Mar Thoma Church
Diocese of North America & Europe
100th Year Student’s Conference and
India Mission Trip 2010 Report
Team Leader: Rev. Jaisen Thomas
Team Members: Mr. Adarsh Abraham, Mr. Arun Varghese,
Ms. Betty Vattakunnel, Mr. Jorge Wilson

STUDENTS’ CONFERENCE 2010
By God’s grace, our Diocese was able to send 4 members of our Youth Fellowship and 1 chaplain to visit India in May of 2010 during the Mar Thoma Centenary Students’ Conference.  Following the conference, the visit continued in to various mission fields entrusted to the care of the Mar Thoma Church.   It was a fruitful experience and we hope the following will provide readers with a good outline of the trip’s highlights.

The Mar Thoma Students’ Conference began in 1910 under the leadership of Titus II Mar Thoma Metropolitan.  The conference has played a major role in molding the youth of our church in the East.  The theme of this year’s conference was “My Lord & My God” (John 20.28); the proclamation of faith by St. Thomas, the Apostle of India.

Day 1 – May 19, 2010
The conference began with registration at 5pm at the Charalkunnu Camp Center.  We arrived to find youth from many Dioceses around the world, from all walks of life, ready to embark on four days of Biblical exposition, fruitful discussion, and Christ-centered fellowship. Over 400 delegates registered from all over India and various parts of the world as we were blessed to represent this Diocese.

After an opening worship session, the inaugural program began.

Many of our Bishops were in attendance and throughout the conference some of them were available for informal discussions with delegates in between sessions. This was a welcome surprise to us. 

A Keynote address was given by our Metropolitan Thirumeni; Felicitations were given by a few of our Bishops as well as Joseph Mar Barnabas Episcopa, the conference President who welcomed everyone.

Following these addresses was dinner where everyone convened in the common dining hall. 

The worship music sessions were filled with songs in Hindi, English and Malayalam; with a theme song for the conference by Rev. Sajan P. Mathew (Sajan Achen) who served in Farmer’s Branch MTC, Dallas.  After the singing session, each group was asked to stand up during the introduction ceremony; we were blessed to do so on behalf of this Diocese.  A theme presentation also elaborated on St. Thomas’ claim to get our minds set on the coming days.  It was enacted by youth of the Adoor Diocese.

Day 2 – May 20, 2010
The second day was also the first full day of activity at the conference.  After the morning meditation and worship, everyone convened for the first Bible study led by Rev. A. T. Zachariah. Achen spoke on the call of Paul from an exclusive group of religious zealots to God’s original intention of sharing the blessings with the world.  This was followed by breakfast and the main talk by Zacharias Thirumeni who spoke on the life and call of Thomas; how lonely and depressed he was after the crucifixion and why Jesus appeared just for him a second time after his resurrection. 

 Zacharias Thirumeni

 
The release of a music album in memory of Rev. Mathew Thomas

After a short tea break, group discussion took place.  The groups were designated by age and it was interesting for us to get a view of the challenges facing youth in other parts of the world within and without their churches.  After the discussion we interceded for various needs of the body of Christ. 

Group discussion

Following lunch there was a main talk by Catholic Rev. Jose Mariados.  His message centered on the compassion of our Lord to be part of our walk by taking on the nature of a man.

Introducing Rev. Mariados

 There were also elocution and essay competitions during the free time as well.  The highlight of the evening was a seminar followed by a talent night.  The seminar highlighted Mar Thoma tradition and Church history.  Retired Supreme Court Judge Hon. Justice K.T. Thomas was the main guest for the seminar. The talent night program showcased the talents of nearly all those in the dioceses of India; there were musical numbers, skits, and even a comedic jab at us, the “foreign visitors.”  It was a welcome end to a day filled with heavy theological and spiritual meditation.
 

The talents

Day 3 - May 21, 2010
Friday’s program was structured similarly to Thursday’s but with some key changes.  The main talk was given by Athanasius Thirumeni.  He spoke on the challenge of youth to stay focused on the Gospel amidst all the technological advances in our society.

