On 21 May, Reverend Terrence KK Sinnadurai passed away surrounded by family, songs of praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord. He was 75.
Rev. Sinnadurai is synonymous with Desa Amal Jireh (DAJ), a home for children and seniors he established 40 years ago with his wife, Kamala. He also led Kajang Assembly of God for more than 20 years and Agape Community Church in Semenyih in his later years.
The veteran pastor had been diagnosed with diabetes for the past 40 years, and faced heart issues since 2019. He was admitted to the hospital a few days prior due to low blood pressure and eventually passed away from heart failure.
His daughter, Rachel Shanti Karthiripillai, penned in a Facebook post that her father “graduated to heaven… we were around him, singing, praising, crying, laughing, praying and telling him stories till he breathed his last breath.”
“For him, to live is Christ and to die is gain,” she wrote.
Rev. Sinnadurai is survived by his wife, Kamala, three children (John, Rachel Shanti, and Reuben), five grandchildren and many spiritual children he’s gained over the years.
A forerunner of Christ-centred social transformation
Wake services were held at DAJ in Semenyih on 22 and 23 May, with more than a thousand people gathering to pay their last respects and remember a man who blazed a trail in the advancement of gospel-centred social justice. The funeral service was held on 24 May.
Pastor Philip Sung of Bethel Church Melaka, a close family friend, led the services.
On all three days, friends, family and fellow ministers alike described Rev. Sinnadurai as a humble man who believed the Gospel he preached wholeheartedly, loved generously and led with authority and grace.
“What do you say about a person that has done so much?”, reflected AG Malaysia superintendent Rev. Ong Sek Leang. “Pastor Terrence is probably one of the most pastoral, consequential and magnanimous leaders we’ve ever had.
He’s been a pastor, Bible school lecturer, national social concern director, Malaysian Tamil Bible Institute principal, Indian language division head and many more, but more than that, he founded this [DAJ] ministry,” Rev. Ong said of the much-loved minister.
Reverend Benjamin Yeoh of Agape Community Church in Seremban recalled how Rev. Sinnadurai and Kamala lived simple lives, making the best of all they had.
An unforgettable memory was when he and another pastor, both fresh out of Bible college and in the early days of pastoring, attended a church camp where Rev. Sinnadurai was the guest speaker.
After Rev. Sinnadurai received the love offering from the church, he opened the envelope and divided the amount into three parts: for himself, Rev. Yeoh and the other pastor.
“That left a deep impression upon my heart and life with regards to giving…As Shanti said, he was never about accolades or titles. But I can imagine when Jesus met him, the words that He spoke were: “Well done, good and faithful servant,” he said of his good friend he’d known since the 1970s.
A family man who walked the talk
Throughout both nights, eulogies offered glimpses of a wise leader, a driven humanitarian and a sincere friend. When his children stepped up to share, however, it became clear that first and foremost, Rev. Sinnadurai loved his family.
Kamala shared how they met at an accountancy firm, her humour and grace shining through. “Remember, I’m a modern girl, he’s from Kajang,” she declared as the hall burst into laughter.
“I will miss him, but he knows that I can go on, continue his work. I thank God that we listened to His calling, direction… I pray, Lord, that You will give me the strength to run this race until I reach You, Lord,” she finished fervently.
Their son, Reuben, remembered his dad as one who loved God and was the spiritual leader in the house. Growing up, he would find Rev. Sinnadurai kneeling by the bed, praying and fellowshipping with the Lord.
“He loved my mum so much that he let her spread her wings and fly. He taught me that being meek is not weak. It is strength under control. He loved others and was always thinking about how to bless others. He lived like a poor man, but was rich in so many ways,” he said.
Reuben’s wife, Aneesha, kept her words short, but filled with love and honour.
“When I married the man of my dreams, I was given the father-in-law of my dreams,” she said, her voice breaking. “I wish I could make him one last rassam, one last tea, go for one final holiday, listen to one last sermon.”
Just like her father did, Shanti pointed listeners to Jesus Christ and the hope of the Gospel.
“The challenge for us is if you have been impacted by his [Rev. Sinnadurai’s] life, don’t let the impact stop at you. Let’s go and do what has to be done, which is to preach, to teach and to reach people for Him,” the DAJ deputy director said.
A spiritual father who loved and led with grace
Since its establishment in 1985, DAJ has been a haven of hope. From its humble beginnings in Kajang, DAJ now provides refuge to nearly 100 children and seniors, supported by 32 staff members. More than 1,000 children have walked through its doors, finding faith, hope and family.
Paul Yap, who first stepped into DAJ (then Rumah Faith) at four years old and was supported through university, paid tribute to the first man he had ever looked up to.
“Growing up, Rev. Terrence played a big part in our journey with God. I lost a father, a role model and a man who’s truly after God’s heart. We can never get another man like him,” Paul said as he struggled to hold back tears.
DAJ board member and football consultant Jeysing Muthiah revealed deep respect for a man on fire, dedicated to the work of the Lord. Rev. Sinnadurai would prioritise missions and outreach, both in Malaysia and overseas.
“He was my spiritual father. I learned so much by observing how he tackled issues within the church and others… he gives excellent counsel and guidance. One key lesson: there are always three sides to a story – your side, the other side, and what happened,” he said.
DAJ treasurer, Samuel Sham, honoured Rev. Sinnadurai’s vision and faith in seeing the DAJ village become a reality. By God’s grace and his leadership, said Sham, the multi-million ringgit project was completed debt-free.
“Creative, resourceful, bold, he found ways to move mountains. This home we see today is the fruit of his tireless labour,” Sham said in a heartfelt, candid tribute. “Just do your best, let God do the rest. Anyway, it’s God’s project,” he would say. Serving God was not a job to him, it was a joy.”
Rev. Sinnadurai lived a full life marked by humility, faith and wisdom. In his 75 years, Rev. Sinnadurai impacted thousands of lives, proving yet again that in the hands of the Great Potter, we can be shaped for His glory and our good.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Kamala and his family, the DAJ community and the AG Malaysia network. Catch the wake and funeral service recordings on Desa Amal Jireh’s YouTube here. Read Faithour’s coverage of DAJ’s Rumah Faith here.
Cover Photo: Terrence Sinnadurai / Facebook
