Last year South Asia Nazarene Bible College (SANBC) celebrated its 25th Anniversary.  Through all those years, Revd Simon Jothi has been intimately involved in its life and work: first as Dean, and then, from 2010, as Principal.  It is hard to imagine SANBC without Simon, but he has decided that, from June 1st, 2025, he will step down from that role, to move into a new assignment with a sister holiness body in India, while still committed to supporting the work of the Church of the Nazarene.

Simon grew up as an orphan in India. When he was six years old, both his parents succumbed to cancer, and for the next 13 years, he lived at a Christian boarding school for boys.  At the age of 17, he attended a Christian youth meeting, where he moved to the front and accepted Christ.

Feeling a call to ministry, Simon attended South India Biblical Seminary, and following graduation he and his wife took on ministry assignments before joining the staff of SANBC.  He subsequently completed an MA in Religion (Christian Education) from Northwest Nazarene University.

South Asia Nazarene Bible College serves the Church of the Nazarene in five nations, and two fields: India and South Asia. Though it has an administrative base in Bangalore, its decentralised programme is delivered in over a dozen languages at multiple satellite centres on 23 districts, using a wide range of part-time faculty.  It is an essential part of the work of the Church.

As Simon moves into a new role he says “My mission focus will be in teaching and equipping people called for ministry: this is the gift God has blessed me with, and that will be done where the need arises. This will allow me to help and serve the Church of the Nazarene.”

Dr Peter Rae, co-regional Education Coordinator, comments “Simon Jothi has poured himself into the work of SANBC, and has invested in the lives hundreds of young leaders for the Church across the region. In his quiet way he has made a huge contribution to the work of the kingdom, and our prayers and blessings go with him.’

Do pray for the SANBC Board, led by Revd Dr Subhash Dongerdive, as they prayerfully consider the right appointment for this significant post. 

– shared from Eurasia Region Education