Our Staff
God’s amazing grace and will can be seen in the very fabric of Open Door Mercy Home. People from all walks of life have come together. Each of us brings along a testimony of the impact God has made on our life. While the hand of God has appeared in a variety of ways, His abundant love has not failed. Without question, He has guided our paths to one common goal – the children of Eluru. By simply answering the call that He has on our lives, we have been blessed with an opportunity to do something significant in the Kingdom of God.
Read the personal and inspiring testimonies of our staff and see how each of their lives became forever changed by the children of Open Door Mercy Home (ODMH).
Bishop John SD Raju Nakka
Presiding Bishop of Open Door Mercy Home
Eluru, India
I was born on June 17th 1959. My parents are Mr. Victor Amritha Rao Nakka and Mrs. Mariamma. For years they worked as teachers and evangelists at the Manuguluru Village at Kolleru Lake. In 1975, my father became a pastor. By 1980, he was the Chief Pastor of India Christian Mission. In December of 2000, he became the bishop.
I have been blessed with an opportunity to earn a very respectable education that includes a Master of Theology and a Doctorate of Divinity. I also earned a Diploma in Child Education. For some time I worked as a social worker with the interests of the people in my heart.
Once I completed my education, I was married to Rosy on May 7th, 1984. She, too, has been trained as teacher. Also in 1984, I started a soap manufacturing factory that was extremely profitable. As time passed I felt the strain of stress and seemed to not find satisfaction with my life. I had wealth, friends, relatives, and a good wife, but I still was unhappy. On June 17th 1986, my twenty-seventh birthday, I began my walk with God. I started thinking about how to live in peace. I began reading religious books and became dedicated to biblical study. Slowly, I was influenced by the Holy Spirit. I became less interested in the operations of the factory and more concerned about my knowledge of our Lord and Savior.
My typical routine included waking in the morning, studying the Bible, breaking for lunch, returning to Bible study, eating dinner, and going to bed. My wife and friends were concerned about what was happening to me. At this time in my life my mother called for me to come to my parent’s residence at the mission bungalow in Eluru. When I arrived my mother explained a part of my life that would foreshadow the man I have become.
After my parent’s marriage in 1955, my mother struggled to have a baby. On three occasions she carried a baby to eight or nine months before losing it in miscarriage. On one occasion she lost twins. When she was pregnant with me, the concern was the same. Her doctor was a Christian and she advised that my mother should pray to God and promise that her child would grow as Samuel if he lives. Immediately, my mother made this promise and said this prayer. Despite what many doctors would have declared hopeless, my mother was given a blessing by God. I was born healthy and well.
Before I was seven years old, I had memorized thirty-five Bible verses. As I grew older, I did well in school and began to have dreams of becoming a doctor or administrative officer. My mother forgot her promise to God. I went on to a detailed education, a successful factory, and a happy marriage. It wasn’t until I struggled to find peace that my mother shared this story with me. Together, my mother and I kneeled at the alter concluding a church service. I was finally aware of the path that the Lord had laid out for my life.
When I shared my revelation with my wife, I was delighted by the encouragement she offered to me. We prayed that the will of God be done. That was more that twenty-five years ago. “I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power – Ephe 3:7.”
I left the factory to my brothers, left my own beautiful bungalow and began a simple life that was rooted in the teachings of our Lord. “We preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord – II Cor. 4:5.”
When offered the opportunity in 2005, I came back and took the responsibility of the ICM Church. There was no money, no helping hands, and no sympathies. I began praying to God for a revival of the ICM Church. I began working tirelessly in pursuit of this calling. I started many ministries for the ICM like the Theological College, Tailoring School, Computer Literacy Project, Cell Phone ministry. TV ministry, Healing ministry and the mercy home – all in the last six years! I have translated many Christian books for companies and used the money to assist the church ministries. Likewise, I have tried many ways to raise funds for the church operations. The Lord knows what we need.
I have finished twenty-five years in His glorious service. It was not a bed of roses. It had times full of ups and downs, threats, gifts and refusals, pains, and heartache. The Lord blessed me with two beautiful daughters and an honorable son. God has answered our prayers on time, every time. I don’t worry about money. Everything I need will be provided by our loving Father. I live as a living, great witness of His abundant love. The Lord continues miraculous things in our lives. In truth, every day is a miracle for me through His grace.
