Vijay Gurrala was born in Guntur, India. After receiving his bachelor’s degree and then a master’s degree in Mathematics, he immigrated to the United States. He studied master’s degree in Computer Science from DePaul University in Chicago, IL and then worked for over twenty five years as computer software professional. In 2002, Vijay accepted God’s Divine Call to serve him and his people as a fulltime minister. He became a student at Concordia Seminary in St.Louis, Missouri in the fall of 2002. Vijay completed his theological training in the fall of 2004 and became a vicar at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Pearland, TX.
Vijay is blessed with a large family. He and his wife, Mary recently celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary. Mary is a registered nurse and works at the VA Hospital. They have four children: Joseph is a medical doctor and is doing his residency at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.; Robinson works in the financial field and is studying for his MBA in Hospital Administration; Pamela is studying to be a nutritionist; and Dena is in high school. Vijay’s father, John was served in World War II with the British Royal Air Force. Before retiring, John worked with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in the prison system as a chaplain.
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Vijay was a member of All Saints Lutheran Church for nine years and has been a member of Epiphany Lutheran Church for the past ten years. While at All Saints, Vijay was a council member for five years, serving with the music ministry and the social work committee. He was also a liaison to Lutheran Brotherhood. He started “Family to Family” Project to help widows and children in India. After settling in Pearland, Vijay served as an elder at Epiphany.
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Vijay was a pioneer in starting the Telugu Christian Fellowship of Houston. They began with a home Bible Study. After sixteen years they have grown to about 60 Indian families and continue to meet every third Saturday of the month at All Saints Lutheran Church. Vijay and his family helped to build and continue to support a church in a remote area in Gujjangundla, India which now worships over 500 people every Sunday. God continues to use this group and they are now outgrowing their facilities and have two more worship centers.
Vijay began Our Redeemer Evangelical Church on Pentecost Sunday of 2005.
Vijay has been called by LINC (Lutheran Intercity Network Coalition) to be a Missionary at Large to serve in the Houston area. He used to work as a campus minister In University of Houston.