Princeton, New Jersey
Nava Jeevan Lutheran Mission Brings New Life!
Nava Jeevan Lutheran Mission Brings New Life! “Nava Jeevan” means “new life” in Sanskrit. It is a name of hope that can remind Indian immigrants of the new lives of equality that are theirs in Christ and away from the divisions of India's caste system.
Pastor Edwin Fernando Arumanayagam, Nava Jeevan's mission developer, explained that Nava Jeevan is the only Lutheran outreach to South Asians in Princeton, New Jersey—an area predominately served by large Hindu and Sikh temples.
When he first began the mission, Pastor Edwin Fernando was aided by other local pastors who gave a guided tour of the neighborhood, introducing him to the school district, housing patterns, and business centers and restaurants where Indian and other South Asian folks congregate. These demographics and observations provided the mission developer with tools for starting to meet people in the community. And, as he met people and had
conversations with them, the mission developer invited them to Bible study and prayer groups, developing a core group of people to launch a church.
To begin strongly, Arumanayagam also suggests that Mission Partners meet periodically with their mission congregations to coordinate schedules and activities and to follow-up on the mission congregation's progress and real needs.
Mission Partners, explained Arumanayagam, can provide mission congregations with computers, good places to assemble, nursery toys and DVD's, Bible study materials, and song resources.
Christ the King Lutheran Church, Kendall Park, provides Nava Jeevan with office and worship space free-of-charge. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (POP), West Windsor, invites Arumanayagam periodically to lead its Adult Forum and worship and invites Nava Jeevan's praise team to POP’s worship. Both Mission Partners provide financial support.
The New Jersey Synod, meanwhile, provided ministry training, while the ELCA Churchwide Organization and Philadelphia Seminary have helped Asian-Lutheran pastors to network and to develop ministries such as Nava Jeevan.