Athanasius Thirumeni

The bible study was concluded by Zachariah Achen as he expanded on the topic of our Faith in Praxis; the call of the church to work among the world.  After lunch, there was a special quiz competition in which 6 delegates were competing for various prizes including a trip to the Holy Land.  Ninu Chandy Achen (our former youth chaplain) was the quiz host and the competition was carried out with great enthusiasm and effort. 

Quiz competition

 Rev. Dr. George Mathew presented a brief history of the liturgy of our church in English.

Salient Features of the Mar Thoma Liturgy

In the evening there was a special Centenary Program with special guest former UN Under-Secretary General Mr. Shashi Tharoor.  Mr. Tharoor amended the theme of the conference and added “My country” to St. Thomas’ “My Lord, My God.”  He spoke of the importance of a person’s ties to his/her nation to lift it from bondage to true freedom.

Centenary Program

Day 4 - May 22, 2010
The conference ended on Saturday after a special Holy Communion service in a beautiful chapel which was closed during the previous three days.  Barnabas Thirumeni was the chief celebrant; Thirumeni gave a message on the harvest being plentiful but the laborers being few.  He challenged us to return to our various regions as agents of change for Christ by Christ.

During the “reflections” session, delegates expressed their thoughts on the conference; something noticeably different for us was the fact that this session was used to make critical assessments of the conference for future hosts.  It was an interesting way to conclude a conference.  Looking back on the conference, one thing which stood out for us was the progressive theological thought process of the speakers and many of the delegates.  There was also a good understanding of the community for many of those whom we spoke with – they sought to help those of different castes/beliefs in their own regions.  We also heard that there were many similar struggles between second and first generation members; similar to those that we face here in the U.S.


After the closing ceremony, our group as well as a group from Mumbai was taken on a tour to Nilackal.  St. Thomas, after landing at Kodungallur in AD 52, established seven and half churches or Christian communities. These churches are known as Seven and Half Churches or Ezharappallikal.  The seven churches are located in different parts of Kerala. The church established at Thiruvamkode in the Kanyakumari district of Tamilnadu is accorded the status of a half church.  By God’s grace, we were able to visit the church established in Nilackal; this church is built high in the forests near Sabarimala.  It was the first ecumenical church established in the world.  It was under renovation at the time of our visit and a beautiful sight to behold.  We were able to pray together as a group there.
 

Nilackal Church founded by St. Thomas

All in all, it was such a blessed time of fellowship with our brothers and sisters overseas that we are grateful beyond words to our Lord for allowing us the time at Charalkunnu for this momentous event in the history of our church in this world.

Group photo with our former youth chaplains and families;
Ninu Achen, Sam Achen, & Biju Achen

MISSION FIELD VISITS
Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8)! As five members from the Diocese of North America & Europe travelled across the world to India to participate in an exposure mission trip, the members were able to taste and see that the Lord is good even in the most underdeveloped areas of India. Not only were our  members exposed to the missions fields in Pollachi and in Kerala, but they were able to immerse themselves among the natives whether they spoke the same language or not. From sharing small bible stories, words of encouragement, and songs to playing with the children, the team members were able to experience and learn about the mission fields of the Mar Thoma Church in India. This trip allowed members to understand and see the variety of services the church is providing for the less fortunate and at the same time the team members were able to see how God is using the church to fulfill the evangelical mandate to preach the gospel to all nations.

