Gurudatt & Nadira Shiwdat

Two terms planting churches among the Guyanese living in Suriname. Now studying Hindi in preparation to begin ministry among the largest un-reached people group in Suriname, the Hindustanis.

Gurudatt was born of East Indian parents in Guyana, South America As in most Indian families, devotion to polytheism and idolatry was the normal experience for his family, since they actively practiced Hinduism.

As a young person, Gurudatt was taught the Hindu Scriptures and participated in the Hindu ceremonies and practices. He recalls that, "knowledge and performance of good works were my goal in life. I thought that if only I could be wise and do good deeds, I would have it all made."

"After embracing Hinduism for 17 years, I was not happy with my life. There was no peace nor sense of fulfillment in my life. I knew something was missing." Gurudatt's pilgrimage to Christ began at age 14 when he began reading the Bible in order to gain some good principles for life. Also, he began attending services in a local church out of curiosity for the Christian's unique manner of worship. Gurudatt heard the Gospel for about four years, but would not accept its message because, "I did not want to change my religion." He was taught that "I am born a Hindu and I would die a Hindu."

Gurudait opened his life to Christ at the age of 17 after continual rejection of the Gospel. By reading the Old Testament he was convinced that there is one Almighty God. In the New Testament he saw that God came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. He saw Jesus as more than a prophet or a good teacher; he saw Him as God in flesh. Through conviction from the Word of God, he prayed with the local pastor to receive Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior.

As he studied the Bible, he was awakened to his great responsibility to share the Gospel with the Hindus in his village. It was at that point he realized that God has called him to reach out to the Hindus. As his faith grew, so did his participation in his local church's ministry. At the same time, his burden to reach the Hindu population weighed on his heart. His lack of Bible knowledge led him to study two years at the Virgin Islands Baptist Academy where he earned a Diploma in Religious Education. From there he went to Trinity College of Florida and Tampa Bay Theological Seminary where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies and Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. He also earned a Master of Theology from International Bible College and Seminary.

During summer ministry in his home church in Guyana in 1984, Gurudatt met his future wife, Nadira whom he married after his graduation from Trinity college in 1985.

In contrast to Gurudatt, Nadira was born and reared in a rural, Christian Guyanese home. Some of her earliest memories recall many of the choruses and Bible verses learned from her mother. She received the Lord as her personal Savior when she was eight years old.

Nadira's desire to be a school teacher from early childhood took her through Teachers' Training College in Georgetown, Guyana. God used those two years of study and living with students from different backgrounds, races and religions to build her faith. In 1983 she received her certificate of Trained First Class Teacher. In 1986 Nadira joined her husband at Trinity College and completed her B.A. Degree in Biblical Studies in 1989.

Both were accepted and appointed by World Team to serve as missionaries to Suriname. During 1986-1988 while receiving their Biblical training in college and seminary, they were on deputation. The Lord has provided for all their needs to join the church planting team working among the Guyanese in Suriname.

Since 1989 they have served the Lord in planting churches among the Guyanese Hindus and Muslim. Through the enablement of the Lord in evangelism, discipleship, and training nationals they have planted a church and worked with other missionaries to establish another church. They have used personal and friendship evangelism to win the Hindus and Muslim to Christ. After people have come to a saving knowledge of Christ, they discipled the new converts personally with their own discipleship program. Most of the believers who went through the program are still following the Lord. Between 1995-1997 years ago, the Shiwdats with a couple of other missionaries (Don Ropp and Don Adams) trained nationals to carry on the ministry of the two Guyanese churches.

With most of the Guyanese evangelized and many workers laboring among them, the Lord is leading the Shiwdats to focus now on planting churches among the Hindustani, the least evangelized people group in Suriname. The Hindustani are Hindus and Muslims whose foreperents migrated from India They are very resistant to the Gospel. After decades of missionary work, there is only one church and a few cell groups among. There is little work being done to reach out to the Hindustani. Their strategy in reaching the Hindustani is three-fold: Learning the languages of the people (Sarnami and Hindi), living among the people, and contextualize the gospel and lifestyle without compromise.

Gurudatt and Nadira's greatest need is for a faithful band of prayer supporters who will commit themselves to the ministry of intercession on their behalf. Pray for them as they prepare themselves to work among this resistant people group and for God to meet all of their needs.

Shiwdat's Newsletter

Current Issue (October)

Contact Information

Email:

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Web Site:

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Mailing Address: In USA -

4020 58th Ave. North
Apt# 3940 A 
St. Petersburg, FL
33714

Phone Number: In USA -

           (727) 525-1301

 

When in Suriname -

Postbus 9459
Paramaribo Zuid
Suriname,
South America

They are currently in Suriname

Phone Number:

011-597-403943

Birthdays:

Gurudatt:
Nadira :
Nathan : 03/11

Wedding Anniversary:

 

 

Mission Agency:

World Team

Newsletter

Up Date & Praise

Dear Prayer Partners,
With great delight Nadira and I would like to introduce you to our firstborn son, Nathan. He was entrusted to us by a Merciful and Gracious Heavenly Father on Friday March 11th. To hear those first cries brought joy and comfort to my heart and tears at the same time.  Thank you very much for praying and caring for us.
In Christ,   Gurudatt & Nadira

God's promise ...Nathan.

Gurudatt and Nadira find it important to educate the people.

Thanks for praying for me. To see more pics.

Gurudatt visiting with one of the men.

Nadira shares what God has done in her life.