The Story of Indian Missionary Simon Baru (1924 – 2011)
Simon was born and grew up in a family that practiced animism in Orissa in the Eastern Part of India. He was a brilliant student and qualified for a prestigious government job working for the Indian railway. When he was about 24 years old, he received the Gospel and converted to Christianity. Subsequently, he resigned from his job and attended Bible school.
After he received his Bachelor of Theology degree, the India Evangelical Mission (IEM) appointed him as the first missionary to North India and later to Nepal. He and his wife, Shanti, a medical nurse, worked together in the field for 40 years. They walked and cycled through dusty villages and founded several churches in Orissa and Bihar and in Nepal. Some of them are the first churches in those areas.
After their retirement from the mission field, Simon and Shanti continued to work for another five years as wardens in an orphanage with 150 children in Gorakhpur in the Northern part of India. They returned to their native place in Orissa and built their own house where they retired.
Simon and Shanti had only one child, Sarah, who married Janaman in 2004. That same year Simon was diagnosed with TB and had a stroke which left him paralyzed. Six months later, Shanti, who so lovingly cared for her husband, was diagnosed with cancer, and in the following year she went to be with the LORD.
After Shanti’s death, Simon was alone at home, confined to his bed. Sarah and Janaman decided to move Simon to their home in New Delhi. In January 2011, after six years of suffering Simon went to be with the LORD. He was 86.
During his stay in New Delhi, he was cheerful and wanted to serve God even on his sick bed through prayers for the church and the nation. During a visit by IEM staff, he was called a “trailblazer,” a fitting description for this servant of God. Before Simon died, he expressed that his house should be used for God’s glory.
While Janaman was in the US for his mission study in 2011-2012, he met Ute Brinkmann. After much consideration, they decided to register a non-profit organization to continue Simon’s legacy.
On February 6, 2012, Reach Dalit was born, governed by a board whose members love to serve people. With financial support from Reach Dalit, the house has been turned into a loving home for poor children who are able to attend school.
After he received his Bachelor of Theology degree, the India Evangelical Mission (IEM) appointed him as the first missionary to North India and later to Nepal. He and his wife, Shanti, a medical nurse, worked together in the field for 40 years. They walked and cycled through dusty villages and founded several churches in Orissa and Bihar and in Nepal. Some of them are the first churches in those areas.
After their retirement from the mission field, Simon and Shanti continued to work for another five years as wardens in an orphanage with 150 children in Gorakhpur in the Northern part of India. They returned to their native place in Orissa and built their own house where they retired.
Simon and Shanti had only one child, Sarah, who married Janaman in 2004. That same year Simon was diagnosed with TB and had a stroke which left him paralyzed. Six months later, Shanti, who so lovingly cared for her husband, was diagnosed with cancer, and in the following year she went to be with the LORD.
After Shanti’s death, Simon was alone at home, confined to his bed. Sarah and Janaman decided to move Simon to their home in New Delhi. In January 2011, after six years of suffering Simon went to be with the LORD. He was 86.
During his stay in New Delhi, he was cheerful and wanted to serve God even on his sick bed through prayers for the church and the nation. During a visit by IEM staff, he was called a “trailblazer,” a fitting description for this servant of God. Before Simon died, he expressed that his house should be used for God’s glory.
While Janaman was in the US for his mission study in 2011-2012, he met Ute Brinkmann. After much consideration, they decided to register a non-profit organization to continue Simon’s legacy.
On February 6, 2012, Reach Dalit was born, governed by a board whose members love to serve people. With financial support from Reach Dalit, the house has been turned into a loving home for poor children who are able to attend school.