Mochanam 2022 Faith Theological Seminary, Manakala

mochanam

Faith t heological Seminary, m anakala 2022

IN CRISIS

OMPHALOS OF FTS

mochanam

Faith t heological Seminary, m anakala 2022

IN CRISIS

OMPHALOS OF FTS

De D ication

This year’s Mochanam is dedicated to the persecuted Church and the altruistic missionaries of the Gospel across the World. We as a community remember the brave comrades of Christ who stood their ground in the face of intensifying persecution without denying their beloved Master or giving up their precious faith. We hereby blazon forth our solidarity especially with the selfless slaves of the crucified saviour in India who were killed, beaten and thrown out of homes, pastors and believers whose churches were burnt and who endured brutal violence all because of the eternal joy set before them. We celebrate your courage and dedication as we together look forward to that great day when your precious labour will be infinitely rewarded in the presence of all saints and the holy angels and even the whole cosmos.

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala

FOUNDER PRESIDENT

faith theological seminary

Late

Rev. Dr. T. G. Koshy

He knows what I need, when I need How much I need He is my father, not my step father

Magazine Committee

Staff Advisors

Rev. Thomas Mathew Mrs. Aniamma Varghese

Chief Editor Jeremiah Saji Thomas Associate Editors

Sony Yohannan, Blessy Sunny

Sub Editors

Risen George, Sajan Chacko, Jitto John Viji, Albin Loveson

Design & Print

Crayons Media, Thiruvalla, +91 9495901381

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala

Gradua TI o N T H eme So NG

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l-tÃ-ep-¿m tlm-i-¶ l-tÃ-ep-¿m tlm-i-¶

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3. {Iq-in³ kv-t\-l-s¯ ]m-Sn-Sp-hm³ I-ã-ta-ä \m-Y-sâ ]m-sX K-an-¸m³ F-¦n-epw F-\n-¡n-\n `o-Xn-bn-Ã a-c-W-s¯ P-bn-¨-h³ Iq-sS-bp-ïv F-¦n-epw F-\n-¡n-\n `o-Xn-bn-Ã {]m-W³ t]m-bm-epw t]m-cm-Sp-ta

Written by Shantu K. Mathew

Composed by Jobin Johnson

Rev. Dr. Alexi E. George President

Dr. Annie George principal

Mrs. Aleyamma Koshy vice principal

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala

Lord

his year a man slipped, fell and got trapped between rocks on the mountain face in the Northern part of Kerala for almost forty hours without food or water. Despite several attempts, even one by a Coast Guard Helicopter, he was not able to be saved. After two long days he was rescued by the Indian Army.

This episode got me thinking about how the Lord works. In times that we feel trapped, expectations die and feel life is over, help comes from above. All we have to do is hold on like that young man did. Dear readers, don’t give up. Help from above will come as promised. Human reliances fade away like sunset, but the One who has called us continues to shine on us like the morning sun. This year’s Mochanam is based on the theme Hope In Crisis. The contents in this magazine will help the readers to find Hope.

Lord is our Eternal Hope and it is in Him we find solace in crisis.

Jeremiah Saji Thomas

is our Eternal Hope and it is in Him we find solace in crisis.

THE CAUSE IN THE OF MIDST CRISIS

Because of the current situation with COVID-19, crisis, loss, and fear are commonplace in our society. As soon as we think we are ready to move forward, another setback occurs. Whenever we think that this terrible situation is over, another COVID variant shows up to put uncertainty back into our hearts and in our society.

The Israelites were in a challenging situation in their journey. They were about to cross the Jordan river and they were full of fear and uncertainty. The generation that crossed the Red Sea had all died in the wilderness. The promised land was just beyond the river, and they needed to cross over as the Lord had promised that He would give the land to them. But the negative reports given by the spies might still be ringing in their ears. We know that bad news spreads - even generationally. Another challenging factor was the impending death of Moses. They have not known a leader other than Moses. What he spoke were like the words of God to them. The last time Moses was gone for 40 days, the people went after an idol, which God had strictly warned them against. All of these things may have been in the minds of Joshua and the rest of the people. But God was about to hand over the leadership to Moses, and He did this in a strategic way that we will observe below.

1. The Mode

When God gives the instruction to “Be strong and courageous,” He does this in the sight of all the people. “Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel” (Deut 31:7a). Moses and Joshua would have been familiar with the coronation and succession of the Pharaohs in Egypt and the kings of the nations surrounding them. When the kings were advanced in years, they would do a coronation ceremony before all the people prior to the death of the current king. In this way, there would not be any doubt of who would be the new king.

Alexi E. George, D. Th.

In a similar way, God takes this step of authorizing Joshua before all the people. It was a clear direction from God that Joshua would lead the people into the promised land. The situation was unimaginable that a group of former slaves could take over land that the people possessed for generations. It was certainly a miraculous intervention of God and not simply a military victory.

2. The Charge

God himself gives the charge to Joshua to be strong and courageous. “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it” (Deut 31:7b).

God wanted Joshua to be in a mindset of strength and courage. He wanted Joshua and the people to succeed in all they set out to do. Jesus told his disciples that they would not only do the things he did but that they would do greater things. This sets them in a mindset of courage knowing that they were destined to succeed.

Although God would be with him, Joshua was given the instruction that he would be the one to go with the people. As great as Moses was as a leader and as a man of God, Joshua was the one who would take the step to lead the people into their promised land.

For a leader like Joshua who has never taken on the primary leadership, these words would have certainly been a source of strength and courage.

As God charges Joshua with this task, he reminds him that he was to “cause” the people to possess the land. Joshua was the agent through whom God would take

The changing political situation in India puts the nation on a different trajectory. But for Faith Theological Seminary, the promise is clear that in the midst of crisis, God would be the source of courage and strength.

this important step. In Hebrew, the word (tan·ḥî·len·nāh תַּנְחִילֶ֥נָּה) showing the causative action by Joshua gave a clear indication that it was his role to lead the people into possessing the land.

3. The Source

The clear indication was given that God would be the source by which Joshua would accomplish this great task: “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you” (Deut 31:8 a). For a leader

like Joshua who has never taken on the primary leadership, these words would have certainly been a source of strength and courage. Leadership is certainly given to the person, but God would be the source. God himself who would go before Joshua and would be with him. The presence of God with him would be his source of success in all that he is given to accomplish. Joshua is being set up for success with the constant presence of God.

4. The Mindset

A fearless and courageous mindset were to be Joshua’s asset. “Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deut 31:8b). But this mindset of courage cannot come from a vacuum. There has to be a strong foundation, or a source for such a mindset. This is the “source” given above as God promised that he would go before Joshua and be with him. He was promised that God would not leave or forsake him during his entire life.

Fear can be one of the greatest opponents for a leader. But God gives Joshua the instruction that he does not need to fear because of the constant presence of God. That presence would be sufficient to drive out fear. He was also given the instruction to not be dismayed. For any leader, dismay would completely break down his courage. There were several

failures in battle, but he was not to be dismayed. Thus we have seen the pivotal situation that the nation of Israel faced. God had a clear plan for them in this crisis. We observed that the mode of presenting God’s plan was clearly before all the people of Israel. The charge is given to Joshua as the new leader and was as clear as can be. The source would be God himself and his presence that would go with Joshua. Finally, the mindset would be one of courage, where fear and dismay would be completely driven out.

The world is in a crisis situation with uncertainty regarding the pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine. The changing political situation in India puts the nation on a different trajectory. But for Faith Theological Seminary, the promise is clear that in the midst of crisis, God would be the source of courage and strength. Our founder Dr. T. G. Koshy has gone on to be with the Lord but has set this institution in a clear direction for academic excellence to accomplish the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the midst of all the crises surrounding us, we are confident that God would make us the cause and that he would be the source of all that we need. Thus we can be courageous in the face of uncertainty

Dr. Annie George

In CRISIS

,

RESpOnd wITH Hope

Should he stay in Wittenberg and shepherd the people affected by the plague or should he flee for the safety of his family? Luther faced this question In 1527 when many died due to the bubonic plague and many fled Germany for life. Luther made the difficult decision to stay in order to shepherd the German people. With his wife Katy, Luther turned their house into a hospital for the dying. Their young three-year-old son Hans nearly died. It was in the middle of this grim situation “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing/Our helper, He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.”

Many of us have faced many personal crises during the last two years. As we are learning to live with the virus, we may wonder when will this end? Besides, we hear of war and rumors of war. Some of us have faced the hard realities of war. In this situation, can we have hope in the midst of uncertainty, and an uncomfortable, complicated, changing situation? How can we have hope? For those who have hope, What is the reason for the hope?

Thus natural and national powers continue to bring calamities and chaos. Everything that is tangible may change. These life situations can be discouraging and paralyzing.

