Pushpa Steward

Pushpa Lata Steward (née Syangden) was a former student of New Covenant Bible College, a school which fostered a strong foundation and a steadfast evangelical ministry in Pushpa’s life as a young adult. However, the Lord’s calling on her life began much earlier on; back in her homeland of Sikkim. As a little girl, years before she was ever allowed to go to church, she met Jesus as she was playing in her family garden, seeing Him, talking with Him. As she grew, her relationship with God grew stronger as well.

During her twenties she served in her church in Sikkim, worked a normal corporate job in accounting, and attained her qualification in journalism. Then one day she felt the Holy Spirit call her to mission work. Her initial intent was to go to Amsterdam to serve women trapped in prostitution in the red-light district there. God had other plans for her life, however. He arranged for her to meet Bryan Johnson in Calcutta, India at the Baptist Mission guest House. Bryan was staying at this Guest house as part of the Kiwi Prayer team in Calcutta. The team began worship at 9am each morning. There Pushpa heard the worship songs the Lord Jesus taught her as a child. This made her certain that their meeting was significant. Bryan directed her steps to consider New Zealand instead, urging her to train for her ministry first. Within a year she was in New Zealand studying at New Covenant Bible College, which she enjoyed immensely. While there, she met her husband Guy, they married in 1999, and had one son, Hamish.

Pushpa was a bona fide evangelist, who had no greater joy than when she served the Lord. It was through her ministry that her gifts of healing and deliverance became just a couple in a range of spiritual gifts that God gave her, along with prophecy, the ability to pastor and teach new Christians, plant cell groups both in New Zealand and Sikkim, and have a prayer ministry within her church, among others. She had been planning to co-author a book on Buddhism and Humanism with her husband Guy which was based on a seminar they co-led on the same topic.

On a personal note, of all the ministries God called her to, Pushpa treasured the family God gave her and prioritised them always. Guy and Hamish were her pride and joy. She enjoyed partnering with Guy in various ministries and homeschooling Hamish as she nurtured and watched him grow into a fine young man.

Pushpa was known by everyone for her beautiful, gentle and kind spirit while also being fierce and fearless in the Lord. Her zeal for the Lord showed in every aspect of her life, and she remained uncompromising in her faith and personal ethics. She couldn’t be bribed or enticed by what power and glitz the world had to offer. Her sights were always honed in on the Lord and His will for her life.

On 22 Feb 2025 she went to be with Jesus.

YouTube Links:

·         Pushpa’s funeral https://www.youtube.com/live/8_6FkvVOfaU

·         2017 Interview Shine TV https://youtu.be/V_PaHqwxynU

·         Hamilton Talk 2022 (Full Gospel Dinner) Vid 1 https://youtu.be/Hq7DRBrnktc

·         Hamilton Talk 2022 (Full Gospel Dinner) Vid 2 https://youtu.be/24HdhwLYQqc

·         The Impact of Humanism and Buddhism on Society Today 2022 Vid 1

https://youtu.be/DjLXdIXsAH8