About Us

Who We Are

In the late 1990s, Chennai experienced rapid growth and development. As the city expanded, so did its diversity—attracting people from across India and around the world. While Tamil remained - and continues to remain - the primary language of the majority, there was also a significant and growing population that communicated mainly in English.

To reach this growing population, Tamil Baptist Church in Kilpauk launched an English ministry. Around the same time, one of our church’s elders, Joshua Edwin, sensed a call to serve this community. He was appointed to oversee the ministry in 2000.

The work began with a small fellowship group, which soon developed into a Sunday gathering held at 7:00 a.m. on the premises of the Tamil Baptist Church. This was the beginning of the Cornerstone Baptist Church!

In this one decade since its inception, the church has grown and changed in numerous ways. We have seen people transformed by the Gospel, welcomed brothers and sisters from all over India and the world, baptized those who have chosen to follow Jesus and equipped those in our church family to live boldly for the Gospel.

Our hope is to see more people drawn to the love of Jesus as they walk through our doors, finding community within our church family and becoming a blessing to others in the city.

Statement of Faith

The Cornerstone Baptist Church subscribes to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.

  • The BIBLE alone is the inspired Word of God, and the only authoritative rule for faith and practice.

  • All MANKIND is born in a state of total sinful depravity. Therefore, no person has the will, or the ability to come to God in his own strength.

  • GOD is sovereign in creation, providence and salvation.

  • JESUS CHRIST, the Son of God, willingly died as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of His people.

  • SALVATION cannot be merited by our 'good works'. It is entirely a gift of God's free grace. God requires man to repent of his sins, and commit himself by faith to Jesus Christ, accepting Him as Lord and Savior. Salvation, once received, cannot be lost. All true believers will persevere in the faith, and in a holy lifestyle. At the time of salvation, all Christians receive the indwelling and fullness of the HOLY SPIRIT, and are baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ. As he lives by the power of the Spirit, the believer is enabled to live a godly life in this present evil world.

  • In ETERNITY the saved shall enjoy everlasting life, and the lost shall suffer everlasting punishment.

Leadership and Team

Joshua Edwin

Elder

Joshua Edwin is the Elder and Pastor at Cornerstone Baptist Church. Like a brand plucked out of fire, God in His grace snatched Joshua from a care-free, pleasure-seeking life 42 years ago and brought him into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Following this radical transformation, Joshua heard God’s call to serve Him full time. After a decade of working with a youth ministry, God led Joshua and his family to establish a Reformed English Baptist Church in Chennai in the year 2014. Along with his wife Vijaya, Joshua Edwin has faithfully shepherded the Cornerstone Baptist Church since its inception. Joshua’s heart is to preach the Word of God in all its purity and watch the truth transform lives. Joshua and Vijaya are blessed with two married children and two grandchildren.

Deepak Samuel

Elder

Deepak Samuel began his ministry as a Sunday School Teacher. It was here that he developed a passion to reach young minds with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Over the years Deepak's understanding of Scripture was nurtured at the Cornerstone Baptist Church where he now worships and serves as an Elder. Deepak is actively involved in leading corporate worship, preaching the Word and in the Children's Ministry of the church. Deepak and his wife are blessed with two daughters.

Udhay Kumar

Elder

A farm boy born in the suburbs of Chennai but providentially raised in the heart of the city. This one line captures the sovereign work of God in leading Udhay Kumar to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Udhay’s father sent him to study in a posh school in the city with the hopes that his son would someday be more than a farmer like himself. But God had other plans for Udhay, who came to know Christ through his stay with a Christian family and through a course of events that God had ordained for him. Today Udhay serves as an Elder at Cornerstone Baptist Church. He is married and blessed with a son.

Deacon

Bharat Singh

Serving behind the scenes with excellence, Bharath Singh functions as the Deacon of Cornerstone Baptist Church. Despite having a full-time corporate job, Bharath prioritizes the administration of the House of God. His calm and persuasive approach ensures the smooth functioning of the day-to-day operations of the Church. As a result, the ministry of the Word flourishes without being hindered by any distractions. Bharath and his wife have two daughters, one of whom is married.

Ministry Trainee

David Sandy Green

A passion for the lost consumed David Sandy since his early twenties when he came to know the wonderful love of Jesus Christ. The desire to evangelize kept growing like a burning fire in David’s heart till he clearly obeyed God’s call to serve Him full time. Abandoning a lucrative career in one of India’s leading NGO’s David stepped into full time ministry in the year 2023. David serves as a Ministry Intern at Cornerstone Baptist Church and is equipping himself to serve Christ and His Church by pursuing Theological Studies. David and his wife reside in Chennai with their daughter.