Life Brings Crisis

Trouble and crisis are guaranteed in life. This can be due to natural calamities, conflict, political unrest, wars or physical ailments, or pandemic. Whatever the trouble may be, people are in despair and their activities are curtailed.

Psalm 46 describes fatal natural catastrophes and political unrest: severe earthquake caused the mountains to fall into the sea and waters to roar and foam, the earth gave way and melted, the kings and kingdoms fell, and nations were in an uproar. Mountains that represent stability and firmness shake, where is the safety for people? Now if kings and kingdoms fall, and nations are in uproar, what will people do? If the earth gives way and the earth melts, not only our substance but also our existence is a question. The problems are intense, multi-dimensional, and have a wide reach to nations and the earth.

The repetition of the words slip or fall, roar in the Psalm shows the gravity, magnitude, intensity, or ferocity of the problem. Words like nations, the earth shows the extent, and reach of the problem. Besides, the way the verb form of the words “roar”, “foam”, “quake” in Hebrew, shows that these are not something that happens once but are ongoing actions. Thus natural and national powers continue to bring calamities and chaos. Everything that is tangible may change. These life situations can be discouraging and paralyzing.

But God Assuers His Presence

The ever-present presence of the almighty God is also guaranteed just as trouble is guaranteed.

In Ps 46:1 the word, God, “Elohim” as in Gen 1 assures the presence of the creator God. The creator God is the refuge and strength, and very present help in trouble. The creator God is sovereign not only when there is the chaos of nature and uproar of nations. The creator God is still in control of the earth he created even in the midst of natural catastrophe and political unrest. This psalm assures that the all-powerful and sovereign God is our refuge.

Nations and armies cannot be our refuge because God breaks the bow, shatters the spear, and burns the shield with fire. Armies may boast about their weapons, but no one will go to war without weapons. When the nations raise their uproar, the God who created the earth by his words, spoke, and then the earth melts, the earth became desolate and wars ceased. God disempowered nations and armies. So, when enemies attack the place where God dwells, God’s presence makes it immovable. God’s presence will be its peace.

God not only provides refuge, strength or help but God is our refuge, strength, and help. God becomes the strength, refuge, and help and fortress of his people. God is an ever-present, very present help in trouble. He never withdraws help from the affiliated, much more than that he never withdraws himself from the affiliated. The lord almighty is present with his people. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. He is always available, always near, always present, always found.

And We Respond with Hope

Fear can be a natural response when we face a crisis. Fear entangles us,

immobilizes us, reduces our immunity, it can be more deadly than any virus. Thus it limits our efficacy and may even kill us.

Fear is an irrational response for those who have the presence of God. The assurance of God’s presence enables us to face life without fear. With hope and anticipating the power of God, we face the crisis. This state of mind is not because we have strength or resources but because His presence becomes our refuge, strength, help, fortress. This is the time to rest and to be still because God is the exalted king not only over our lives, and among the nations, but even on the earth. This reminds us to perceive what God sees and to be equippers to join hands with God toward the future.

FTS will continue to be an institution for theological studies and research focusing on the spiritual, academic, spiritual, and ministerial development of its members. We aim to provide biblical and contextually relevant theological training to make a significant impact for the glory of God in India and beyond. We want to be a voice of hope, love, and faith to those who are silenced or do not have a voice.

This does not mean we are ignorant of the COVID world, the world which has been changed by COVID. We may find ourselves living with the implications for the rest of our lives. The context of ministry has totally changed. As we respond, we ponder the following questions: How can we depict the hope in the almighty, ever-present God as we communicate the message of reconciliation?

As a theological community, how can we rest in the promise of the presence of the exalted God as we join hands with God and others to fulfill the vision of God? Here the redefinition of VUCA has significance: Vision, Understanding, Courage, and Adaptability. It is the vision of the Kingdom of God that gives clarity to navigate through the uncertainty and complexity. What about understanding? As we listen to the stories of people from different walks of life, it is clear that God not only has been our Ebenezer but also our Immanuel. What is the importance of courage? Now more than ever before we are to make many short-term plans. This requires courage and compassion so that we can step up and make decisions to face various challenges caused by the unprecedented crisis. At the same time with certainty, we join with Paul and say “thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Finally, uncertainty demands adaptability. Adaptability enables us to gauge various strategies and plans to see which could be put into practice according to the need. However, what motivates us to adapt? It is

the love of God who sent Christ into this world to seek and save those who are broken, bruised, and lonely.

We trust in God to faithfully continue the work began by our Founder President Late Rev Dr. T G Koshy and his contemporaries with grace, wisdom, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. . During the first semester of the 2021-22 academic year, the classes and examinations were completely online. But in the second semester, the faculty and staff welcomed two classes of BD students and MTh students to the campus with much apprehension and delight. Our DTh students continue to be part of the campus. The deliberations of our teachers and students in the chapel exploring this year’s theme “Hope in Crisis” remind us that Christ is our hope, ever-present and all-powerful. We thank God for your sacrificial and faithful prayers and support which remind us that we need to be faithful and humble as we proclaim Christ, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom and with the Holy Spirit, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ

Rejoice in the Hope of the Glory of God

(Rom. 5:2-5)

Mrs. Aleyamma Koshy Vice-Principal

Even in the midst of pain of suffering we see God reforming us. We are called to endure knowing that our hope in Christ will not put us to shame. The Bible says right before this that by faith we’ve been justified before God. Now we have peace with Him and we rejoice in Him. We’ve been reconciled to God and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. We rejoice in the hope that one day we will be with Him. So in light of this verse there says “not only that, we rejoice in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces endurance. It is a call to endurance, but that endurance produces character.” God forms our character even though we are in the fire of suffering. And that character produces hope and we rejoice in the hope of glory of God and suffering produces endurance. Endurance produces character and character produce hope. We grow in the midst of pain. we grow in the midst of hurt we grow to know the comfort of God like we’ve seen in 2 Cor. Ch.1. God who comforted us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort where in we ourselves were compared of God.

Our hope is in the glory of God. He will have the last word. He has risen from the dead in victory over death and He has given you and me a hope that transcends the worst things that can happen to us in this world.

Those who their hope in the temporary things of the world, and will often find themselves put to shame. But those who put their hope in God will not be put to shame because God has poured out His love in to our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. And that goes on in the next few verses to talk about God’s love in Christ which made him die on a cross for us. And this is our hope, that sin will not have the last word, that suffering will not have their last word, that the effects of sin in a fallen world will not have the last word. Our hope is in the glory of God. He will have the last word. He has risen from the dead in victory over death and He has given you and me a hope that transcends the worst things that can happen to us in this world. Because one day He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. We put our hope in the risen, soon coming King. We place our hope in His love. We will not be put to shame.

Faith Theological College for Women is an institution training women to do God’s service effectively. Our graduates from 1992 are doing a fruitful ministry in places where God has assigned them. We thank God for using our graduates to fulfill the purpose of our seminary. We encourage our students to rejoice in the hope of the glory of God in this difficult situation. Many of our graduates are still effectively used by God regardless of crisis in their lives. Thank God for all who support us with prayer and your resources. Let us work together till Christ returns.

Maranatha

P. G. Jacob

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Rev.

ReV. BiJu KRiShnAn

This academic year (2021-2022) Seminary has completed its 51 years successfully and begins its 52nd academic year in the mission journey, this academic year also we began with online and virtual platform. Later in the middle of the year as the havoc of covid 19 was lessened God enabled us to begin physical classes for M.Th I, II, BD Orientation and BD I. I thank God that he helped us to complete our mission efficiently.

New academic year began with a faculty meeting which was held on Wednesday 02 June 2021. In the meeting it was decided to have online classes for this academic year also. On 15th June 2021 Course Registration was done for all the students of all the departments. Inauguration Service of 52nd Academic year took place on 16 June 2021. The Guest of Honour was Dr. Simon Samuel the Principal of New Theological College Dehradun. Orientation classes, parents and pastors meeting for BD students were conducted from 16 June to 23 June 2021. The purposes were to have a good understanding and intimacy with students, with their parents and pastors and also to make them understand the importance of online class. Apart from the earlier one, separate sessions of Orientation was organized for BD New students from Monday 05 July to Friday 09 July 2021. Rev. Dr. Alexi George, Dr. Annie George, Rev. Dr. B. Varghese, Rev. Dr. Cherian Mathew, Rev. Dr. Biju Benjamin, Rev. Rin John, took the classes.

From 21 June to 25 June 2021 Methodology Orientation classes were conducted for the M.Th First year students. Rev. Dr. B. Varghese, Rev. Dr. K. B. Georgekutty, Rev. Dr. T. M. Jose, Rev. Dr. Rajeevan M. Thomas and Rev. Rin John took the classes.