I believe that Dr. Joshua Raj [liaison for South Asia Mission] was sent by God to assist me. He works hard to bring mission teams and raise awareness by encouraging assistance for our church ministries. Now, the Lord has selected and moved Mr. and Mrs. Reagan Rippy to assist me with the orphanage and churches. In turn, I am blessed with an opportunity to spend time with our little angels (the orphans). I enjoy telling them Bible stories and teaching them of the love of our Father. As my own children reach closer to the day where they will spread their own wings, I am grateful for the opportunity that the Lord has provided for Rosy and I to care for twenty-eight of His little blessings.
Mrs. Rosy John
Superintendent of ODMH
Eluru, India
I was born on the 14th of April, 1961, to Mr.Bollavarapu Prabhudas and Mariamma of Thakkellapadu village. I am the eldest of seven children.
In my childhood, I served as a member of the choir for our church. I earned my BA and B.Ed and Mr. John SD Raju Nakka on the 7th of May, 1984. My husband started a soap factory and I used to assist him in many ways.
After a great change took place in the life of my husband, he became a servant of God. We left the factory and our good bungalow. I was appointed as a teacher in the church’s school at Madepalli.
We have lived a very simple village life. The Lord has blessed us with three children My husband is a man of God. He is blessed with many talents that he uses for the Kingdom of God. He spends a great deal of time studying religious books, writing articles, and attending conventions. I carry the duties of my teaching job as well as assist my husband with his great work for the Lord. Likewise, we both work together for His Kingdom.
After my husband became the Bishop of ICM Church, we became so busy with the church ministries. I became in-charge of the Department of Women and Child Development of the Diocese. By God’s abundant grace, we started Open Door Mercy Home, in Eluru, with the assistance of the Open Door Church in North Carolina, USA. Mr. and Mrs. Reagan Rippy, who visited us during August 2011, are a big asset for us. God has led them to start the orphanage in Eluru. I am now very engaged with supervising the work of the twenty-eight children. I believe it is a great and lovely task. I really enjoy the children. Though I am a working headmistress of an elementary school, the work I do for the children of Open Door Mercy Home fills my heart with real happiness.
Mrs. Nethala Chandrakala
Warden of ODMH
Eluru, India
My name is Mrs.Nethala Chandrakala, widow of late Rev.N.J.V.Prakash, who passed away to be with the Lord on December 15,1999. He died during a surgery for an enlarged organ. We married when I was 25 years old and my husband died three years later leaving me with a one year old daughter.
I was astonished by the sudden death of my husband. He loved me very much and our marriage was cut short. For over one year, I could not recover. Apart from it, my child was only one year at that time and she didn’t understand what had happened. She would just look at me innocently when I was crying. My husband’s family was very kind to me and looked after me. Though many have encouraged me, I have decided not to marry again. I wish to live in faith by looking after my only daughter. As I am a trained tailor, I have tried for an appointment as a tailoring teacher. I then worked as a teacher in an English school for kindergarten students. I many years I have survived and lived with a very meager salary. Now, my child is studying eighth class. I am a poor woman, living alone, with an only child.
When I was called to work as warden of the Open Door Mercy Home I was very satisfied. I love the work of looking after twenty-six children, making them study well, and teaching them to be faithful to God. I have decided to work hard for the success of the children of Open Door Mercy Home.
Mrs. Samadhanam
Helper at ODMH
Eluru, India
I am Mrs. Vinukonda Samadhanam, wife of late Yosepu, resident of East Locks, Eluru. I am now aged 52 years. I have four female children. My husband died in 1995, following a heart attack, at the age of 39 years. He left us in a dark and poor condition. We were Christians, but were not knowledgeable of the customs and practices. I was shocked by the death of my husband at such a young age. I cried and cried many days.
The teacher, Mrs. Mariamma (mother of our present Bishop John), was working in the ICM Primary School in our habitation. She came to me a number of times and prayed for my comfort. Because I had no male child, I was afraid that I would not be able to recover. For many days, all of us cried. Mrs. Mariamma took me to the English School ran in the ICM Church Bungalow, Eluru. The church gave me an appointment as AYAH for the children. I was not educated, but I started serving the little children. Slowly, I adjusted with the circumstances, living by faith, and my four children. Mrs.Mariamma passed away to be with the Lord in January of 2000. I have never forgotten how she lived by faith. By the grace of God, three of my daughters got married. The last daughter, Ecobeth (17), is living with me and studying her first year of Intermediate for which Bishop and his wife are assisting me.
