. What he demonstrated is only a fraction of what he is and what is in him.
(2) Hostel Warden :
As he is like a parent and a teacher to the children, the missionaries entrusted him with the hostel responsibilities as well since his work place is a boarding school. Unlike other wardens, Father Devadas was thrift and frugal in his spending and returned the remaining money from the allotted budget to his authorities at the end of every month. This very much astonished the missionaries.
Once there took place a disastrous famine and all the boarding schools were run with just one square meal per day because of cut in the supply of food items. But in the boarding school managed by Father Devadas pupil were given three full meals per day inspite of the rationing. This was made possible by the Lord, as be Fr. Devadas made Him as the patron of his students and not the missionaries. This is to say that Father Devadas in all his ways and at every step has always looked to the Lord but not the missionary aid. Then the missionaries exclaimed that “life of faith means the life of Devadas”.
(3) Seminary Instructor :
Later, he was asked to teach in the Lutheran theological seminary at Luthergiri, as part of advancing his spiritual teaching techniques. His teachings gave birth to many new doctrines which are in practice of the Biblical times. His Christian rationale was universal, historical and impartial in its nature. His teaching has always been preceded by an experience where he never professed a new teaching from the Bible without receiving it from the Lord. In his teaching careers one day, he taught on the subject matter “Even today, God shall speak and appear (to men)”. This caused little turmoil among the students other, faculty members and the Lutheran higher authorities. Some of them accepted its validity and truth value but some felt that they do not pertain to their teaching domain. Yet, all his Biblical expositions coupled with sound reasoning; backed up by the powerful practical demonstrations, tranquilled all the queries and lead the students and teachers alike, even to experience the same. Here, it is worth while to quote what he observed: “my spiritual education is from the Lord’s School. That’s why my teaching is perfect and correct ”.
(4) Sanatorium Caretaker :
Apart from the academic and theological responsibilities, the missionaries had also given him the additional charge of comforting and encouraging the Sanatorium patients.
According to His given schedule he used to visit patients to nurse, guide and console them with his divine presence and the words emanated from the infallible love of Christ. According to Rev. S. Samuel the former President of the Bible Mission and one of the close disciples of Father Devadas, ‘The patients anticipated much for Father Devadas, than their medical staff and Doctors.’ He is a man with divine nature whose words and deeds worked alike for both physical and spiritual sufferings of the masses.
(5) Itenerant Preacher :
In his untiring services to the Lutheran Mission, he worked relentlessly in all the possible areas his superiors had put him to, at his best. Yet, he also managed to be a touring evangelist. In this ministry he captured the attention of the touring mobs gathered in great number to observe certain rituals and religious festivals in and around Andhra Pradesh. His reaching out to the masses is very innovative as he used to show “Magic Lanterns”, and some cultural art forms which at once astonishedpeoples attention and drew them to Him. Then he used to relate the Gospel message to that folk art or dance which he performed and nativize it for their understanding. Afterwards his followers used to distribute the “Gospel tracts” published by him. One of such pamphlets is “Bountiful Message” (Pushkalopadesamu) which addressed the austere audience bathing in holy rivers where the occasion come for each river once in twelve years. In Sanskrit, ‘pushkara’ means twelve.
(6) Church Pastor :
In his association with the Lutheran Church, Father Devadas served as a regular ‘Parish Priest.’ It was a living experience for all who attended his service. His worship services have always witnessed new songs, new messages and new explanations of the Scriptures; all received by him in different times and situations from the Lord.
During the severest drought of the early 1940’s in India, he composed a song and made it sung by the children in the Sunday service. At that time all the Church members wept aloud. After the service all the missionaries encircled him, asking How? Devadas! how? How were you able to manage these days?” The Hymn says like this: “What do I lack when my chief patron is with me!! The loving God is my Caring Supporter and my only Saviour.
(7) Christ like life :
Father Devadas was a living replica of Christ. He believed and proclaimed that all children of God must resemble Him. Throughout day he worked for his mission in preaching, teaching, nursing and caring. Throughoutnight he spent time in isolation with his Lord, in conversing with Him, about the work of the day and plan of action and execution. and interceding for the people.
Throughout his life, he never rebuked any person or any student. Regarding this nature he gently remarked that, “If he would rebuke a person he can never live.” He presented Christ in the way, the world would best receive Him, and in the way Christ wanted him to.
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