From the oFFice oF registrar

Looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith… (Heb. 12:2)

With much efficiency and prayers Regular Online Classes began on 21June 2021, and for M.Th. I classes began on 28 June 2021.

Previous Academic Year’ Second Semester Senate Papers (Previous Academic Year 2020-2021) were conducted during this academic year by senate. It took place from 05 July to 25 July 2021. It was an Open Book Examination. God enabled our students to write the exam well. Majority of students came out with flying colours.

For BD third year students, workshop on thesis proposal was conducted on 28 July 2021. Rev. Rin John took the classes. For M.Th First years’ work shop on Thesis Proposal were conducted on 11-13 August 2021. Rev. Dr. Rajeevan M. Thomas, Rev. Rin John and Dr Susan Mathew took the classes. First semester Open Book Examination was held from 01 November 2021 – 22 November 2021. In this examination also our students proved their Academic Excellence.

Second Semester began by arrival of BD Orientation and BDI year students in Campus on 14 November. 15 November was Spiritual Emphasis Day. After a long time span of (more than one year) online classes, God enabled us to conduct physical classes for BD Orientation BD I and M.Th students. Classes began on 24 November 2021. Before began the physical classes an orientation class was arranged to make students understand the structure and working system of the campus. However, for BD II, III and IV, it was online classes.

Courses we offer

POST GRADUATE AND RESEARCH PROGRAMMES:

• Doctor of Theology (D. Th) in three branches.

New Testament, Christian Theology, Christian Ethics Master of Theology (M. Th) IN FIVE BRANCHES

5.

History of Christianity

B.D Internal Serampore Programme (English) – 4 years for Graduate, 5 years for +2 •

G.Th (Malayalam) Duration 3 years for Men Qualification: SSLC • C. Th (Malayalam) Duration 2 years for Women Qualification: SSLC •

B.A in Theology (English Medium) for Women

DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES •

B. C. S A four year degree programme of the Senate of Sermapore College (English) •

B. A in Theology (English) College course • G. Th (Malayalam) College course

Student Body

Our student Body includes Indian students from different states of India and abroad. These students are from varied Christian denominations. Total strength of the student body is 290.

Academic Year

The whole academic year is apportioned in two semesters. The first semester began on 15June2021, and came to an end with semester’s final examination. The second semester began on 14 November 2021 and will continue till 30 May 2022 with the college and Senate Exams. Academics consist of different courses of Biblical, Theology, History and Mission, Christian Ministry, Integrated and Inter-disciplinary Courses, Communication and Media Awareness, Religious Pluralism, Human Rights and Development issues, Ecological and Political concerns.

Teaching Staff

Our Seminary has a cluster of Excellent and well Qualified Teaching Staff. We have around sixteen Doctorate holders and eleven Master’s Degree holders in our core faculty. Online classes were boon for us, as a few guest faculties were able to take classes from different part of the world. Rev. Dr. Jose Abraham from Canada and Rev. K. J Samuel from Canada conducted online classes for the subject Detailed Study: Islam in first semester for BD IV and BDIII year students. Rev. Dr. Biju Benjamin joined as visiting faculty in the department of Christian Theology. Rev. Rin John took charge as Dean of Students. Our faculty members Rev. Finny Sabu, Rev. Sam Vaghese and Rev. Abraham Christopher joined for their higher studies this year.

Academic Committee plays vital role in smooth functioning of seminary. This year also we are blessed with sensible and wise Academic Committee members. Academic Committee Members 2021-2022: Dr. T. M. Jose, Rev. Samuel Mathew, Rev. Thomas Mathew, Rev. T. G. James, Rev. Noble Jacob, Rev. Biju Krishnan, Mrs. Ruby Mathews, Mrs. Anniamma Varghese. Their valuable advices and directions did wonder to move ahead in the many challenging situations in this year. Academic office has been functioning smoothly with the help of our staff members Mr. Binu Varghese and Mrs. Rosamma Varghese. Amidst of unprecedented pandemic God has been helping and guiding FTS family to educate many to serve in the vineyard of God. Motto of FTS is “Perfecting to make Perfect in Christ” for which FTS not only training students to have university degree but also proposed to have moral, ethical and spiritual life. In Fifty one years, FTS was able to produce many graduate to do the ministry of God and to proclaim gospel all around the world, FTS feels pride in it and Thank God for his Faithfulness and Mercies

DR. SunnY PAPPAn

Faith Theological Seminary has set the theme ‘Hope in Crisis’ for the academic year 2021-22 because of the Pandemic and persecution context of us. We affirm crisis is inevitable in the life of humans particularly to people of God. None of us are prone from it. We get downcast at such junctures but it is his assuring presence that facilitates our life journey. With Jesus as the anchor of our life, we have hope, we have security, we have something to look forward to…. Hope.

FTS is basically a Pentecostal institution, engaged in the training young men and women for God’s work. Education at FTS is not intended for a non-degree but leading towards university degree. The model of education provided here is to equip youths with an emphasis to discipline and morality. Task of our education includes both development and empowerment for leadership in mission.

Our faculty members often re-instated the fact that the ‘intimacy with Christ’ shouldn’t lost in our academic exercises and in the seminary life. The divine authority of the scripture was well explained and carried out in the decision makings. All exercises carried out here has been giving an apex importance to the renewal of the Holy Spirit.

Divine healing, prophetic discernment and activities directed towards church establishment. The distinctiveness of the Manakala seminary then, is very clear that seminary takes high importance to the works of the Holy Spirit in the academic exhibitions. If a person looking forward for an opportunity to study a degree for building the kingdom of God then FTS is a place where academic and scriptural mandates are set together for the transformation of the beginner.

crisis context became an opportunity to the growth oF master's programme

Ministerial training and academic exercises are bridged in harmony at Faith Theological Seminary. Preparing effective leaders for the church in India and church at large is the task of us. FTS staff, faculty and students together with the churches will be able to shape and reshape the matters related to an appropriate model of mission to the church in India.

At present, FTS need to look carefully at the patterns of training program whether we have inherited it from the colonial past or from the senate or Serampore. FTS need to challenge those traditions and their presuppositions with a view to construct a new model. Traditional and inherited model of ministerial training is well structured and systematic in its nature. The construction of a new model, one has to have a new vision and perception. Such a vision must enable the furtherance of the work of the Holy Spirit in its free play.

However, I must remind us, a new model of ministerial training possible by gathering the concerns from various Pentecostal denominations and their views. On the other hand, academic excellence and technical proficiency and competent equippers are leaving our country and migrating to the west is yet another setback to the new vision.

On a perspectival discussion for ministerial training from Pentecostal view requires us to take seriously the importance of the local church and society in general. It has to relate with the poor and Dalits, who are marginalized to be empowered by the plan and purpose of the Holy Spirit.

Apart from our FTS teaching staff, we invite eminent professors from other institutions particularly to deliver their research specialisations. This year we have privileged to have eminent, motivational scholar Dr. M P Joseph, on methodological issues in Christian ethics.

Academic year 2021-22 for the MTh. degree we have three candidates in the Dept. of Theology, four in the History of Christianity, Christian ethics six, New Testament two, Old testament three, in total eighteen students are enrolled and continuing. We have admitted research students for doctoral degree, Rev. Finny sabu in Theology Dept., Rev. Mathew Jacob in Christian Ethics Dept., Rev. Sam Das & Rev. Samkutty Abraham in New Testament Dept. Our students represent different states, traditions cultures united and living as one community. Our M Th students are well talented in music and instrument.

Research Dean’s office has undertaken many

programmes for the benefit of our students.

In the month of June 17-21 MTh., Methodology orientation Seminars were held. Dr. B. Varghese, Dr. K.B. Georgekutty, Dr. T.M. Jose, Rev. Rin John, Dr. Rajeevan M. Thomas, Dr. Susan Mathews were addressing each topic and taking classes.

Thesis proposals presentations and faculty seminars were held. John Zachariah presented a paper on the topic “St. Paul’s Portrayal of the resurrection of the dead: A socio historical reading of 1 Corinthians 15”, Moses Boosa presented his paper on the topic ‘An appraisal of Qualitative Research in social inquiry with special reference to Christian education’

Some wonderful seminars were conducted for the wider understanding Dr. Samuel George from Allahabad Theological seminary presented a paper on “Methodological issues on Christian Theologies: Lessons for Christologizing in India”.

Faith theological seminary conducted a thanksgiving service on 24 Aug. 2021 in the context of the Provisional affiliation for MTh. in History of Christianity and DTh in Christian theology and in Christian ethics, Dr. Zacharias Mar Aprem the president of the Senate of Seramopre college blessed us with his Guest address.