Day 5 and 6 - May 24-25, 2010
Pollachi Mission Field
In 1983 two families shifted their lives to Pollachi (Tamil Nadu) in hopes for a job. After starting small prayer meetings among themselves and also being exposed to the needs of the people within the villages around them, the initiative of the families led to the beginnings of the mission fields in Pollachi. The important aspect of this mission field is that the initiative was from the local members of the church reaching out to those in need within their local areas. Because of the initiative of the people, the mission field developed into 15 mission centers in Pollachi. Rev. Shibu Samuel is currently the missionary Achen and vicar overseeing and providing spiritual development and sacraments to those in the various centers. Along with Rev. Shibu Samuel, evangelists are assigned to each of the centers to assist in the spiritual development of the people. Primarily having a Hindu background in this region, the evangelists find spiritual growth as the main challenge of the people in this mission field due to much opposition. Although this is a challenge, with the assistance of the vicar and the many evangelists, various activities such as village Sunday Schools, house prayer meetings, student/youth camps, VBS, women’s association, gathering of believers every 2 months, and many more activities are implemented. There is also training for evangelists in this region that last for 3 days. Two people with a Tamil background have become evangelists and one person will be sent to seminary. There is a great need within the Pollachi mission field. The missionary Achen is shared among 15 centers providing communion services, baptism, and general spiritual care and assistance. Financially there is a great need to assist in developing this region and to provide for the people to develop economically to provide basics for their families. By God’s grace the Mar Thoma Church has provided assistance by building houses through the Navathy Project along with financially assisting in the growth and development of this region, yet there is much more to be done. Within the two day visit in Pollachi the following centers were visited:

1. Sethumodai Center
2. Mar Thoma Communciation Center/Parsonage of Vicar
3. Kozhikotta Center
4. Navathy Nagar Center
5. Kururakalam Center/Tuition Center
6. Mayiladumaral Center
7. Kolumam Center
8. Puthapalyam Center

Team members participated in visiting villagers at their homes, praying for families and their needs, participating in prayer meetings, providing short bible lessons and encouragement, teaching songs, and taking time to listen to the villager’s stories and being exposed to a faith so pure similarly  described in the  New Testament of those who were first exposed to Jesus himself. When asked in Tamil if they (the villagers) were Marthomites, the villagers immediately  claimed themselves to be Marthomites. It was a very simple yet powerful declaration that linked us to them through our belief in our one God. Our brothers and sisters in  the Pollachi Mission Field are in great need. Their faith is great and their willingness to give their income just to get transportation to go to a Qurbana service, challenged the team members to reexamine what giving and following Christ meant. When our brothers and sisters are sitting on dirt floors in a small house made of leaves and branches for prayer meetings sharing their testimonies of God’s presence and grace in their lives. The team members again were able to taste His goodness, but at the same time challenged by the faith of the people even when their circumstances and comforts were far from what we have ever been exposed to.

With the guidance of our very own team leader Rev. Jaisen Thomas, Rev. Shibu Samuel, and the evangelists, the team experienced what a mission field in India is like, and also learned how things were organized and implemented to meet the needs of the people. By God’s grace leading  the hard work and dedication from the vicar and evangelists, we witnessed examples of true discipleship, just as Christ has called each of us to. Though  our calls and responses, as well as our gifts and talents might be different, this trip challenged each of the members of the team to reexamine their response to the call that God sent each of us . It truly was a blessing to participate in the Pollachi Mission Field in Tamil Nadu. Special thanks and gratitude is due to Rev. Shibu Samuel and the evangelists who provided stay and food for each of the members along with a very candid and real exposure to this mission field.

Before leaving Pollachi, we were able to make one last stop to visit one of the first missionaries of the region, Dr. T.T. Joseph.  The doctor testified to the various ways God allowed him to minister to the local people as he changed from one profession to the next depending on the peoples’ needs.  He has completed 94 years of life and lives with his wife in Pollachi; it was a blessing to hear this man of God speak from a layperson’s perspective.

