Dr. Francis Burgula

Francis (Purushotham Francis Burgula) has been in full time ministry for more than 27 years. Born and raised in India he received Jesus as his personal savior when he was 15 and was nurtured in his faith during his college years through Inter Varsity in India. Though sports (cricket) was his passion, the Lord called him to full time ministry during a mission's conference, so he went to Union Biblical Seminary and got his Bachelor of Divinity. He served as a full time Evangelist preaching the gospel and discipling college students in India from 1991 to 2000. During the last few years of his ministry he felt the toll the work of ministry was taking on his own spiritual life and his family. He came to Talbot Seminary to do his Masters and PHD in Christian education and focused his studies on spiritual formation.
After serving as an evangelist for ten years, Youth pastor for five years, Associate pastor for five years and lead Pastor for 8 years at Grace Haven (An international church in Irvine), His wife Priscilla Sunitha and Francis joined Standing Stone ministry to shepherd couples in ministry in India in 2018. They are the founders of GEMS (A non-profit 501c3 that supports CREST: a retreat center for couples in full time ministry in India) and have served more than 800 couples in the last seven years. For more information about their ministry in India please check out: www.GemsIndia.org.

Francis and Priscilla were married in 1991 and are blessed with two children Richie and Reeny who have taught them and continue to teach them the joys and challenges of being a parent more than any book on parenting. Francis loves sports (crazy about golf"¦Priscilla thinks its addiction), outdoor adventures, but most importantly he is passionate about pursuing the Abundant life promised by Jesus to all his followers. Christian ministry is very demanding and if a pastor is not careful in maintaining a healthy balance between his/her inner life and outer ministry it's impossible to finish well. Francis' greatest desire and passion is to finish well and help others in ministry to finish well.