There was also a Virtual Zoom seminar on the topic Theological education after Pentecost: renewing the church by the spirit & Theological education for Pentecostals: Distinctives & shifts by Dr. Amos Yong & Dr. Jessy Jaison. All our MTh. & DTh. Students were blessed by this seminar too. Bible and science seminar on the topic ‘Reasons to believe’- An Apologia for Mission’s, papers were presented in two fridays in September.

In the month of October faculty and M.Th. Students participated in the SATHRI Seminar on the topic: Mental Health care in the Covid context. And in the month of December we organized a very important seminar ‘Quantitative Data analysis in research studies’ by Dr. Jacob Cherian. Further

We have organized German language classes for Doctoral students, Dr. Biju Benjamin is taking classes every Friday.

To make life relational and lively, we do conduct gettogethers, potluck dinners, sports, debates, fasting prayers, mission focus days etc to break silence in the community.

All these seminars helped a lot for the academic and methodological development of our students

report From the chapL ain

DR. RAJeeVAn M. ThoMAS

Faith

Theological Seminary (FTS) is depositing one more valuable year to its golden Platter of history with much gratitude and humility. The very faithful God who led this institution for the last fifty years is so merciful in our chapel services even in the times of sabotaging challenge of the Covid pandemic. Theological education is an allencompassing and integral training endeavor comprising and focusing on intelligence quotient (IQ), emotional quotient (EQ), and Spiritual quotient (SQ). The Chapel (service) can be regarded as the fulcrum or heart of theological training. The changing or substituting of new members/students is the real elegance and distinction of Chapel which helps to stands it unique than of Church where its members are always permanent. Let me portray a thumbnail sketch of our Chapel services during this academic year.

Morning and evening Devotion.

Normal working days at FTS commence with the morning devotion from 6:25 am to 6.00 am. The Evening Devotion is from 7:25 pm to 8:00 pm. Due to the present pandemic scenario, students have stayed at their homes most of the time, and in fact, advised them to do self- devotion. During the second semester, a few classes like BD Orientation, BD-first year students came to Seminary and did these devotions at our campus and also extended its online access to the rest of the students.

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala

MAin ChAPeL

As the name indicates, the main Chapel service from Monday to Friday is the most important chapel program in which all students, faculty, and staff would gather together. It starts from 9:30 am to 10: 10 am except on the missionary chapel. The main theme selected for the current year is HOPE IN CRISIS (Romans 5:2-5) and all the sermons of teachers and students in the main chapel services are based on this theme. the seron preparation workshop under the leadership of Rev. T. G. James and Dr. Alexi E. George is quite helpful towards the preparation of Seniors Sermons of the BD final year students. The faculty members (on every Monday), missionaries (on every Wednesday) D.Th, M.Th., and BD final year students( on every Thursday and Friday) have availed these occasions for the spiritual edification and scriptural mooring. It was a meaningful time of worship in truth and spirit, intersensory prayer, powerful reflections of scripture. The program of Senior Sermon conditioned with hermeneutical and homiletical principles and parameters, and the sermon evaluation of the students and faculty representative are colorful occasions. During this academic year, 30 senior sermons were done by the final year students pooling from FTS and FTCW. All the main chapel services were conducted both online and offline due to covid protocol.

MiSSionARY ChAPeL

Missionary chapel service is confined to every Wednesday and it started. The main purpose of these meetings is to give contemporary, original missionary experience, reports, mission challenges and opportunities, motivational mission messages, etc., to give optimum mission moorings to our student community. On these meetings, we used to invite our graduates, missionaries from near and far to give their missional experience and reflections. During this academic year, we could invite the following such persons: Dr. Binny Orissa, Sis. Ancy Aby, Pr. Moses John, Pr. Santosh Philip, Pr. Prakash G. K, Dr. Prince P. S, Pr. Suresh P. M, Sis. Reny Mathew, Pr. Benny John, Pr. Benny. K, Pr. Biju Samuel, Mrs. Starla Luke, Pr. Sumith Unni, Rev. K. V Danielkutty, Pr. Benison Mathai, Pr. Mulavana Mohandas, Mrs. Renji Crown, Ptr. Renny Vesly, Pr. Shaji Sebastien, ptr. Bobby Thomas, Sis. Shiny Philip, Dr. Josh Varghese, and others.

SPiRiTuAL eMPhASiS MeeTinGS AnD TARRY MeeTinGS

Besides our regular chapel services, we used to arrange special fasting prayers and tarry meetings to spiritually empower the students beginning and end of the semesters. During this academic year, we arranged such meetings almost every month. Rev. Dr. Finny Philip, Rev. Santosh Varghese, Rev. Baby Johnson,

Dr. Raju M. Thomas, Pr. M. A. Thomas, Pr. Johnny Sebastian, ptr. Abimannu, and others ministered in such meetings. All such meetings were blessed with the exercise and the experience of Word and the spiritual gifts.

CounSeLinG MeeTinG AnD inTeRCeSSoRY PRAYeR

Every Tuesday has separated for Counselling meeting and intercessory prayer alternatively during the main chapel time. The whole student community was divided into 16 counseling groups under the leadership of one faculty member to have personal interaction, prayer, and fellowship. The intercessory prayer covers all prayer concerns including special prayer for States/ Union territory/Continents.

SPeCiAL PRoGRAMS

During this academic year, we could organize a special church planting training program for BD. final year students with the nomenclature of FROM FILES INTO FIELDS: A SEMINAR ON CHURCH PLANTING-2022. Following is the list of resource persons and dealt topics: Dr. Alexi George (Introduction to Church Planting), Engr. Ajal Peter (Church Planting among Muslims: Problems and Possibilities), Ptr. Steve Nicholson (Why Church Planting? -Biblical, Theological, and Sociological Foundations), Rev. Sam Lal (Church Planting in Urban Context: Problems and Prospects), Ptr. Robby Dawkins (Gifts of the Holy Spirit and Church Planting /Power Evangelism) Dr. Sunny P., (Ethical Imperatives of Church Planting), Dr. Laji Paul (Church Planting in the Cross-cultural Context), Dr. Saji K. Lukose (Basic Steps and Strategies of Church Planting), Ptr. Joyahannan Thomas (Team Work and its Implication for Church Planting /Family as the Church Planting Team). This seminar was conducted from February 28th to 4th March 2022(Every Friday) and a participatory certificate was issued to the students at the end of the meeting by the President.

Thanks

On behalf of the Worship Committee, let me record our sincere thanks to the President, Vice-President, Principal, Manager, Worship Committee members, Counselling leaders, faculty members, missionaries, chapel stewards particularly Br. Christo Varghese and others who ministered in our Chapel services and spiritual emphasis meetings. With the usual process of the annual graduation program, we will miss our dear senior friends from the Chapel service but its lacunas would be filled with newcomers. Nevertheless, the eternal absence of our dear Founder President Rev. Dr. T. G. Koshy in our Chapel cannot be filled or substituted with anything except with the sagas of his evergreen influencing legacies and proud memories. Blessings to all, particularly to all graduates

report From the Dean oF stuDents

ReV. Rin John

Christian greetings from the office of the dean of students. The dean of students’ office works as a catalyst to ensure that all students of the Faith Theological Seminary have the best possible educational, personal, and ministerial experience by cultivating a caring and inclusive community experience, endorsing personal and interpersonal accountability, and encouraging active participation in the campus activities.

It was a challenging task for the dean of students’ office during the academic year 2021-2022, as the covid-19 pandemic and subsequent health threats are at their peak. In the first semester of the academic year 2021-2022, all students were allowed to stay in their homes and attend online classes. Hence, the office of the dean of students was active on-call and other media to reach out to students. Most of the students were contacted by the dean of students at regular intervals to ensure that they could attend the classes and deal with other matters of concern. Zoom meetings were arranged with some students to discuss their personal, educational matters and concerns.

When the college decided to start physical classes for the students, BD orientation and BD first-year students were invited to stay on campus to ensure that they were getting the maximum possible from the theological study and on-campus training. Students were given single room accommodation, and designated seating arrangements were set up in the dining hall and other places to ensure social distancing. Students were asked to bring RTPCR when they came back from home, and outings were limited to one day a week to ensure the safety of the students. Students were asked to wear masks and use sanitiser placed at various building entrances and record their body temperature every morning in the logbook. The dean of

the student’s office could make sure that all students on campus got both doses of the covid vaccination, and this assistance was provided with the help of the other seminary offices for getting the second shot of vaccine. It was a daunting task for the office of the dean of students, security personnel, and students. Hence, the students cooperated to maintain SOP guidelines that helped ensure healthy living in the hostel.

A seminary hostel is a place where students learn to foster inter-personal relations, respect, commitment, inculcate personal responsibility, daring independent efforts, group tasks, grow towards maturity and perfection in Christ as per the motto of the seminary, perfecting to make perfect in Christ. Students were given different tasks and responsibilities to demonstrate their leadership ability and effort towards maturity. All the activities on the campus ensure that students grow towards personal and ministerial maturity.

