Prem Kumar - By God's Grace

 By God’s Grace

Prem Kumar

I completed my Diploma in Hotel Management from IHM, Chennai, from 1978-1981 and joined Taj Coromandel as an in-company trainee through campus recruitment. 

On 1st September 1982, I fractured my right thigh bone in a major scooter accident and suffered a lot. After this accident, I could not put up with the stress of work in the Taj kitchen, as I was limping badly and was in pain. 

In 1983 December I joined IHM, Bangalore as an Assistant lecturer in the cookery dept. During my stint in IHM, Bangalore, I had the joy of teaching Rajdeep Kapoor who became the Executive Chef of ITC Maurya, Chef Manisha Bhasin Corporate Chef of ITC, Chef Mayank Area corporate Chef (South) ITC hotels, Zubin Songadwala, Area General Manager (South) ITC hotels, Madhu, Chef R&D ITC hotels, Chef Jayanto Pal a Michelin Chef, Mint Leaf, Los Angeles and several other prominent people, who are well established in various hotels and other fields.

In 1989 I moved to Saudi Arabia to work at Aramco as a supervising Chef, catering to dignitaries from around the world and the royal family of Saudi Arabia. 

Due to a spiritual encounter with Jesus, my life was changed. At the height of my career when I was 36 years old, I had always wanted to serve humanity. I resigned from Saudi Aramco and joined as a pastor in a church in Bangalore. I do not regret this decision. 

However, I must add that the Biblical teachings along with my three-year training at IHM in housekeeping including toilet cleaning, the maintenance classes that included scraping and painting walls, cooking, cleaning vessels, restaurant service, management, accounts, and several other chores instilled in me a heart to serve with a smile and to take all challenges in my stride by God’s grace.

I had the desire to do my doctorate in theological studies in 2014 to equip myself further to serve humanity. In November 2016, I joined the Centre for Global Leadership Development (CGLD-SABC) Bangalore to do the same. 

After 3 years of completing various modules under godly, experienced, and highly qualified teachers, I spent another 3 and half years conducting research and project writing. I graduated by the grace of God on 28th April 2023 in Bangalore with a Doctorate in Christian Leadership. My thesis is on ‘Biblical Financial Stewardship.’

The road to reach this had been a challenging one. Halfway through my research project writing, I began to realise my capacity to study at this level did not match my ambition to do my doctorate. 

There were other challenges too. There were three deaths in the family including my dear mother. I was sick with Covid twice and was hospitalised, once. My wife and son also were hospitalised with Covid. I was unable to go to the library due to the lockdown, was not able to  travel, nor do my ministry, and sermon preparation responsibilities. 

In addition, my pastor, Abraham, was down with life-threatening sickness and admitted to CMC Vellore. I had to handle the church responsibilities during his prolonged absence. My lack of computer knowledge showed up and once more than 2000 words I had typed were erased by accident. In addition to the financial challenges to pay my fees, I was afflicted with severe back pain and had to undergo physiotherapy and struggled to discipline myself to spend hours reading and writing. 

In all these difficult situations I had to work around to achieve this goal by depending on God’s grace and trusting in his resurrection power. I encourage everyone not to give up what they started. Pursue it and work despite hardships and you will succeed by his grace.

We also run free tuition centres for underprivileged children in a poor neighbourhood and pavement dwellers children in Bangalore.

I thank God that I learned so much at IHM Chennai that this has helped me to come to where I am today.

Prem Kumar, Batch of 81