On 26 November, the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) bid a heartfelt farewell to Rev. Solomon Benjamin, who has served as Country Representative for India and East Asia since April 2016 and will retire at the end of the year.

During the service at Paulus Church in Stuttgart, that was attended by numerous guests from near and far, EMS President Rev. Anne Heitmann honoured his years of dedicated service:

“You have served the EMS fellowship with remarkable passion and commitment, reaching out especially to those who are often overlooked. We cannot always foresee what will grow from the seeds we plant – much takes root in hidden places. Yet in your years with EMS, you have not only sown generously but also tasted the joy of seeing some of those seeds blossom.” 

Faith shaped through service

Rev. Solomon Benjamin based his farewell sermon on the so-called Nazareth Manifesto of Luke 4:17-20 – a declaration of Jesus’ mission to bring good news, healing, and liberation.

Reflecting on the decades of his ministry, he noted: “Every bit of my experience turned my faith into a meaningful and impactful one. God shaped my faith to be an enacting diaconal faith.”

At EMS, his focus lay on forging ties with and among churches in Korea, Japan, China, and India, as well as fostering intercultural dialogue.

Lasting initiatives

Among his many contributions to the EMS fellowship, several stand out:

• He initiated a groundbreaking multilateral partnership between the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea and the Moravian Church in South Africa to support the Elim Home for children with disabilities in South Africa. 
• He accompanied the process of welcoming the Church of North India into the EMS family. 
• He launched an interreligious study programme connecting EMS with the Henry Martyn Institute in Hyderabad, India. 

Mission for the poor and marginalised

Benjamin closed his sermon with a stirring affirmation of EMS’s mission: to proclaim the good news and stand with the poor, the marginalized, and those cast aside. “We remain in solidarity with the vulnerable,’ he said, “integrating those on the margins into the mainstream of life. Our calling is to transform every curse and form of subjugation into a season of liberation and celebration – so that all may experience life in its fullness.”