I got married at the age of 17 years, but now I am 52 years. Sixteen years ago, my husband died but through faith in God I have been able to find my purpose. Now, I am working with Open Door Mercy Home as a helper and I am very much satisfied in working for the Children.
Mrs. A.B. Satyavathy
Cook at ODMH
Eluru, India
I am Mrs.Anugula Bandaru Satyavathy, aged 42 years, widow of the late Bujji. I was married at the age of 20 years. My husband died last year from a heart attack. I have two girls, the eldest is married and the youngest is studying 10th class in the government school (free education).
I am a resident of Pension Lanes, the slum area of Eluru. We are a very poor family. I have been working at the nearby Market Yard and was barely surviving on daily wages. I was a hindu and my husband was a Christian. Ours was an inter-caste marriage. I had no faith in Jesus was just becoming adjusted with my husband.
After I was appointed as cook for Open Door Mercy Home, I began to have a specific financial resource. I could begin to live peacefully. I have recently given my heart to the Lord Jesus. Mrs.Rosy Madam (the bishop’s wife) has been teaching me about Jesus and the blessings that can only come through Him. For the last three months, I have cooked food for the children of the orphanage. I really enjoy this job. I now attend the Sunday and other Church services of the ICM Church and Open Door Mercy Home. Rosy Madam has given me a New Testament, but I can not read as I am an illiterate. My daughter reads the Bible aloud and I listen. Please pray for my salvation.
Mr. Nendru Benjamin
Attendar at ODMH
Eluru, India
I am Mr.Nendru Benjamin, the son of the late Kasulu. I am aged 30 years. I am a native of Komatilanka Village. I was married at the age of 22 years. My wife abandoned me three years ago. I was living alone without peace. I was really upset. I came from a poor family of three children (I have a younger brother and one sister). My father passed away six years ago. My brother has been married for three years and has no children. My sister was also married, but she was abandoned in the second year of her marriage. She has no children. We were really in dark times. My mother is a widow, and I and my sister were abandoned. We were feeling ashamed and could not go to the streets without hearing ridicule from others.
Bishop John called me to be the night watchman for Open Door Mercy Home. Obeying the Bishop’s call, I came to Eluru though I was not certain. At first, I felt lonely, as the place was new. But after the counseling of Bishop John twice a day for a week, I started serving the children and making the garden work in leisure times. Slowly change has taken place in my life. Now, I am happy with spending all my time with the children. Bishop John’s wife (Rosy Madam) has instructed me to lead the children in prayer in the early morning and at bedtime. I am doing so and each day I can feel my faith getting stronger. Due to the work at Open Door Mercy Home, I am slowly forgetting the sorrows of my life and starting to happiness in the Kingdom of God. I pray that God makes my life fruitful. Kindly pray for me and my old mother and sister.
Reagan Rippy
Founder & Coordinator of ODMH
Edenton, NC
I’d like to say that my faith has always been rock solid, that it has never been shaken, that I’ve never been lukewarm. But then, I’d be lying. The truth is my walk has been full of hills and valleys.
For me, the deepest valley came last April when constant pressure in my chest launched me into the emergency room. In truth, I had attempted to tough-it-out for nearly two months before I even scheduled an appointment that would take six additional weeks. After some discussion, my wife (Renee) and I agreed that the risk of not going far outweighed any potential benefits.
Without boring you with the details, it took several hours of tests to determine two things: 1) I was not having a heart attack, and 2) there were four “unspecified” lesions on my liver. Like I said, I’ve had valleys, but haven’t we all?
The following week had a profound effect on me as I endured an MRI and waited to hear news from the doctors. The time was excruciating. It made me reflect on a life that had been more about Reagan than anything else. I played the “what if” game and I began to question the difference my life has made in the Kingdom of God. If I died the next day, there would be nothing significant that I had done for a Savior that had given me everything. I wondered if I had accomplished whatever purpose He put me here for. I concluded that I had fallen short. I prayed for forgiveness. I confessed an intense, faithful, burning love for my Lord and Savior. I prayed for an opportunity to do more in the Kingdom, an opportunity to raise my kids to be good Christian individuals, and an opportunity to be the spiritual leader in my home.
I began to feel a burden unlike anything I had ever experienced. God urged me to build a church – somewhere. Sometimes the hardest thing is to know you’ve been called, but not know where to go next. So, I did what anybody would do, I went to Google and typed in “church building mission.” And with those three words the purpose for my life forever changed.
