Graduate Profile: James Kusuma

My name is James Kusuma. I work fulltime as a software engineer. I am living in US for more than 25 years. I am basically from south India. I am married to my wife Elizabeth Kusuma. The Lord has blessed us with two children. Jessica, who is my 18-year-old daughter, who started college this year. And Jayden, my 15-year-old son, who is in 10th grade in high school. I am a member of a reformed church, Providence Chapel of Denton, TX.
I was raised in a Hindu family and used to join with my family in idol worship during various festivals in India. God in his providence, ordained circumstances in my life that allowed me to hear about Christ in various settings. I used to go to Christian prayer meetings at nearby places with friends, not because of any interest in spiritual things, but rather for selfish reasons. Over time, having heard many gospel stories, the Lord began to soften my heart and created an interest in my heart to know more about Christ. I did not understand the gospel until very late in my life, but at that time, as far as I can tell, I had developed a profound respect for the person of Christ. But when I was 17 years old, in an evangelical meeting, where for the first time, I understood the gospel and Christ saved me from my sins. For many years after that, there was little change in my life if any, I grieved my Lord with my sin for so long. But He never forsook me or left me to myself but patiently bore with me and drew me closer to him through many afflictions so that I could say with psalmist, “It was good that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes” (Ps 119:71). Providentially, the Lord brought in my way good reformed teaching resources that have transformed my view of who God is.
I am currently seeking clarity and direction from the Lord for my future ministry. A couple of years ago, upon request from a friend, who has an online teaching ministry, I was able to teach a New Testament Introduction course to a group of Indian pastors via Zoom. I am so grateful to the Lord for my local church and for teaching and ministry opportunities. We have regular outreach and track distribution among Indian students from UNT in the Denton area. I have started mentoring two Indian students who had recently come to Christ. I am also working on an Android Bible app that supports multiple languages to help pastors in different areas of India. Language is the biggest barrier to gospel proclamation in India. I am hoping to use this app to increase the knowledge of reformed theology in Indian churches.
To be honest, by no means was seminary an easy journey for me, with a full-time job and also dealing with chronic on-going illness. There were seasons of discouragement and times that I wanted to give up. The Lord sustained me through those times. There was no way I could have finished seminary without the support of my wife I am also thankful to my pastor and my proctor Lee Dodd for his help over the years.
I am profoundly grateful to the Lord for his sustaining grace over the last few years to help me complete my MTS from Reformed Baptist Seminary. My coursework was designed not just to provide academic knowledge, but also to show us Christ more glorious, to bring our hearts closer to Christ. One thing I love about RBS is that the most of the professors are pastors, who brought pastoral hearts to their lectures, and endeavored to lead us faithfully to Christ. This has profoundly impacted my spiritual life and has equipped me to serve my Lord “who has loved me and gave himself up for me.”

Soli Deo Gloria
James Kusuma