When W. D. Coleman, AELC was principal of the Andhra Christian Theological College, Rajahmundry, the Board of Governors of the college accorded study leave to Victor Paul who proceeded to Saint Paul, Minnesota and pursued an S.T.M. in Pastoral theology and Ministry and for academic years 1971–1973 and worked out a thesis titled Toward a Counseling Oriented Ministry to the People of Andhra PradeshM. Victor Paul, Toward a Counseling Oriented Ministry to the People of Andhra Pradesh, Luther Seminary, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1973. in the Luther Seminary (a degree granting authority accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada duly recognised by the United States Government as an accrediting agency). James A. BergquistJohn Henry Paul Reumann, James A. Bergquist (Edited), The Church emerging: a U.S. Lutheran case study, Published by Fortress Press, Philadelphia, 1977. James A. Bergquist had been teaching at the Seminary in Minnesota since 1970. then Professor at the Luther Seminary was the guide of Paul and one of his companions hailing from Indian included the Religions Scholar, P. Kambar Manickam, TELC.P. Kambar Manickam, Toward an Indian Christian spirituality : a case for Christian yoga, Luther Seminary, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1972.