The dean of students’ office ensured the students’ punctuality in all the seminary activities work towards a better quality of life, ensuring physical, social, spiritual, psychological and recreational wellbeing. Students were given the freedom to seek the help of the dean of students anytime to discuss their issues. Counselling assistance was given to the students to those who find it challenging to deal with personal and interpersonal relationships issues. Sports equipment were purchased for the students, and the ‘Games room’ was set up in the hostel for in-door games. Students were allowed to involve in recreational activities for one hour each day to ensure their physical and recreational wellbeing. The functioning of the dean of the student’s office will not have been possible without the support of the students. Sudheer Kumar was appointed as hostel steward for helping the dean of the student office manage the hostel and campus activities. Shine John Thomas looked after the dining hall matters and assisted the mess manager. Job John and Rejo George were appointed as health care assistants for students, and Gideon Elisha looked after the recreational activities on the campus. These appointed stewards were done a commendable job in terms of their task. All of the campus activities went smoothly by the grace of God alone. To God be the Glory and honour ever and always

report From the practicaL ministry Department

ReV. ThoMAS MAThew

Inthe academic pursuit and ministerial training of our Seminary, the activities of the Practical Ministry department are indispensable. The team for this year could not function properly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We envisioned undertaking several new and innovative programmers to work for the ministerial development of the student body and the welfare of the community.

The major works undertook by the department in the previous years were as follows:

Children’s ministry: We conduct 14 children’s clubs with over 250 children. As part of the children’s day we normally organise programmes at different schools in and around Adoor.

Campus Ministry: The Campus Ministry Department aims at conducting several programs at different campuses on special days.

General Ministry: The Ministry of this branch of the department includes house visiting, tract distribution, prayer walks, old age/orphanage visiting, morning ministry, cleaning initiatives, helping the poor, literature ministry etc. Other initiatives include: Fundraising for charity works, supporting missionaries and sick people. Hindi classes for students aspiring for North Indian missions, etc.

During this academic year, we distributed food kits for poor covid affected families. The department undertook community cleaning during Independence Day and Republic day. This year due to the rising spread in the coronavirus, all other activities of the department were suspended. Despite not being in the campus, all the students were instructed to get involved in ministry either in their local churches or their locality. All students were actively participating in ministry and have submitted their ministry reports. The BD Orientation and First year students who were in the campus got involved in campus beautification work on January 26,2022. We conducted special programmes in which all the student body participated on the same day

report oF the Director oF aDmissions anD bcs stuDies

ReV. iPe K. A.

Faith Theological seminary is a Doctoral Research Centre under the Senate of Serampore College, Kolkata was founded by Dr. T.G Koshy and coworkers in 1970 to train young men for fulfilling the Great Commision. Ministerial training for young men was only intended at its beginning but in the 1980’s began preparation for offering Theological Degree affiliated to Serampore University. Meanwhile, understanding the need of Theologically trained women began to admit female candidates for theological education. A good Number of students joined FTS for basic theological training and served in various parts of the world. There are pioneer missionaries, heads of institutions, church leaders, Bible Translators, teachers, pastors, evangelists, and ministers to the youth and children.

Even in the context of Covid-19 classes were arranged in the virtual platform. The current academic year (2021-2022) admitted four students namely Rev. Sam Das, Rev. Samkutty Abraham, Rev. Finny Sabu and Rev. Mathew V. Jocob for the doctoral research programmes in the branches of New Testament, Christian Theology, and Christian Ethics. John Zachariah, second year New Testament research student completed assessment papers and submitted research proposal . Moses doing research under Dr. Annie George. This year for Master of Theology (MTh) nineteen students were admitted to five branches namely New Testament, Old Testament, Christian Theology , History of Christianity, and Christian Ethics. Twelve students are there in the final year M.Th. class.

Admission process scheduled into 3 periods in an academic year. D.Th. and M.Th. applications are received in the month of November - December and entrance examination and interview will be held in February - March. B.D., G.Th.C. Th., B.A. in Theology applications are received till March and conduct entrance examination and interview in the month of April or May. BCS, the distance education programme registration will be held in September - October. Details of courses and application are available in the website: ftseminary.com/admissions

We give all glory and honour to God almighty for his provision and sustenance in the period of crisis

ReV. K. A. PhiLiP

It is often said that “a man is himself plus the books he reads”. Without the love for books the richest man is poor. “Reading is the royal road to intellectual eminence”. Surely, the books we have are the richest treasure of earth. Books are Good School Masters. So respect them. Study from them. In this post modern era being the age of education and scholarship, no theological institution can cope up with the present generation devoid of a fully fledged Library. We thank God for His wonderful gift to Faith Theological Seminary, the Library which is one of the finest Libraries of this part of our country.

Faith Theological Seminary Library has got a short history. It was in the year 1976 when Rev.Dr. T George Koshy, founder and President of the Seminary donated his personal Library to the institution; this integral part of Faith Theological Seminary came into existence Now it has grown into a fully fledged Library. The Central Library is situated in the first floor of Jubilee building where the main reading room (RR) is arranged. It can accommodate 200 readers at a time; here all reference materials are kept (about 2600 volumes) which provide ample materials for research scholars both from the Seminary and outside. Temporary Reference shelves are arranged near the main counter where the circulation department is situated. Both Current Periodical Section (120 current periodicals available) and Back Issues Journal Section (having a bound collection of 3800 volumes) are present inside the main Reading Room. Adjacent to the Reading Room there is the Archives Section where researchers get manuscripts, Thesis/dissertations, rare materials etc. which provide primary and secondary sources to Research Scholars. At present we have in the central library a collection of about 35000 volumes (14600 useful titles) comprising of 85% English, 10% Malayalam, 3% Greek and 1% Hebrew, 1% Hindi and other vernacular languages. Since the Seminary offers courses like G.Th., B.D., M.Th., D.Th., B.C.S., B.Miss., etc. we have carefully added books pertaining to

come, Let us enjoy the FrienDship oF great authors

various areas such as Old Testament, New Testament, Theology and Ethics, History of Christianity, Mission, Pastoralia etc. A good collection of biographies of missionaries and great men are being kept knowing that these would be a challenge to future missionaries.

Affiliated to the central library there is a branch library situated in the Faith Theological College for Women (FTCW) campus where about 4500 useful titles are being kept and used. Online searching for books and journals can be done at the Library. This year we could add EBSCO/ATLA Online searching for journals, which is very much benefitted to our research students and teachers. Towards this we had to spent Rs. 350000/- (Rupees Three Lakhs and Fifty Thousand Only). We thank your friends and partners who have enabled us to achieve this venture. Their prayer and partnership we expect all the time. At present we use “Global Ethics” another online search system. Recently we have started another section called Digital Library where researchers can make use of more than 10,000 ‘e’ books.

The Library is opened from 08.00 AM to 01.00 PM, 02.30PMto 06.00 PM, 08.00 PM - 10.00 PM on working days. Three full time staff executes the whole function of the library. 12 Student Librarians assist the work. Books and other materials are classified as per Dewey’s Decimal Classification System. The Library is computerized and readers can use the computer facilities for research work. Online Dictionary Catalogue Searching is available to help the researchers. We are happy to see a good number of users from outside making use of our facilities. We are upgrading our facilities for easy bibliographic research in google sources.

We thank God for our brothers and sisters especially those from abroad who have extended their heartfelt support in various ways especially Langham Partnership UK and Sovereign World UK. May God bless and reward them according to the riches of His glory so that they may continue to stand behind the work and pray. We are happy to receive any kind of rare materials from those who wish to donate. Thanks for all who are behind us

report From the extension eDucation Department

ReV. DR. K. M. MAThew

When Faith Theological Seminary is celebrating its 50 plus years of ministry, it’s been 30 years into the Extension Education program from 1992. It was the vision of our late founder President to provide quality biblical and theological training to those who are called and have an earnest desire to be part of the Great Commission. It was also out of the godly direction for educating people who are unable to spend three to four years in a seminary. Thus, we are glad to say that we have graduates in different parts of India and even abroad from extension education program who serve the Lord and His church in different capacities, involving in various evangelical activities.

Pandemic has taken a toll in all our life and work. The extension education program was conducted online through these times. The 2021 graduation was done virtually, and we had 9 students who graduated. For the glory of God Almighty shall we say that this 2022, we have 12 students graduating and 113 students continuing their studies in different extension education centres of our department.

The seminary has its extension education centres in different states of our country like Kerala and Maharashtra, and in Middle Eastern countries and USA. In Kerala our centres are in Manakala, Kallisherri, Kalayapuram, and 2 in Ernakulam District (i.e., Vyttila & Palarivattom).

The following are the courses and curriculum that are offered:Dip. Th. in Malayalam (An Evening course for two years having 16 subjects).

