Biking for Kids in India 
A Dedication and Those We Honor
Elsie and George Garden were life-long missionaries to India and for many years were the driving force in developing the Methodist Rural School in Zahirabad, A.P., India, into a high quality institution with a dedicated staff serving hundreds of children every year. Their energy and dedication were an inspiration to all who knew them, including Lauren Brown and A. V. Samuel. It is to the memory of George and Elsie that Lauren and Sam are dedicating their efforts, hoping to build on the legacy of these two special people. George Garden's father earlier had served in Vikarabad as one of the very early missionaries to India while Elsie's parents served as missionaries to China, showing an extraordinary two-generation commitment to missionary work,
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Others
We Wish to Honor for Their Role in the Methodist Schools in the Hyderabad
Conference
Bishop K. V. Kristi*
K. V. Khristi,
originally from Gujurat State, is currently Bishop for the Hyderabad Conference
of the Methodist Church of India. He provides overall leadership for all the
churches and schools in this Conference in the State of Andhra Pradesh, located in
South-Central India.
Reverend K. V. Manuel*
Reverend Manuel
served as Headmaster of the Zahirabad Rural Methodist School, working with the Gardens during the 1960s.
Subsequently, he served as Principal of Tandur Methodist School and in other
capacities before retiring. Rev. K. V. Manuel and his wife, Sarojini, now
live in North Aurora, IL, close to one of their sons and his family.
Reverend B. D. Paul*
Reverend Paul has had
a long and illustrious career in the Methodist Church, serving at various times
as Principal of Zahirabad from 1968 - 1975 and at Tandur Methodist Schools from 1958 - 1968. He also served as
a District Superintendent and in other capacities in the Methodist Church.
Reverend Paul is also A. V. Samuel's father-in-law.
Reverend William R. Moon
Reverend Moon served as the first Principal and Missionary to Tandur Methodist School. His wife, Mary, also served as the Lady Evangelist. They began their service in 1956 and raised considerable funds to help establish the Tandur Methodist School. Rev. Moon was later appointed to be the Pastor for the English-speaking congregation at the Hyderabad Methodist Church.
Reverend T. Swamidas*
Rev. Swamidas served in Chandrakal Methodist School as Principal and Correspondent (responsibilities included handling communications with donors from U.S.) and during his tenure elevated Chandrakal to include a high school with government recognition. He also served as the Principal at Zahiribad Methodist School. Now retired, he volunteers his time as Pastor to the Borabunda Methodist Church in a suburb of Hyderabad. He also is serving on the Scholarship Committee for this project.
Miss Josephine Kriz
Miss Kriz served as a Missionary to the Chandrakal District and during her tenure founded the Chandrakal Methodist School and Hostel. Among the many ways she helped make a difference in India was personally financing the higher education of several of her students. Miss Kriz also served as the District Lady Evangelist and founded the nearby Methodist Hospital in Chandrakal.
Mr. M. Joseph*
Mr. M. Joseph served in the last decade as Principal and Correspondent of Chandrakal Methodist School until retirement in 2008. He is also serving on the Scholarship Committee and continues volunteers in numerous ways to help the Methodist schools and churches in the Hyderabad Conference.
Rev. James Lynch
Rev. Lynch, a British missionary from Ceylon, delivered the first Methodist sermon in India at a place called Negapatam in 1817! This shows just how long the Methodist Church has been active in serving in India
Rev. Paul Scharer
Member of 1966 Methodist Work-Team under leadership of Rev. Everett and Dorothy Taylor who spent time at Zahirabad Methodist Rural School. Paul became a Methodist minister, serving congregations in Sourthern California but he never lost his love for India, where his grandfather served in Belgaum as a pioneer missionary. Paul died on July 15, 2010 at age 65 following a courageous battle with cancer.
* Received education in Methodist schools in India
