“Jesus Is The Answer; None Of Us Are”: An Interview with Dr Ivan Satyavrata on Servanthood And Helping The Poor

Dr Ivan Satyavrata, Chairman of World Vision International and former Senior Pastor of Assembly of God Church Kolkata, spoke with City News on November 8, 2025, about leadership, accountability, and the church’s role in helping the poor. With a PhD from Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, he emphasized that true empowerment comes not from systems but from the Spirit, citing Jesus’ act of washing His disciples’ feet as the model for servant leadership. He highlighted the importance of accountability and transparency for leaders, and shared a powerful story of a young girl rescued from Mumbai’s red-light district who is now about to graduate from medical school. Dr Satyavrata stressed that the church must confront systemic injustice, not just individual success stories, and that serving the poor is a core part of the Gospel mission.