JEGANATHAN, Richard (–2021)
Assembly memorial minute, 2022
Note the passing of home missionary Richard Jeganathan and insert into the Assembly record this memorial minute of the General Assembly’s sincere gratitude for his faithful gospel service to the church:
Richard and Shantha Jeganathan, with their two young sons, fled from Sri Lanka during the civil strife in the north of the country. They found accommodation in the Auburn area and so Richard went looking for the nearest church which was Chalmers Presbyterian Church, Auburn. Mr Graham Tassiker was the home missionary there at the time.
Richard was an engineer with Melbourne Water, but upon taking early retirement, he subsequently spent three years studying at the Presbyterian Theological College. Following the completion of training, he was appointed as home missionary to West Footscray Presbyterian Church where he served for a number of years, retiring in February 2017. It was to Chalmers Church that they returned in retirement.
Richard’s work as a pastor was well received by the congregation at West Footscray. His quiet and gracious manner endeared him to everyone, and he always modelled what he preached. This meant Richard did not simply preach the need to live a life of faith, he personally modelled it. He did not simply teach the priority of loving your neighbour, he demonstrated it. He not only proclaimed the requirement to humbly serve, but he did it. He was a real man of faith who loved the Bible and sought to live in obedience to all of it, every day of his life. Even when Richard’s health was failing, he faithfully maintained his pulpit ministry, even when he required assistance to walk to the front of the church.
The ministry of Richard might best be described as a ministry of comfort. Whether in the lounge room, the hospital ward or the pulpit, there was always a message of comfort that showed genuine warmth, biblical love and clearly his saviour Jesus Christ.
Richard died, 4 November 2021 and the service of thanksgiving was held 8 November 2021, conducted by his pastor, Rev Nick Arundell, at Chalmers Presbyterian Church Auburn. His widow, Shantha, gave a fitting tribute to her husband during the service and the Scriptures were read by their two sons.
Gender
- Male