Auckland, New Zealand:  The New Zealand District and the Asia-Pacific Region are grieving the sudden death of one of its outstanding pastors on Sunday, January 24th, 2016. Pastor Vipul Kharat was on holiday in his home town of Buldana, India, when he suffered severe back pain.  His brother, Moses, a medical doctor, rushed him to the hospital, but he suffered a second heart attack and passed away almost instantly.  He is survived by his wife Suzanne and his 12 year old son Sameer.

Born on 30 November 1963, in Buldhana बुलढाणा, Vipul was a 3rd generation Nazarene, being a grandson of Rev. Waman H. Kharat, one of the first Indians to be ordained an elder in the church of the Nazarene in November 1937, by General Superintendent Dr. J.B. Chapman.  Vipul was a younger son of former Nazarene District Superintendent and Bible Training School principal Rev. D.M. and Vishranti Kharat.

Vipul, Suzanne, and Sameer

Vipul has been the pastor of the All Nations Church of the Nazarene in Auckland, New Zealand, for the past 23 years.  When he went there as a newly married 28-year-old pastor, it was a small, elderly, mostly caucasian congregation.  During the years that followed the church was transformed into a vibrant, multicultural congregation, which in turn has given birth to several other language-driven congregations.

Pastor Vipul was a dynamic preacher with a great love for people.  He touched the lives of all classes of society from homeless people to scientists with PhDs.   He was in demand as a speaker and teacher especially in the area of contextualisation and how to reach people of other faiths with the transforming grace of God.  Vipul was a graduate of the Nazarene Theological College in Brisbane, Australia.

Service Schedules are as follows:

• The All Nations Church will be open for viewing on Friday Morning, January 29th, from 11 am onwards throughout the afternoon.
• There will be a “Family Service” at All Nations on Friday evening starting at 7 pm.
• 

  Life Church – Venue for Funeral Service

  The funeral service will be on Saturday, January 30th, at  1 pm at Life Church, 60 Rockfield Road, Penrose. This is a large venue that can seat over 400 people. (Click on this link for Directions)

• After the service there will be a cup of tea and light refreshments. Vipul’s body will then be taken for burial.

Please commit to keep the Kharat Family, the Church Family, and all of those impacted by Vipul’s sudden passing, in your prayers.

Submitted: Neville Bartle NZ District, John Moore ANZ Field Strategy Coordinator