Rev. Milton D. A. Dalavai: A Life of Service and Faith
In Gratitude to God for My Beloved Husband.
Life and Ministry of Rev. Milton D. A.
Dalavai (May 31,1957 to October 14, 2025)— A Brief Sketch
Rev. Milton Douglas A. Dalavai, the youngest child of Rev. Dr. Arthur and Mrs.
Christiana Dalavai, was born on May 31, 1957, at Osmania General Hospital,
Hyderabad. His father, a devoted servant of God, was at that time serving in the
Mennonite Brethren (MB) General Conference as Headmaster of the MB Mission
School in Mahbubnagar.
Rev. Milton represented the fourth generation of Christians in the Dalavai family. His
great-grandfather, Rev. Narayana Dalavai, was the first-generation Christian; both his
grandfather and father faithfully served in the MB Conference. On his maternal side, his
grandfather Rev. Gandham Samuel Douglas was a well-known pastor of the MB
Churches in Shamshabad and Hughestown (Musheerabad). Thus, Milton grew up in a
devout Mennonite home, immersed in daily family prayers and active participation in
church life.
In his seventeenth year, Rev. Milton committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ and
was baptized in Mahbubnagar in 1974.
Spiritual and Ministerial Formation
Growing up, Milton was deeply influenced by his father’s zeal for evangelism. No
matter what position his father held, his heart always burned for reaching the lost with
the Gospel. Young Milton, inspired by this example, developed a passion for spreading
the joy of his salvation.
He inherited his father’s musical gifts and began composing music for Christian songs
at an early age. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, he trained himself in
Western classical music, learning both the guitar and tabla.
In the late 1970s, he joined the “God Has Spoken Ministries” evangelistic team,
initially as a guitarist and later as a singer and composer. One of his notable
contributions was composing the Telugu version of the Lord’s Prayer, sung along
with Sister Sheeba George for Vishwavani (TWR). The song became immensely
popular, especially among rural congregations and liturgical churches, which adopted it
for regular worship.
Around this time, Rev. Milton dedicated his life to full-time ministry and joined the
Indian Nationals Evangelical Fellowship (INEF), an organization founded by his
father. INEF comprised various ministries, including an Evening Bible Institute for
laypeople, a Christian Reading Room, Radio Ministry, and Rural Evangelism. Rev.
Milton assisted his father across these areas, particularly focusing on radio, outreach
and rural church planting. He actively visited villages - preaching, teaching, and
establishing new churches.
Marriage and Ministry Expansion
In June 1983, Rev. Milton met his life partner Mary Lois Vyjayanthi, daughter of Prof.
B. E. Vijayam, through an arranged alliance. They were married on October 17, 1983,
at St. George’s Church, Abids, Hyderabad, and were blessed with a son, Allen, born
on November 12, 1986.
In 1985, both Rev. Milton and Vyjayanthi joined the Union Biblical Seminary (UBS),
Pune, where they completed their Bachelor of Divinity (BD) in 1988. Upon graduation,
they rejoined INEF, now headquartered at Yacharam, a village in Ranga Reddy
District, approximately 52 km southeast of Hyderabad.
As Director of Evangelism, Rev. Milton tirelessly traveled across all 133 villages in
the Yacharam Mandal—mostly on foot or bicycle—preaching the Gospel, baptizing new
believers, and planting churches. He believed that true church planting must include
providing a place of worship, and he consistently helped local evangelists acquire
land and construct church buildings through both personal contributions and fundraising
efforts.
Transition and Broader Involvement
Due to unavoidable family and organizational circumstances, the Miltons relocated to
Hyderabad in 1990 and later to Ibrahimpatnam (Ranga Reddy District) in 1991,
where they established the LAOS Grammar School, which they managed for ten
years.
During this period, Rev. Milton also served as Associate Coordinator for the AD 2000
and Beyond Movement, efficiently organizing the participation of Indian church leaders
at the Global Conference On World Evangelization (GCOWE) held in Seoul, Korea,
in May 1995.
Later that year, he joined TENT Ministries as Training Coordinator and Resource
Person for the JVI Master Trainers Program. Under the guidance of Prof. P. T.
George, he and Dr. Selvaraj developed the training format and curriculum for these
programs. Between 2002 August and December 2003, Rev. Milton completed his
Masters in Missions and Intercultural Studies at Billy Graham Center in Wheaton
College, Illinois, USA with a meritorious GPA and was awarded a scholarship. After
returning from the US, he served faithfully with TENT Ministries until his retirement in
2019.