Day 7 - May 27, 2010
Mar Thoma Center for Rehabilitation and Development (MCRD)
Rev. Eapen Cherian greeted the team graciously and provided an in depth understanding of this mission center of the Mar Thoma Church. As the team experienced this center along with many others mentioned below, it was beautiful to  see how much the Mar Thoma Church is providing assistance to the local people despite their religious or economic background. MCRD is a center which does just that by providing education and care for children with special needs. The age range of the children that attend this center is between 6-24 years of age. Their diagnoses include but are not restricted to the following: Autism, Cerebral Palsy, mild to severe mental retardation, ADHD, and other diagnoses . There are currently 71 students and they are expecting 10 new students. Of those students, 60 students stay in either the boys or girls hostel along with caregivers/house families that provide general care for the children. There are 20 employees that consist of the following roles: caregivers, staff, social workers and there are also 10 teachers. Although the center is only 3 years old, the services provided have made a great impact on the families and children. A new building is being constructed and will be inaugurated on August 16, 2010. Within this building there are new classrooms being built along with rooms for speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Currently there are speech therapists who come to assist from July through March (6 therapists), but there is a shortage of physical and occupational therapist which is greatly needed. Other than providing education to the children, the older and more mentally capable children engage in occupations such as candle making, weaving, and envelope making.

This mission center has provided a place of hope for both the children and families giving them a sense of worth and love that God has for them. The care provided at this center is very challenging due to the skills needed to work in a setting of children with special needs. Although the center provides for the children, there is much more that can be provided for these children. The prayerful and financial assistance of members of the Mar Thoma Church is greatly needed in this center. Also, those who are specialized in the fields of speech, physical and occupational therapy are greatly needed.  Although the center is providing adequate resources for the children, more caregivers and therapist are needed to provide better and more efficient care for the children.
 
With the guidance of Rev. Eapen Cherian, MCRD was a center that exposed the team members to the variety of services that the Mar Thoma church is providing not just for its own members, but for all those who seek assistance for their children. No fee is required from the families as some families come from low income situations, but a general fee is stated so that those who can donate can. Knowing this exposes the needs of this center, but also shows how this center is reaching out locally to spread the gospel by loving and caring for children that wouldn’t necessarily have a place in society. Special thanks and gratitude is due to Rev. Eapen Cherian for providing an in depth understanding of this center and their mission.

Day 7 - May 27, 2010
Mar Thoma Suvisesha Sevika Sanghom/Sneha Theeram Halfway Home
During the visit to the Sneha Theeram, the team learned more about the Suvisesha Sevika Sanghom and their role in our church. This organization consisted of committed women, who are married and some unmarried, who have committed their lives to serve the church. These women also provide care for those who are at Sneha Theeram. This mission center was developed to provide care and assistance for women who are facing mental instability. Currently this center has five women who stay at this center. They are provided with clothing, food, shelter, and medical assistance as needed. This provides the women a chance to seek help and gain mental health back in order to return back home. The team members were reminded how we often take for granted our mental health. The church through this center provides an opportunity for these women to regain a sense of peace and control into their lives so they can integrate back into their homes and society.

Day 7 - May 27, 2010
Mar Thoma Sanyasini Samuham: Mar Thoma Society of Sisters
Established in 2001 the Mar Thoma Society of Sisters opened up a ministry for women who have taken a vow of chastity and who want to live a life fully dedicated to serving the Lord. The team members were so blessed to meet the superior of the center, Sr. P.T. Mariamma and the members of this society Sr. Omana Mariam and Sr. Elizabeth Chandy. The team members were able to hear their personal stories and their choice to serve in this manner. The sisters are very active and engage in the following: meditation, intercessory prayer, ministry among children, Sunday school camp, free tuition, training in tailoring, and prayer cells. Sr. P.T. Mariamma provided her personal story and educated the team members on all that they provide for the community. It was a blessing to listen and learn from the sisters of this ministry.

Day 7 - May 27, 2010
Balika bhavan
Balika bhavan is a mission center that is specifically created for young girls who come from low income backgrounds or who are orphans. This center provides the girls shelter via a hostel, clothing, food, and arrangements for education. They stay in the hostel and are cared for by the Suvisesha Sevika Sanghom and also the Society of Sisters. These girls who attend this center are provided with great care and are also exposed to God’s love and grace through this center and those who directly work with the children.

