Rev. J. H. Vanlal Hruaia

 I am very blessed and honored to become the first fulltime installed pastor at the Princeton Presbyterian Parish (make up by United Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church). Originally, I came from the state of Mizoram, located in North East India. Mizoram is the only Christian State in India. I was born and raised in a Christian family. I am the third generation Christian in my family and I go by Vanlal. When I was a toddler, my father was killed in a car accident. My mother is still living and I have one sister who has three children and they are all living in Mizoram, India.

While growing up I seldom missed Sunday school and worship services on Sunday. I was very involved in the youth group, both in the church and in the community. During my youth, I sang in a church choir. These activities and involvement in the church and the community were very rewarding for me. While attending High School, I participated in an evangelistic crusade in my hometown and I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. At the same time, I made a commitment to the Lord to study theology and become a pastor. 

After I earned two bachelors of theology degrees in India I was installed as a probationary pastor in 1989 by Presbyterian Church of India, Mizoram Synod. I had six churches spread out over at different places and the total membership was over sixteen hundred. Three years later I was ordained as fulltime pastor. In 1993 I attended University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Iowa to get my master degree concentrating on pastoral care and counseling. I graduated from Dubuque in 1994.  While studying in Dubuque I completed summer CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa. During 1995 - 1999 I worked as a senior pastor at the Presbyterian Church Pastorate in Lawngtlai, Mizoram India. At that time I had 10 churches spread out over at different locations and the total membership was over one thousand.

My wife, Mary Zosangliani, and I met while she was teaching at Presbyterian School in Mizoram, India and we were married in June 1995. We are very grateful to God for giving us three sons Sam 18, Jonathan 9, and Andrew 7.  During 1999-2000 I had opportunity to do one-year Chaplain Residency Program at Covenant Healthcare in Saginaw, Michigan. In the fall of 2000, I was called by the First Presbyterian Church in Rudyard, Michigan to become a temporary supply pastor. By the end of July 2001, we went back to India to work with World Vision International in India as a Spiritual Nurture Associate representing Mizoram Presbyterian Church Synod. My main job was to organize spiritual retreat and training for the staffs. I had around 200 staff members in different States in North East India.  

In 2003 while working with World Vision India the First Presbyterian Church in Rudyard, Michigan where I worked before as a supply pastor called me again to come back to US to become their installed pastor. After serving 7 years in Rudyard, Michigan the Lord called me to move out from there and serve Him in Tyrone, central Pennsylvania. After six years of serving God in Tyrone PA, our loving God called me again to go out from there and become a pastor at Princeton Presbyterian Parish, Indiana. My first Sunday in Princeton was August 16, 2015.

In my free time I enjoy reading, travelling, golf and tennis. However my greatest joy is to serve God and work for the extension of His Kingdom. If you are interested to praise and serve God, I invite you to come and join with us worshipping God on Sunday morning.

Shalom. 

Pastor Vanlal Hruaia