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D. T. Niles

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Reverend
D. T. Niles
Born(1908-05-04)4 May 1908
Died17 July 1970(1970-07-17) (aged 62)
Alma materJaffna Central College
United Theological College, Bangalore
OccupationPastor/Theologian

Daniel Thambyrajah Niles (4 May 1908 – 17 July 1970) was a Sri Lankan pastor, theologian, ecclesiologist, evangelist and president of the Ceylon Methodist Conference.

Early life and family

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Niles was born on 4 May 1908 in Tellippalai in northern Ceylon.[1] He was the son of district judge W. D. Niles and Rani Muthamma.[2] He was educated at Jaffna Central College.[1][2] After school he received theological training at United Theological College, Bangalore between 1920 and 1933.[2]

Mailvaganam married Dulcie Solomons in 1935.[2] They had two sons (Preman and Wesley Dayalan).[2]

Career

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Germanos & D. T. Niles (1948)

After returning to Ceylon, Niles taught at Jaffna Central College until 1936.[2] He was then ordained as a priest and became District Evangelist for the North District of the Methodist Church of Ceylon.[2]

Niles became general secretary of the National Christian Council of Ceylon.[2] He was chairman of the Youth Department of the World Council of Churches between 1948 and 1952.[2] He was appointed Executive Secretary of the Department of Evangelism in the World Council of Churches in 1953.[1] He also served as chairman of the World Student Christian Federation.[1] He was general secretary and later chairman of the East Asian Christian Conference.[1] He was also one of the presidents of the World Council of Churches.[1]

Niles was pastor of the Methodist Church in Point Pedro (1946–50); pastor at Maradana (1950–53); principal of Jaffna Central College (1956–62); and superintendent minister at St. Peter's Church, Jaffna (1953–59).[2] He was elected chairman of the North Ceylon Synod and president of the Ceylon Methodist Conference in 1964.[2] Niles wrote the hymn "The Great love of God is revealed in the Son".[3]

Niles was also known as an author of many theological books such as:

  • That They May Have Life (1951) - This book is the source of Niles' most famous quote: "Evangelism is witness. It is one beggar telling another beggar where to get food."[4] His statement is sometimes mis-quoted by substituting "bread" for "food."
  • Preaching the Gospel of the Resurrection (1953)
  • Reading the Bible To-Day (1955)
  • Living With the Gospel (1957)
  • The Preacher’s Task and the Stone of Stumbling (1958)
  • In the Beginning – Biblical Essays Based on the Book of Genesis (1958)
  • The Preacher’s Calling to be Servant (1959)
  • As Seeing the Invisible – A Study of the Book of Revelation (1961)
  • Upon the Earth: The Mission of God and Missionary Enterprise of the Churches (1962)
  • We Know in Part (1964)
  • Whereof We are Witnesses (1965)
  • The Power at Work Among Us – Meditations For Lent (1967)
  • Who is This Jesus (1968)
  • What’s Life For: That They May See (1968)

Death

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Niles died on 17 July 1970.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Fernando, Ransiri J. (30 June 2004). "Rev. Dr. D T Niles - Memorable personality". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 16 February 2005.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon. p. 124.
  3. ^ Methodist Publishing House, Hymns and Psalms, 1983
  4. ^ New York: Harper & Brothers, That They May Have Life, 1951, p.96