Day 7 - May 27, 2010
Prathyasa Bhavan: Rehabilitation Center for Cured Mental Patients
Rev. Daniel Varughese greeted the team warmly and immediately guided the team members to the main hall where all of the patients of the center were seated . He informed the  team that Prathyasa Bhavan is a center for rehabilitation of recovered mental patients. They have the following goals: preparing the patients to interact in society; teaching a vocation for a self reliant life; enabling the family and society to accept the patient in the rehabilitation process. The team members were introduced to all of the male patients (approximately 30-40) consisting of adult ages. Each patient introduced himself to the team and then Rev. Daniel Varughese enlightened the team that many of the patients that come to this center were mentally stable, but an event took place in their life that was hard for them to cope with, thus leaving them unstable mentally. Some men came from very prestigious backgrounds while others have inherited mental illnesses. The men were very excited to have guests and Achen appreciated the team for coming because it gives the patients a feeling of worth when someone cares and visits. Some of the men performed poetry and others sang songs for the team. The team was educated that the men do have occupations that they engage in (umbrella making or producing floor cleaning products, etc.) to provide them a sense of usefulness and worth. There is a set schedule for the patients and psychologist that visits the patients to provide professional medical care along with occupational therapy and music therapy. Patients do progress and improve and are eventually transitioned back to their normal lives with education of the family also. With a caring and supportive environment, this mission center is an example of an incarnational ministry that provides love and care just as Christ would have done for those who are in need. This center provides clothes, food, shelter, and medical care and is spending approximately Rs. 5000 per month for each patient. The activities of this center are running well with good support yet they still could use the continued support from the members of the Mar Thoma Church. Special thanks and gratitude is due to Rev. Daniel Varughese, who was recently a vicar in the Diocese of North America and Europe, for providing an in depth understanding of this center and their mission.

We would like to thank God for this amazing opportunity to participate in the 2010 Mar Thoma Student’s Conference, as well as an exposure mission trip to the Pollachi and Kerala mission fields. It truly has been an experience that has challenged us and taught us about mission work within our church. We would also like to thank Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius for his guidance and support throughout this mission. It is with gratitude that we thank the Diocesan Council and the Mission Board for the opportunity to go to the 100th Mar Thoma Student’s Conference along with the exposure to the mission fields. To our team leader, Rev. Jaisen Thomas, we would like to thank you for your participation, guidance, and encouragement throughout the mission trip. You provided us various opportunities to immerse ourselves in the activities of the mission field and we thank you for teaching us and guiding us as we experienced a life changing journey. Thank you to all who have kept us in your prayers and provided us support. It is our prayer that this report has exposed you to the activities of our church and has challenged you to support and participate in the mission fields. 

For His Glory,
The 2010 India Mission Trip Team Members:
Rev. Jaisen Thomas (Team Leader), Mr. Adarsh Abraham, Mr. Arun Varghese, Ms. Betty Vattakunnel, and Mr. Jorge Wilson

If anyone is interested in contacting or contributing to any of these mission fields, please contact the Diocese of North America & Europe Mission Board at convener@marthomamission.com or please contact the mission field directors directly at the following:

Pollachi Mission Field
Missionary: Rev. Shibu Samuel
Tamil Nadu Gospel Mission
Mar Thoma Communication Centre
29, Arumuganagar, Mahalina puram
Pollachi-642002
Ph: 04259 221069, 0946 245101
Email: revshibukottanad@gmail.com

Mar Thoma Center for Rehabilitation and Development (MCRD)
Director: Rev. Eapen Cherian
Kolabhagom P O, Thadiyoor
Pathanamthitta Dist. Kerala 689545
0469-2662269 (Off.), 2669754
eapenachen@rediffmail.com

Prathyasa Bhavan: Rehabilitation Center for Cured Mental Patients
Director: Rev. Daniel Varghese
Karikulam P.O., Ranni
Ph: 04735 221211, 223345, 223594
Email: revdaniel_varghese@yahoo.co.in