ABOUT RSV & VALSA

Bro. RSV (R.S.VIJAY RAJ) was born and brought up in a Christian family in an interior village in Trivandrum district of Kerala, India. He was the second child in his family. His father is a retired pastor. Having been born and brought up in a financially poor family he had to face a lot of struggles during his early years. At the age of 12 he was sent to a Boys' Home (Balabhavan, run by Church of God in South India, at Eccelsia, Kochi) where he stayed for 4 years. Then he went back home after his school years and joined a private college for higher studies. He took tuitions and earned money for his studies. He had to disrupt his M.Com course due to non-payment of fees. He still continued to take tuitions and worked hard for a job for a permanent earning. And in 1991 he entered into Govt. service in Kerala as a Lower Division Clerk in Govt. Women's ITI, Kannur, Kerala. SISTER VALSA Wife of brother RSV, sister Valsa is a very aggressive servant of God, dedicated herself for mission work even before she got married to RSV. In a sense Valsa had dedicated her life for fulltime ministry before Bro. RSV did. Presently, they stay in Nagpur where sister Valsa gives leadership to a Free-Tuition Centre for the children from the slums. Also there is a Tailoring school which she gives leadership to. MARRIAGE In 1993 he got married to Valsa who had completed her Teacher Training Course and was waiting for job as a teacher. CALLING It was in 1994 he was called to full-time ministry. Till then he was actively involved in Malabar Gospel Melody as the Music Director run by Mr. Sushil Aaron, JMD of Baliapatam Tile Works, Kannur. At midnight on 14th May 1994, the Lord called him and asked him to read the book "Convictions Shaking India" the testimony book of Dr. P. G. Vargis. While reading the book God showed him the need for a Worship / Music team in north India to work with IET, and God asked him to leave his job and go and work with IET . It was a real struggle for him before taking a decision, but God gave him confirmation that it was He who was calling him and that He would take care of all his needs. He shared this with his wife, Valsa, who was so happy to leave for full-time ministry into the unreached land of India. Thus on 24th October 1994 both of them set out for Neemuch, a small town in Madhya Pradesh.. THE BEGINNING OF AGAPE MUSICS The beginning of Agape Music's was really a divine plan. It was in 1989 that God gave Pastor Joy Thomas a vision to form a worship team for north India. He prayed over it and shared this vision with his church members in Neemuc where he was ministering. He also shared this with the Bible school students where he was serving the Lord as the Principal, too. And one of the students, Bro. James, immediately donated Rs.14,000/- (which was the only savings he had) for buying a Keyboard for the team. This happened in 1990. The church and the Bible school now started praying for an anointed Music Director who can play the keyboard as well as lead a team. Pastor Joy Thomas then shared his vision with the IET leadership. They also appreciated it and prayed over it. 4 years passed. It was at that time that God called brother RSV for full time music ministry in north India. He wrote a letter to Dr. P. G. Vargis, who immediately forwarded it to Pastor Joy Thomas. God gave him confirmation that this was the one for whom he was praying for the past 4 years. Pastor Joy Thomas wrote to brother RSV who in turn reached Neemuch on 27th morning with his wife and started working together. Thus these three were the first members of Agape Music. FAMILY Bro. RSV & Valsa have got three children - Axah, Jemimah and Daniel.   ANNIVERSARIES   BIRTHDAYS   Brother RSV : February 22   Dani : June 21   Axah : November 4   Jemi : November 23   Sister Valsa : December 15 WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Wedding Anniversary of RSV & Valsa : March 18 Presently all the children are studying in Santhosha Vidhyalaya, Dohnavur,Tirunelveli, in Tamil Nadu.