G. Th. in Malayalam (A 3-year programme having 25 subjects for those with SSLC)

B.A. in Theology in English (A 3-year programme with 27 subjects for those with +2)

The Extension Education Department provides printed notes as well as softcopy, and contact classes with highly qualified teachers.

For application forms and prospectus: Visit our website www. ftseminary.com

For more details contact Rev. Dr. K. M. Mathew @9447895235 Mrs Renji Sam @8714946995

Faith

Faith Theological Seminary has its legacy and influence beyond our nation. It was the deep faith in God and relentless service of Dr. T. G. Koshy and along with a group of dedicated men and women made this possible. Prayers and valuable supports of thousands around the globe stands as a force behind the growth of FTS.

In the year 2008, FTS has launched a new department namely, ‘Friends and partners of Faith Theological Seminary’. The purpose was to erect n active relationship with the alumni well wishes, prayer partners, parents and churches of the students and financial supporters through Prayer, involvement and partnership. Also, this department works for the seminary day celebration (September 22) and finance campaign for the seminary. A newsletter “Faith in Action” is published once in three months.

This year as part of the “Founder’s “ (May 26) we would like to organize Dr. T. G. Koshy Memorial Lectures” based on the theme “Church and Spirituality in the Post-Covid Era”. These lectures will be delivered by Dr. K. P. Sajikumar and Dr. Jacob Matthew.

Apart from the Friends and Partners department in organizing a finance campaign for “Dr. T. G. Koshy Memorial Fund.”

We like to see many people become Friends and Partners of FTS and carry forward the ministry into new heights. We encourage you all once again to extent your prayers and partnership to the seminary

“Building Relationship to Involve God’s People in God’s Work”

Faculty

Rev. Dr. B. Varghese

Rev. Dr. Mathew C. Vargheese Rev. Dr. T. M.Jose Rev. Dr. K. M. Mathew

Rev. Dr. Cherian Mathew

Rev. Samuel Mathew Rev. Thomas Mathew

Rev. James T. G.

Rev. K. A. Philip

Rev. Mathews M. Kurian

Rev. Dr. K. A. Ipe Rev. Dr. Sunny P.

Dr. Annie George Mrs. Aleyamma Koshy Rev. Dr. Alexi E. George

Rev. Dr. M. Stephen Rev. P.G. Abraham

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala

Rev. Dr. K. B. Georgekutty

Rev. Dr. Charlie E. George

Rev. Dr. Rajeevan M. Thomas Rev. Noble Jacob Rev. Sam T. George Rev. Rin John Rev. Dr. Biju Benjamin

Rev. Biju Krishnan Dr. Susan Mathew

Mrs. Aniamma Varghese Mrs. Ruby Mathews

Rev. K. J. Samuel Rev. P. G. Jacob Rev.Dr. Jose Abraham Rev. M. Samuelkutty Rev. T. I. Abraham

Mrs. Lizzy Valsalan Rev. K. V. Danielkutty Rev. P. A. Joy

admInIStRatIvE Staff

Mr. Saju P. George

Mr. Samuel V. S.

Mr. Blesson George Mr. Binu Varghese Mr. Liju John

Mr. Shajan George

Mrs. Sosamma Samuel

Mr. Thomas Philip & Mrs. Ammini Thomas Mr. Saju V. S.

SUppoRtIng Staff

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala

Mrs. Kunjumol Mrs. Suby Thomas

Mrs. Rosamma Varghese Mr. Aji George

Mr. Shiju M. J.

Mrs. Renji Sam extension education co-ordinator

Rev. Sam G. Koshy Business manager

faIth thEologICal SEmInaRy manakkala, adoor

BoARD of DIRECToRS

Rev. Dr. Alexi E George (President) Mrs. Aleyamma Koshy (Vice President) Rev. P.G. Jacob (administrative asst.) Rev. M. Samuelkutty (Secretary) Rev. Dr. B. Varghese (associate Secretary) Rev. K.V. Danielkutty (treasurer) Rev. T. G. Georgekutty (Ex - Officio Member) Dr. Annie George (Ex-Officio Member)

fACULTY- ENGLISH oLD TESTAMENT

Rev. Dr. K.B. Georgekutty, B.Sc., B.D., m th., D.th Rev. Dr. Alexi E. George, B.a., m.Div, D.th Rev. James T.G, B.th, B.D., m th. Rev. Mathews M. Kurian, B.Sc., B.D. , m th.

NEW TESTAMENT

Rev. Dr. B. Varghese, Ba, B.D, m th. D.th. Rev. Dr. K.M. Mathew, B.com, B.D., m.th. D.th Dr. Susan Mathew, m.Sc., B ed., B.D. m th. PhD Mrs. Ruby Mathews, B.Sc., B.c.S, m th. Dr. Charlie E George, Ba, BD, mth, PhD

THEoLoGY

Rev. Dr. Mathew C. Varghese, B.Sc., B.D, m th. D.th. Rev. Dr. T.M. Jose, B.th, B.D, m a., m th. D.th Rev. Bobby S Mathew B.Sc., B.D., m.th. (Study leave) Rev. finny Sabu, B.th., B.D, m th. (Study leave) Rev. Sam T George, m a., B.D., m th. Dr. Biju Benjamin, B.a, m a, B.D, m th., PhD

ETHICS

Rev. Dr. M. Stephen, B.a, m.a, B.D, m.th., PhD

Rev. Dr. Sunny P. B.th., B.D, m th. D.th. Dr. M. P. Joseph, PhD (Visiting online)

CHURCH HISToRY & MISSIoN

Rev. Dr. Ipe K. A., B.th. B.D , m th. D.th Rev. Samuel Mathew, B.th, B.D, m a , m th. Rev. Dr. Rajeevan Mathew Thomas B.a., m a., m.Phil. PgDeSm, B.D., m th. D.th Rev. Bijumon Krishnan B.a., B.th., B.D., m th.

RELIGIoN & SoCIETY

Rev. P.G. Abraham, B.th, B.D, m th. Rev. Jijoy Mathew, B.a, m a, B.D, m th. (Study leave)

Mrs. Aleyamma Koshy, m a, B.th., B.D Rev. Noble Jacob B.a., B.D., m.th.

Dr. Jose Abraham B.D., m th., D.th. (Visiting online) Rev. K. J. Samuel B.a, B.D., m a., m th. (Visiting online)

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY & CoMMUNICATIoN

Dr. Annie George, m.Sc, B.ed., B.D, m th , PhD

Rev. Dr. Cherian Mathew, B.com, B.D, m th , D. min Rev. Thomas Mathew, B.Sc , B.D.m th Rev. K. A. Philip, B.Sc., B.D. , B.l i.S Mrs. Aniamma Varghese, B.com, B.D, m.th. Rev. Rin John, B.th., B.D., m a., m th (D.th) Mrs. Lizzy Valsan, B.th , m.Div.

fACULTY- MALAYALAM

Rev. P.G. Jacob Rev. M. Samuelkutty Rev. T.I. Abraham Rev. K.V. Danielkutty Rev.P.A.Joy

NoN - TEACHING STAff

Rev Sam G Koshy, B.com, mDiv (Business manager)

Mr. Renji Sam Bcom., mcom. kDiv.-extension co-ordinator

Mr. Samuel V.S - computer in - charge

Mr. Saju P. George - Asst. Librarian

Mr. Blesson George BTh.- Library Asst. Mrs. Rosamma Varghese - typist

Mr. Binu B. Varghese- Office Asst Mrs. Suby Thomas mcom.- accountant

Mr. Liju John Bcom.- cashier

Mr. Aji George - campus manager

Mr. Shiju M. Joy B.D. (F & P, co-ordinator) Mrs. Kunjumol– FtcW Staff

SUPPoRTING STAff

Mr. Saju V.S. (Security)

Mr. Thomas Philip & Mrs. Ammini Thomas (cook) Mrs. Sosamma Samuel

Hope in Crisis

(’ελπιs ’εν κριση):

Pauline Perspective

Rev. Dr. B. Varghese Principal Emeritus & Professor of N.T studies

Welive in a world full of innumerable uncertainties plaguing humanity everywhere. There is a growing concern for the future of the world due to various natural phenomena such as earthquake, tsunami, flood, draught, famine, war and corona issues. Crisis is everywhere in different forms. Recent media news provide alarming report about series of women assault and ruthless killing. Crisis is on the increasing move even among the children of God. The past months have shown how vulnerable human life is. Many are faced with harsh consequences of lockdown due to the covid pandemic. Many have died not only of sickness but also of starvation and economic deprivation. Scientists and environmentalists advocate various solutions to these issues, though they are often found inadequate. In the midst of these anxieties and uncertainties there is only one anchor for us to rely on. That is the hope in the omnipotent and immutable God because He is the only sine-qua-non and the panacea for our survival and continued existence. The theme chosen by Faith Theological Seminary for the academic year,2021-22, is hope in crisis which is quite relevant and contextual.

