Bio: Ramsumair Sookram
Ramsumair was born—the seventh of nine children, four boys and five girls—on September 4, 1949, in a rural village in the south of the small Caribbean island of Trinidad. His parents were Hindus whose grandparents had migrated from India to work on the sugar cane plantations after the emancipation of the African slaves.
His first contact with Christianity occurred at the Presbyterian school he attended beginning at age 6. In his early childhood, he also attended the local Presbyterian church. At 12, he successfully secured a place in a reputable Presbyterian high school, but those years were difficult because his father had died suddenly when Ramsumair was 14, and for several years, the family suffered financially and emotionally due to the sickness of an older sister.
Just before graduating, Ramsumair heard "The World Tomorrow" radio program on Radio Antilles. Intrigued by Garner Ted Armstrong's incisive commentary on global issues, he sent for some booklets and was literally dumbfounded by the biblical revelations. He sent for the Bible Correspondence Course and on reaching lesson 19, was convicted to seek baptism.
Not knowing that the College behind the radio program would send a minister on request, he sought and was baptized in a Pentecostal church but was officially "resigned" by the minister not too long after. In early 1970, the postman introduced himself as a Plain Truth subscriber, and in September, invited him to attend a Bible study given by a visiting Worldwide Church of God (WCG) minister. Ramsumair was baptized along with six other people on September 13, 1970.
It was at the Feast of Tabernacles in 1971 that he met Evelyn Lutchman, who had been baptized in November 1970. They were married in June 1974. They have three children, Karen Petrina, born in 1975; Joel Gideon, born 14 months later; and Jeffery Anil, born in 1983; all of whom were baptized on the same day in 2003 in the Church of the Great God.
In 1972, resigning his job as an Assistant Teacher, Ramsumair went to live in north Trinidad, where he was employed as a Technical Assistant at the University of the West Indies, collecting and collating agricultural statistics, proof-reading, and editing. He attended the University, graduating with a B.Sc. in Natural Sciences in 1980. He worked at a few jobs such as Research Assistant, acting Biochemist, and Chemistry Teacher, finally settling in the post of Chief Technician in the Department of Chemistry at the University, which involves supervising laboratory and maintenance staff, among other duties. He also acquired a Master's degree in Food Technology in 1990.
Ramsumair began to notice the changes in the WCG in 1989, becoming very troubled by 1992. After much fasting, he came into contact with the teachings of the CGG and Global Church of God at the Feast of Tabernacles in 1993. He subsequently tried to tell people in the WCG about the truth but was forced to leave in November 1993, together with his youngest son. His wife and other two children joined him, after he was disfellowshipped in 1994, one year after he had left.
Ramsumair was ordained a deacon by Global Church of God in 1995, being responsible for all church matters except baptisms until 2002. He handled the church's radio program and then the television program, with unprecedented results. Attendance at services grew to almost 100.
During the years 1993 to 2003, he had been in contact with the CGG and believed its teachings but never thought of leaving the congregation for which he was responsible. However, circumstances forced a separation from Global in June 2003, when about 25 members agreed to join CGG where they could be better fed. In just a few months, attendance doubled.
After much prayer, meditation and some trial, Ramsumair accepted John's offer to be ordained as a local elder in July 2005. The church was also officially incorporated in Trinidad in late 2005.
Ramsumair gets much joy in serving the brethren, although it is difficult holding a secular job as well. He believes that all the preparation he has had was for this one role he has been given. He looks forward to the future of the church with confidence and joy, knowing that despite the trials to come, it will become part of the glorious Bride of Christ, the goal to which it is striving.
Ramsumair can be contacted at rsookram@cgg.org.
