Padu J. Meshramkar, a faithful servant of God, entered his heavenly home on 30 August 2025, after a lifetime of devotion and service to the Church of the Nazarene in India.
He was born on 9 September 1939 in Dhamandhari, near Buldhana, Maharashtra, where the Nazarene Mission School Compound is located. His father served as the headmaster of the boys’ mission school, and his parents instilled in him a love for learning, discipline, and God’s work.
Though he once dreamed of becoming a professor in a secular institution, God gently redirected his path. In October 1960, during an Alliance church conference in Akola, he dedicated his life to full-time ministry.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and later pursued theological studies at Union Biblical Seminary, Yavatmal. Between 1966 and 1968, he completed both his Master of Divinity and Master of Religious Education. In 1989, he received the Doctor of Ministry degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary, Kansas City.
For more than 45 years, Meshramkar served the Church of the Nazarene with unwavering devotion. From 1972 to 1992, he served as the principal of Nazarene Bible College, Washim. He was ordained in 1975 by General Superintendent Edward G. Lawlor.
In 1992, he was appointed to pioneer the church’s extended theological education across South Asia, comprising India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Later, in 1997, he served as JESUS Film coordinator, bringing the story of Christ to many homes and hearts.
“Rev. Dr. P. J. Meshramkar’s contribution to the Church of the Nazarene will always be remembered,” said D. H. Wankhede, former superintendent of Western Maharashtra District. “He also helped plant many churches through the JESUS Film ministry. The church in India is grateful to God for blessing us with such a faithful leader.”
In 1971, Meshramkar married Sudha, his lifelong partner in ministry. Together, they built a Christ-centered home and were blessed with two children, Atul and Soniya, later joined by their spouses Sunitha and Sunil, and three beloved grandchildren. His family remembers him as a man of deep love, gentle wisdom, and steady faith.
“Meshramkar was a man who lived between two traditions,” said Prabhakar L. Manmothe, former superintendent of Eastern Maharashtra District. “His sermons were filled with life, and his faith inspired me deeply. He connected the richness of Nazarene tradition with the needs of today in a timeless way.”
Meshramkar leaves behind not only a loving family but also generations of pastors, leaders, and believers who have been shaped by his teachings.