The term, crisis, comes from the Latinized form of the Greek word, κρισιs, which means suffering, anguish, brokenness, etc. Broadly speaking this term may be used in multiperspectival senses such as physical, mental, social, economic , etc.

Context

This theme is vividly found in the context of Rom.5.1-11, where Paul highlights the golden doctrine of justification by faith. In the epistle to the Romans Paul is not dealing with any ecclesial issues like fragmentation in the community or moral incest but with theological issue of justification by faith over against justification by the works of the Law. According to F.C. Baur, the founder of Tubingen school, Paul is employing the doctrine of justification with a unique purpose to address the issue of conflict between Jewish Christianity represented by Peter and Gentile Christianity represented by Paul. The former advocated Jewish nationalism and Mosaic legalism and the latter stood for justification not by the observance of the Mosaic law but only by faith in Christ.

However, we may discern five blessings of justification as enlisted in Rom.5.1-11: peace (V.1), access (V.2), hope (V.2), love (Vv.5,8) and reconciliation ( V.10). Based on the theme selected for this academic year, hope in crisis, two major issues are to be addressed: Hope and Crisis.

We may start with crisis and explore it from Pauline Perspective. Crisis:

The term, crisis, comes from the Latinized form of the Greek word, κρισιs, which means suffering, anguish, brokenness, etc. Broadly speaking this term may be used in multi-perspectival senses such as physical, mental, social, economic , etc.

Paul discusses crisis in both extrinsic and intrinsic levels. His encounter with physical and mental crises is clearly enunciated in 2 Cor.11.23-28 and elsewhere. It includes physical assault, imprisonment, mental anguish, rejection, and so on. Besides physical and mental struggles, Paul had to interrogate with Judaizers, who were his major opponents in most churches he established. They have advocated that simple faith in Christ is not enough for justification but observance of the legal requirements such as circumcision, sabbath and sacrifice as primary requisite for salvation. It became an onslaught to the Gentile Christians, who came to Christ by simple faith commitment . Cultural issue was another major crisis that obstructed the work of Paul. i.e. the Jewish – Hellenistic cultural divide as found in Acts.6 & 15. Above all Gnosticism and paganism were major threats Paul had to address as seen in his missionary work in Corinth ( Asclepius) and Ephesus ( Artemis, Acts. 19).

Particularly in Vv.2-5 Paul explains the reality and vitality of Christian faith. He suggests four steps that lead us to glorification in eternity: suffering ( θλιψιs), perseverance (‘υποµονη), proven character ( δοκιµη) , and hope ( ’ελπιs) . Here we find close parity between θλιψιs and ’ελπιs. The term, θηλιψιs, indicates severe and intolerable crisis , a kind of crushing like experience which includes physical assault, mental torturing , and even martyrdom. Look at how Paul brings closer connection between suffering (crisis) and hope. For Paul the entry into the kingdom of God is possible only through the path of many sufferings (Acts.14.22). Hope is something that provides strength and motivation to encounter any sort of crises ( θλιψεωs) .

Hope :

What is hope? The verbal form of hope means confident desire or a feeling that something desirable is likely to be possible. It also means wish or trust, something that somebody wishes to have or to happen. In brief, ’ελπιs means trust, desire, confidence or anticipation . The antonym of hope includes despair, fear, disillusionment, etc. Here we mean Christian hope, i.e. hope in Christ. Hope is not just a desire but it is more than that. One’s desire may be thwarted. Ex. deliverance in sickness or success in business . But hope can no way be thwarted even amidst unforeseen , intolerable and hopeless situations. That is why, Abraham hoped against hope even in hopeless condition. He earnestly believed God in hope when circumstances were so bleak ( Rom. 4.18).

Hope in different perspectives : 1.Christological :

For Paul Christ is the hub of every theological affirmation . For him , there is no theology without Christology . He perceives hope in and through the lens of Christ. That is the Christological hope ( hope in Christ), which is the by-product of justification by faith in Christ. Hope empowers God’s people to withstand in the midst of crises in courage and humility through Christ Jesus. Paul says that suffering produces hope which rests absolutely on God’s love. This love is visibly expressed in Christ’s death on the cross for the sake of sinners ( Rom.5.8). Thus, it is a cruciform ( cross based) hope. It hinges on the truth as revealed by Christ through his wonderful word.

2. Soteriological/ Liberative:

In Romans chapters 5-8 Paul talks about the liberative aspects of salvation . In Rom.5- Paul portrays salvation as the liberation from wrath of God, in Rom.6- salvation is the freedom from sin, in Rom.7-

of messianic hope. In other words, Church is the fulfiller of O.T promises particularly of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the appearance of the messianic era.

4. Ethical:

it is the freedom from law and in Rom.8- it is the freedom from death. Here it is clear that hope is used in soteriological/ liberative context. Hope is a strong affirmation that God will turn the present crisis into normal stage, though situation is still adverse. Moreover, we rejoice in our sufferings because hope does not disappoint or frustrate us. Hope can liberate people from despair as well as ambiguity and enable them to press on.

3. Sociological/ Ecclesial:

Paul expounds the theme of hope in an ecclesial context. He was addressing to the Roman church, which was situated at the centre of political hegemony , imperial cult and animosity to Christianity. He was addressing them with a message of strong hope and trust in Christ. Hope is meaningless unless there is a community to exercise it. Church is the hopeful community marked by love, justice and freedom. According to R. Bultmann, church is an eschatological community

Paul touches on certain moral qualities in this pericope that prepare a person to sustain vibrant hope in Christ. The most significant qualities are peace, love , and reconciliation. They are inherent virtues of Christ himself. In Rom. 5.10 Paul makes particular reference to reconciliation as the essential mark of hopeful Christian community where there is no room for enmity or grudge. Paul discusses hope as wedge between justification and reconciliation, both indicate the right relationship with God as well as with one another. Hope in Christ provides motivation to live in purity and serenity.

5. Eschatological:

No doubt, hope is an eschatological term. Jurgan Moltmann, in his Theology of Hope, defines eschatology as the doctrine of Christian hope, which embraces both the object hoped for and also the hope inspired by it. Hopeful trust in God is always a demand from God not only in the present time but also in the future particularly in moments of crisis situations. According to R. Bultmann, real hope is not something based on what is in the present because everything in the present is provisional and mundane but something based on what is in the eschatological future.

However, Christian hope has double dimension:

In the present time the world is abounding with variety of struggles and sufferings. In such situation the sovereign God is the only one who is able to provide

all our needs. Paul prays with the assurance that God will surely supply all our needs. In Phil.4.19 Paul says, “ My God shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus”.

Eschatological : Paul gives a clarion address to Corinthian believers that “ If only for this life ( in this world) we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” ( 1Cor.15.19 NIV). This is the hope of eternal life, life of glorification. This is indeed the hope for resurrection and the final victory at the consummation of history when Christ returns in power and greater glory. Thus, we shall ever be with the Lord where there are no more tears and sorrows but a life of joy and fellowship with Him forever.

Relevance & Conclusion

Hope in God is a greater energizing instrument in our Christian life. It never depends on blepomenon experience ( Heb.11.1) but on absolute trust in God, who is the God of creation, redemption and providence. We currently pass through VUCA ( volatile, uncertainty , covid and ambiguity) atmosphere due to covid pandemic. Yet we believe and hope that the God whom we trust is able to transform the current situation into another form of VUCA, i.e. with vision , understanding , courage and adaptability . The person with hope does not accept the current situation as final but he hopes for something beyond, i.e, the unseen hand of the Lord. The omnipotent Master has promised us his abiding presence in the midst of all these uncertainties. Jesus said, “ And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” ( Matt.28.20). He will never disappoint us but take us to a greater heights of glorification to be on the other shore. Let us continue our faith life in steadfast hope and confidence

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala

Hope in God is a greater energizing instrument in our Christian life. It never depends on blepomenon experience ( Heb.11.1) but on absolute trust in God, who is the God of creation, redemption and providence.

THE CRISIS & THE ETHICS OF

Rev. Dr. M. Stephen FTS, Manakala

The present covid situation has made radicals changes in the society. This situation is referred as ‘new normal’ or ‘post-normal’. There is nothing new in what is happening as many of the changes have already happened in the western world and other developing countries. The digitalization and the use of electronic media and the online programmes were common the first and second world. The relationships are also impersonal in the western world. So there is nothing extra-ordinary or beyond normal for them.

