Terrence Sinnadurai, founder of Desa Amal Jireh, dies at 75
PETALING JAYA : Reverend Terrence Sinnadurai, the founder of Desa Amal Jireh (DAJ) – a 40-year-old sanctuary for underprivileged children and senior citizens – has died at 75.
He died at 5.58pm at Sunway Medical Centre on Wednesday after battling diabetes for years. He had been warded ini the hospital for about a month for sepsis.
Terrence leaves behind a decades-long legacy of service, having founded the home in 1985 with his wife Kamala.
Beginning as a humble operation in a single-storey terrace house in Kajang, DAJ transformed into a village in Semenyih with a canteen, separate dormitories for boys, girls and senior citizens, a library and staff offices.
Terrence also served as the senior pastor of Kajang Assembly of God (AOG), one of the largest churches in Kajang, from 1978 to 2001, and later as the senior pastor of Agape Community Centre in Semenyih.
He leaves behind his wife, three children – John, Shanti and Reuben – and five grandchildren.
Around 500 people packed the main hall of Desa Amal Jireh in Semenyih for the wake service last night.
The wake service last night at DAJ saw around 500 attendees pack the main hall of the home, including former home residents, church members and Terrence's fellow pastors and peers in AOG Malaysia.
DAJ vice-chairman Emerson Chelliah lauded Terrence for his passion for people, particularly the underprivileged and destitute, as well as senior citizens.
'He was a real visionary. He was always looking for ways to do more (for the home) and had a gift for thinking outside the box in terms of fundraising.
'He was never tired of wanting to do more and more. It was a joy to see him work. He has impacted a lot of people, from over 20 years in Kajang AOG and 40 years in DAJ,' he told FMT.
Speaking at the wake, Shanti, who is also the deputy director of DAJ, praised her father for always having time for his family, even while serving as a pastor and the chairman of DAJ.
'He made an effort for his family. Every day there would be one meal together as a family.
'They say pastors' children struggle because pastors have no time for their family, but my father was there for almost every sports meet I went to until I was in Form Five,' she said.
Another wake service will be held at DAJ at 8.30pm tonight, and the funeral service will be held tomorrow morning at 10am at the same venue.
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