EFI Tribute on the Passing of Rev. Dr. Robert R. Cunville
The Evangelical Fellowship of India receives with deep sorrow the news of the passing of Rev. Dr. Robert R. Cunville, one of India’s most respected and gracious preachers of the gospel. His home-going marks the close of a life shaped by faithful proclamation, quiet courage, and a deep love for the Church in India.
Dr. Cunville was an Indian Christian of Khasi heritage, whose life and ministry were formed in the hills and churches of Northeast India and yet extended far beyond them. Though he once intended to pursue legal studies abroad, a decisive encounter with the message of Christ redirected his life towards full-time ministry. He received theological formation at Serampore College and later pursued further studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, where his research focused on the growth of the Presbyterian Church in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
He served as pastor of Union Chapel, Kolkata, and was later drawn into wider evangelistic ministry. From the early 1970s, his association with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association opened doors for him to preach across India and internationally. As an Associate Evangelist, he carried the message of Christ with simplicity, integrity, and deep respect for people and cultures. He was never drawn to prominence, yet his preaching carried weight because it flowed from a life rooted in prayer and obedience.
Dr. Cunville also served the global Church through leadership roles with the United Bible Societies, reflecting his conviction that the Word of God must be accessible, honoured, and lived. Christians and non-Christians alike were drawn to him not by rhetoric, but by the gentleness of his spirit and the authenticity of his faith.
On a personal note, I count it a privilege to have known and worked with Dr. Cunville. During my ministry with EFI, I worked closely with him and his team to organise a seminar for over 500 pastors in Delhi in 2022. That gathering proved to be deeply fruitful and spiritually strengthening. Beyond such occasions, he would call me every few months simply to encourage me and to ask how I was doing. Those calls were never hurried. They reflected a pastor’s heart and a sincere concern for the wellbeing of others.
I remember him as an extremely soft-spoken and gentle man, one who walked closely with God and carried authority without harshness. Even in recent years, he remained attentive to the life of the Church in India, offering encouragement and prayer at key moments. His presence was steady, never demanding, and always Christ-centred.
The Church in India has lost a faithful servant, but we give thanks for a life well lived and a race well run. We pray for his family and loved ones, and for the many across regions and generations who grieve his loss. May the Lord whom he loved and proclaimed receive him into eternal rest, and may the witness of his life continue to encourage those who labour faithfully in God’s field.
Rev. Vijayesh Lal
General Secretary
Evangelical Fellowship of India