Vishaka Metro Section

By Gordon E. Christo

Gordon E. Christo, Ph.D. in Old Testament and Adventist Studies (Andrews University). Christo is retired and working on contract as assistant editor of the Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists and assistant editor of the Seventh-day Adventist International Biblical-Theological Dictionary. He is currently setting up a heritage center for Southern Asia Division. Some of his research on Adventist history can be seen at https://sudheritage.blogspot.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/SUDHeritage/.

First Published: February 4, 2025

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The Vishaka (in the past also called Vizag) Metro Section is a part of the East Central India Union Section in the Southern Asia Division. Its headquarters is in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Territory: The districts of Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, and Visakhapatnam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Statistics (June 30, 2024): Churches, 18; membership, 6,271; population, 7,020,363

Early History

Pastor D. S. Harris was assigned to Visakhapatnam in 1953, where he organized an evangelistic series from October 25 to December 27 of that year. Harris held services in English four nights a week, while I. Subushanam conducted meetings in Telugu three nights a week. The average attendance was around five hundred people each night.¹ In 1955, South India Union President E. L. Sorenson mentioned in his report a beautiful church in Vizag, but he also noted that despite thirty years of Adventist preaching in Visakhapatnam, the work had not yet been firmly established.² Continuing the mission efforts, E. S. Sudarshanama and Reginald Shires conducted evangelistic meetings in 1956, followed by E. S. Eswar Rao in 1958.³

Later Developments

A parsonage was completed in 1965, adding to one of the most beautiful Adventist churches in Andhra. In 1972, Dr. Shyamala Chistie, a prominent lay member, along with George Luke, the principal, organized a musical program to raise funds for fans, curtains, carpets, a wall clock, a bulletin board, and a record player.⁴ In 1968, Ch. Anandraj reported two baptisms, and in 1974, J. V. Prasada Rao reported seventeen baptisms in Visakhapatnam.⁵ In 1975, the school reported twenty-two baptisms, mostly among students from non-Christian backgrounds.⁶

Organizational History

The Vishaka Metro Region was originally part of the North Andhra Section. In 2006, the East Central India Union accepted the recommendation of a study commission to form the Vishaka Metro Region, a decision that was approved by the Division at the mid-year meetings of 2006.⁷

In 2018, the Southern Asia Division appointed a study commission to assess the progress and needs of the Vishaka Metro Region.⁸ The commission found that the region had 17 churches, 23 companies, three ordained ministers, and 34 workers, with 110 percent self-support. To recognize and support the region's growth, the Southern Asia Division approved the reorganization of the Vishaka Metro Region into the Vishaka Metro Section.⁹

Executive Officers

Vishaka Metro Region

Directors: M Shadrach (2006-2011); Jacob T. Johnson (2011-2015); P. Gladstine Jacob (2015-2018); Edward Pilli (2018-2019);

Treasurers: Nalli Kiran Babu Kumar (2011-2019);

Vishaka Metro Section

Presidents: M. M. Samson (2019- )

Secretary-Treasurers: Nalli Kiran Babu (2019- )

Sources

Bhasker Rao, N. S. “Central India.” Southern Asia Tidings, August 1974.

Bhasker Rao, N. S. “Vizag Church Raises Funds for Self-Improvement.” Southern Asia Tidings, August 1972.

“Meet Our Workers.” Southern Asia Tidings, September 1, 1958.

Minutes of the Division Executive Committee, May 22-24, 2006; Nov 18-20, 2018; May 28-30, 2019.

Sorenson, E. L. “The Lord Will Finish the Work –2.” Southern Asia Tidings, November 1, 1955.

“Southern Asia, the Growing Edge.” ARH, May 15, 1975.

Subushanam, I. “News from the North Telugu Mission.” Eastern Tidings, December 15, 1953.

Notes

I. Subushanam “News from the North Telugu Mission,” Eastern Tidings, December 15, 1953, 5.↩
E. L. Sorenson, “The Lord Will Finish the Work –2,” Southern Asia Tidings, November 1, 1955, 4.↩
“Meet Our Workers,” Southern Asia Tidings, September 1, 1958, 12.↩
N. S. Bhasker Rao, “Vizag Church Raises Funds for Self-Improvement,” Southern Asia Tidings, August 1972, 10.↩
N. S. Bhasker Rao, “Central India,” Southern Asia Tidings, August 1974, 17↩
“Southern Asia, the Growing Edge,” ARH, May 15, 1975, 24.↩
“Formation of New Regions,” Minutes of the Division Executive Committee, #2006-30, May 22-24, 49.↩
“Study Commission,” Division Executive Committee, #2018-157, November 18-20, 2018, 107.↩
“Upgradation of Vishaka Metro Region to Section, Division Executive Committee, #2019-28, May 28-30, 2019, 11.↩