Global Mission Center for South Asian Religions Announces Leadership Transition

The center’s director and associate director have switched roles, leaders reported.

September 20, 2025 | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | Office of Adventist Mission

The Global Mission Center for South Asian Religions (CSAR) recently made a leadership change designed to strengthen its mission focus, Adventist Mission leaders shared. Clifmond Shameerudeen and Umesh Nag, formerly director and associate director, have switched roles.

CSAR is one of six Global Mission Centers that help the Seventh-day Adventist Church to build better bridges of understanding with adherents of other religions and worldviews.

The CSAR transition aligns with the Office of Adventist Mission’s strategy of locating its Global Mission Center leaders among the high-priority people groups to whom they minister. For CSAR this means having a director working in India—the world’s largest center of South Asian religions.

“Dr. Shameerudeen, who is based in North America, is graciously supporting his former associate director, Pastor Nag, who is based in India, in taking the directorship role for the center,” said Chanmin Chung, director of the Global Mission Centers. “During Dr. Shameerudeen’s excellent leadership he developed a wide variety of ministry resources and expanded the reach of the center. His continued counsel as associate director will be invaluable.”

Shameerudeen was at the helm of the center when it was renamed in 2014. He reflected, “I am very thankful for the opportunity to have served as CSAR’s first director. I look forward to contributing in my new capacity and supporting Pastor Nag in his new role. I first met Pastor Nag in 2015, and it gives me great joy to see how he has grown in his mission thinking, leadership, and effectiveness in witnessing to people of South Asian religions.”

Nag expressed gratitude for the confidence placed in him. “I humbly accept the responsibility and will serve with God’s help and the team’s support,” he said. “Dr. Shameerudeen and I have been brothers in ministry for many years, and we are committed to a smooth, Christ-centered transition. I deeply value his leadership and mentorship, and I look forward to continuing to foster our team spirit in support of CSAR’s growth.”

“Clifmond and Umesh work as a great team,” added Gary Krause, director of the Office of Adventist Mission. “Together they’ve trained leaders, developed resources, and built networks and partnerships. Clifmond has been a terrific leader, and stepping aside for Umesh is a tribute to his humility and desire to put the center’s mission first.”

The original version of this story was posted by the Office of Adventist Mission.