During his tenure at TENT, he also taught online Bible and mission courses through
Franklin Bible College, broadcast on Aaradhana TV, focusing on The Great
Commission and missionary studies.
As members of the BETHLEHEM M B CHURCH in Malakpet, Hyderabad since 1990,
the MIltons actively participated in all the church activities. Rev. Milton shared all the
pastoral responsibilites of the Pastors, like ministering the Word in regular Worship and
Communion services, youth fellowship and Cottage Prayer meetings etc. He also took
up the responsibility of Pastoring the BMBC English Service during 2016 to 2019.
During this time Rev. Milton compiled a WORSHIP MANNUAL in English suitable for
all seasons of the Church Calender. This was very much appreciated by the
congregation as it helped them to focus on all the elements of worship thereby making
their worship more meaningful.
Challenging Testimonies
In his lifetime, Rev. Milton experienced three life-threatening incidents, which he
always referred to as divine deliverances by God’s grace.
1. The Cobra Incident (1988 – Yacharam)
While seated beside a baptismal tank holding his two-year-old son, a cobra slithered up
the wall and raised its hood to strike. As it prepared to attack, it lost balance and fell into
the tank. Milton’s quick reflexes and divine protection ensured both he and his child
were unharmed.
2. The Road Accident (1995 – Ibrahimpatnam)
On Diwali evening, October 1995, while returning home after dropping his son at his
grandparents’ residence, he met with a severe accident near the Musi River culvert at
Nagole due to poor visibility and slippery roads. He was rendered unconscious and
suffered temporary memory loss. Two unidentified men brought him to Kamineni
Hospitals, where doctors discovered head trauma, a dislocated jaw, and hairline
wrist fractures. By morning, his memory and full consciousness were miraculously
restored. He often believed those two men were angels sent by God.
3. The Kidney Surgery (2010 – Hyderabad)
In February 2010, doctors diagnosed a tumor in his right kidney and performed a
nephrectomy (surgical removal). Though benign, the tumor’s size posed a serious risk.
While recovering, he suffered a near-fatal arterial blockage that caused temporary
paralysis and breathlessness. Immediate medical intervention saved his life. From then
onward, he lived with a single kidney, testifying that every day after that surgery was a
“Grace Period” granted by God to live peacefully and joyfully with his family and
spiritual children.
Faith and Theology
Rev. Milton firmly believed that The Apostles’ Creed encapsulates the essential
confession of faith for every believer. He also held that every Christian is called to fulfill
the Great Commission, as commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospels of
Matthew(28:19-20), Mark(16:15-16), and Acts of the Apostles(1:8)
His Core Messages and Beliefs:
1. Holy Living – He emphasized that since we worship a Holy God, every believer
must strive for holiness, integrity, and truthfulness, as expressed in Psalm 15.
2. The Word of God – He taught that Scripture is the foundation for Christian living.
To exemplify this, he memorized and recited The Sermon on the Mount during
one of his sermons, encouraging believers to internalize God’s Word (Psalm
119:11).
3. True Worship – He believed worship is an offering unto the Lord and must be
conducted with reverence and sanctity, reflecting the beauty of our communion
with God (Psalm 96:8–9).
4. Life’s Purpose – He often quoted Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 as the summary of
life:
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is
good or evil.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Rev. Milton D. A. Dalavai's academic qualifications were B.Com and
MA(Philosophy) in Osmania University; BD in UBS, Serampore University; and MA in
Missions and Intercultural Studies in Wheaton College, Illinois. Yet, he lived a humble
life marked by faith, service, music, teaching, and unwavering commitment to the
Gospel. His legacy continues to inspire countless believers, pastors, and students who
witnessed his devotion, humility, and faith in God’s unchanging grace.
Additional Lines
He served as English church pastor in Bethlehem MB church and trained youth to form a choir to sing English hymns with his music knowledge. He was a great servant of God, dedicated to bringing people closer to Him, providing insightful answers to questions on the Bible, and serving as a revered teacher for many pastors in TENT Ministries. His deep knowledge of the Scriptures and his musical gift were instrumental in his ministry, inspiring many young people and seasoned servants of the Lord alike.
Kindly continue to uphold our son Allen and me in your prayers.
Mrs Vyjayanthi Milton
Songs:
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