Stephen, Samuel (1918-2006)
Samuel Stephen, son of Balamdas and Ruth Bai Stephen was born 28 March 1918 near Mauhadih, Madhya Pradesh, India. He received his education in the Boys School, Mauhadih; St. Paul's Boys School, Raipur; and high school in Dhamtari. After teaching in Mauhadih (1936-38), he earned a teacher's certificate in 1940 at Jabalpur.
Samuel went to teach at the Janzen Memorial School (JMS) at Jagdeeshpur in 1940. In 1944 JMS became an agricultural high school. Samuel married Helen Pennalal, a member of the Disciples of Christ Church, Bilaspur, and a teacher in Funk Memorial Girls School, Janjgir, in 1944. She joined the staff of JMS. Samuel and Helen had two children, Shireen and Anand. Samuel became headmaster of JMS in 1945; in 1947 he earned a BA degree as a private candidate and an MA in education from Wichita State University in 1957. In 1958 he became principal of JMS; the school was raised to Higher Secondary status that same year. When he retired from JMS in 1979 he served as manager for three more years in mission schools in Korba, Champa, Janjgir, and Jagdeeshpur.
Samuel also served as Sunday school teacher and choir director, and served on various church committees. In 1966 he was ordained an evangelist and assisted the pastor of Bethel church, Jagdeeshpur. He gave capable leadership to the Bharatiya General Conference Mennonite Church as chairman, secretary, treasurer, land agent, and on various committees. He was chairman of the General Conference Mennonite Mission and a consultant on education and legal matters. He was chairman of the Rural Economic Development and Community Health Association and vice chairman of the Menno Educational Society. His position in 1988 was chairman of the Polytechnic School in Mahasamund. Samuel died 30 April 2006 and was buried 2 May in Jagdeeshpur.
| Author(s) | Helen Kornelsen |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 2006 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Kornelsen, Helen. "Stephen, Samuel (1918-2006)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 2006. Web. 16 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Stephen,_Samuel_(1918-2006)&oldid=77917.
APA style
Kornelsen, Helen. (2006). Stephen, Samuel (1918-2006). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 16 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Stephen,_Samuel_(1918-2006)&oldid=77917.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, pp. 857-858. All rights reserved.
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