From that search and a few emails, I was put in touch with Bishop John in Eluru, India. I told him that I wanted to build a church. Miraculously, he implied that he had also been praying that someone would contact him about building a nearby village’s recently destroyed church. I immediately assured him that I was the answer that God had sent.
After two months of gathering many of my family’s belongings to be auctioned, saving any spare money, and assaulting the family’s savings account, God blessed my wife and I with enough money to cover the travel expenses. Once we had enough money saved to solidify our trip, we asked to speak with our church pastor about how God was moving in our lives. We assured him that we didn’t need anything, but we simply wanted to inform the church family of some of the needs, in Eluru, that I planned to address once we returned. I explained that I had been moved, by God, to start an orphanage for girls. I also mentioned the plans and the amount of money that would need to be raised.
That Sunday, Pastor Steve spoke, in his sermon, of our family’s calling. I prayed to God to let the acknowledgement be a seed in the hearts of the congregation. Three days later, our pastor informed me that the church had raised enough money to cover the start-up of the orphanage. And with that single message, our mission extended from building a church in India to also starting an orphanage! It was a gift from a gracious, loving Father. More than that, it was, in my eyes, a clear indication of God’s will and a confirmation for the burden that was placed in my heart.
From that day, it was clear that I had a purpose yet to be completed. Although the health concerns are still largely unanswered, I now approach each day as an opportunity to be a blessing to others, a chance to witness the intense love of God. Now, more than ever before, I serve our Father with an intense passion. I know that I will never be worthy of the sacrifice He paid for me, but at least now, I can see a future dedicated to sharing the Gospel and making a significant impact in the Kingdom of God – for His glory.
Renee Rippy
Supporter of ODMH
Edenton, NC
I am the wife of Reagan and mother of two beautiful children. I am so happy to be a part of God’s wonderful plan for ODMH. But I never thought God would use me to go out and bring the hope and love of Him to nations halfway around the world.
On October 3, 2003, I was involved in a car accident that would completely change me for the rest of my life. Although I do not remember the accident, I carry scars that are a constant reminder of God’s grace and mercy. Aside from having multiple internal injuries, my left elbow was completely shattered and visible. My condition was so severe I had to be flown to a hospital that was a trauma facility. Upon arrival, the doctor’s were not sure if I was going to make it and my arm was so bad, amputation was considered. I quickly became known at the hospital as the “miracle child”, because one look at my car and there was no doubt God’s hand had saved me that day. God had compassion for me at a time in my life when I did not deserve it. Before the accident, I depended on no one but myself. As a child, I viewed going to church as a chore and did not enjoy Sunday school. I believed in God but had never attempted to have a close relationship with Him. Unfortunately I fell into the snares of my youth and gave in to worldly desires. Up to the point of my accident, I was not living for God and the desires of the Spirit but was living for myself and the desires of the flesh. In the process, I was not only separating myself from God but ended up hurting the people I loved most. After the accident, God convicted me of my past and opened my eyes to the path I had chosen for myself due to careless decision-making. It was clearly not God’s plan for my life.
By God’s great mercy, He brought me through the accident, arm intact, and I have been changing glory by glory since. I wholeheartedly believe that my children are gifts because of my obedience and faithfulness in God. I am so thankful to have a Father who loves me unconditionally and forgets the mistakes of my past while graciously providing mercy as I continue to struggle in the present. This truth is what I hope to share with the orphans at ODMH as they develop their own walk in Christ. I pray that God blesses every orphan at ODMH as well as those who unselfishly and generously give their time and resources in keeping those doors open.
English AP Students at
John A. Holmes High School
Supporters of ODMH
Edenton, NC
When Reagan Rippy (ODMH Coordinator) returned home from his trip to India he prepared for the start of another school year. Still recovering from jet lag, his inquisitive students were eager to learn the details of a trip he had been talking about for months. After learning of the hardships and needs of the children of Eluru, these students decided that they wanted to get involved and work to make a difference in lives half-a-world away.
Over the course of the 2011-2012 school year, the English AP students have decided to start a letter writing campaign that is designed to reach five hundred of America’s most generous and thoughtful celebrities and philanthropists. With the goal of earning the funds necessary to complete the first phase of the new orphanage building, the students have not set the bar low! May the efforts of these selfless students be heard.