The post modern philosophy and the life style has been followed in many countries, and it is found very much in our urban setting also. Only what happened is that the digital platforms are very much not globalized and these became now an accepted practice for all. This is because of the necessity of the time. The virtual programmes (worship, education, conferences and other meetings) are commonly practiced even before the covid-19 situation. Now it is more popularized as physical meetings and programmes are impossible in certain contexts because of the covid surge. Those who were aware of the infections were using the face masks and sanitizers even before the spread of covid. Now it is popularized in the covid situation. But now we are facing situations like physical distancing, unemployment, anxiety, death act of resignation and depression in the covid context. The movement of the people are restricted so also the gathering of the people (for wedding, funerals, any religious rituals or functions, or worship, or any form of social gathering). People are very much disturbed by the covid situation, especially the people who are powerless. Their

life and work are badly affected by the covid surge. The economic depression and also the lock-down and other forms of restrictions have created tremendous amount of anxiety and hopelessness among the people. The hopes of many are lost and the dreams became unaccomplished. So millions of people live in utter disappointment. When this pestilence will end? This is a very serious question of many.

In the context of uncertainty and ambiguity, the human beings will lose their hope. Once the covid positivity came down to 3 or 4% in India, but now again it is increased to 40-50%. The people are physically, psychologically and economically affected and they feel utterly hopeless. This generation is not very familiar with the severe plagues which have wiped out millions of people. The plagues of Antonnines and Justinian of early centuries and Spanish flu of the last century have done terrible damages to humanity. The former two plagues have even caused the decline of Roman empire as the population was considerably lost because of their massive attack. It did affect badly the military power of Roman empire. Hope is a very

dynamic word to sustain us. It always inspires us to stand firm to overcome any adverse situation. Of course, this pandemic times is a very difficult time of suffering and the people, especially the poor and marginalized, are struggling to survive. Hope enables us to live with confidence and to face the situation in a sacrificial manner (Rom. 5:1-3). In the context of pestilence, persecution, poverty, captivity and suffering, the people of God relied on God for God’s invention with the hope of deliverance. Our God is a God of hope, and he will not disappoint those who look upon him for restoration and relief (Jere. 33:6ff; 33:11). Our God always listens to the cry of the people in crises and intervene in the situation. He is our refuge in the time of pandemic and other adverse situation. Many lives are lost because of Covid-19, and a large number of them did not get due last respects as they are buried according to the covid protocol. The covid-19 has disclosed the human limitations. Human beings became helpless and hopeless in the pandemic situation. Even persons and families went to Quarrantine, where also they felt so much to alienation and anxiety, where God only is their hope. It is our task to share the message of hope to the people who are in utter hopeless situation. The good news or gospel is a message of hope to those who undergo physical, psychological and economic problems. The mission of the Christian community is to help the people to withstand situation of the struggle and suffering. Our words of comfort and deeds of comfort should go together as help the people in crisis. Sharing our resources with those who are struggling is an important act of mission in this crisis situation. The concept of hope involves our words and deeds to lead the people for a meaningful survival

Rev. P. G. Abraham

Most of our Indian population and the world at large, are under threat of a crisis in their life. The crisis such as the Covid 19 pandemic, lockdown, quarantine, loss of job, loss of relatives, deduction of payments, scarcity of resources, the decline of buying power, etc.… The people are scared of many things that badly affected them unexpectedly. The world we live in teaches us that anything can happen at any time without our knowledge and permission.

Even amid a great pandemic, many are furiously affected by the Russian-Ukraine war (2022) and are at risk of their life. Many innocents lost their lives, many lost their parents, siblings, and friends. This crisis is a man-made phenomenon by an autocratic leader who wanted to invade the land and make their colonies. The surrounding small neighbouring countries are mountaineered at the risk of war and conflicts. The war creates tensions and problems not the solution to any of these. It only brings catastrophes and atrocities, not peace.

It is an ardent inquiry of all that how can I overcome the crisis? There are a lot of crisis management schemes and plans chalked out by different agencies which are remained unfulfilled. The tips and tricks promulgated to the persons who are afflicted never cause any repair to the crisis that they face. Rather they need affection and attention with intimacy and relationship. Peer support is a concern of healing.

method can employ for a better understanding of the situation. An assessment of the context is necessary.

Appropriate knowledge of the context is essential

Avoid stress and tensions.

Control yourself, try to avoid immediate steps.

Decision can be taken with emotional strength. Don’t allow stress to overcome you.

Think that you have come out of your comfort zone but it shouldn’t overhead you.

Handle the difficult situations without temperaments

Create new projects/plans

Turn the difficulties into opportunities. Many have turned their failures into chances.

Be Praxis-oriented – Bring your plans into action.

Whatever obstacles, perils and temptations may come in your life, let God Almighty controls you and guide you to His ways and allow Him to fulfill His will in and throughout your life.

God wants to build us through multiple social realities. Let God may rule over our lives. God may allow certain difficulties to come into our lives to build us and mold us.

Hence, we need to look at these issues with the following perspectives:

Anticipation - Approach the crisis with much anticipation and never give up expectations.

Analysis - The problem-posing

Realize God’s plan in your life. The crisis happened in our life with a clear purpose of God. But most of us are not realizing the will of God in our life. Paul says “…also, we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.” (Eph. 1:11ff).

Recognize Your Emotions “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Col.3:2) When we are struggling with emotion, we need to know that we can turn to God for comfort and help. Try to overcome all stress by trusting in the word of God. Re-orienting the oriented. We

may be oriented with certain hypotheses. To clear our thoughts and perceptions, we need to reorient our pre-occupied percepts.

God wants to build us through multiple social realities. Let God may rule over our lives. God may allow certain difficulties to come into our lives to build us and mold us. Apostle Paul, who had such a great vision tells that “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. “(2 Cor. 12 : 7).

It means God sanctions some crisis to have happened in our lives to shape us according to His plan and purpose.

Allow God to build us and reconstruct us. Let His will be done. If you submit to the will of God surely the way of God will open for you. If you do God’s will according to God’s plan, never lack God’s supply. Amen!

Rev. Thomas Mathew

The unusual pneumonia was noticed in Wuhan City, China. The microorganism which caused unusual pneumonia is named COVID-19. After COVID-19 was reported in many nations, WHO declared the situation as a pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of human life and the environment. Governments of different countries adopted different levels of interventions, including travel restrictions, and lockdown to control the spread of the highly contagious virus. The whole world stood still, with the slowdown of all activities millions of people started living inside their houses to protect themselves from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the nationwide lockdown, all transport services- road, air, and rail were suspended with exceptions of essential services. Educational institutions, industrial establishments and hospitality services were suspended. This improved air and water quality dramatically. Though the pandemic has displayed its contrasting consequences on human civilization, it created a very positive impact on the world environment. We can say that as a result of COVID-19 and the lockdown the environment was restored into its former well-being and it is enjoying Jubilee.

I. Covid 19 Pandemic

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) first emerged in December 2019 from Wuhan city of China. In a couple of weeks the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it as a pandemic. The transmission of the virus occurred mainly through person to person, via direct contact or droplets produced by coughing , sneezing, and talking. As of January 19, 2021, the virus has claimed to spread to 216 countries, with a death of 20, 62,599 people from 96,212743 confirmed cases and the number is increasing (sortiraparis.com, Jan 19,2021). Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, breathing difficulties, myalgia, vomiting, and diarrhea etc. include the symptoms of COVID-19 infections. By 2021 January, countries have developed vaccines against COVID-19 and have started administering the vaccine to the health workers as part of the priority.

As a result of the outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic, experts suggested the non-pharmaceutical measures like wearing face masks, hand gloves, washing of hands with soap and frequent use of sanitizers and maintaining social distancing as the means to control the virus. Another measure that was taken by the government to control the spread of the virus was the restriction of the movement of people, which resulted in the complete lockdown all over the world.

II. Environmental

of COVID-19

effects

India restricted the movement of the largest number of people as a preventive measure of COVID-19 which started from March 24, 2020. Except emergency services, all other organizations including educational institutions are being closed to encourage people to stay at home. All public transport services were suspended, with exceptions

of the transportation of essential goods and emergency services. The pandemic has caused huge global socio-economic disruptions, which directly or indirectly affected the environment, like improvement of air and water quality, reduction of noise, and restoration of ecology. The increased use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as facemask, hand gloves, face shield etc. and the careless disposal creates environmental burden also. The global disruption caused by the COVID-19 has brought about several effects on the environment and climate.

II.1 Reduction of air pollution and GHGs emission- Due to the world wide lockdown and slowdown of movement and economic activities the rate of GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emission reduced and air became cleaner in highly polluted locations. The air quality in the highly polluted cities became good. As industries, transportation and companies have closed down, it has brought a sudden drop of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) emissions. Compared with this time last year, levels of air pollution in New York have reduced by nearly 50% because of measures taken to control the virus (Henriques, 2020). It was estimated that nearly 50 % reduction in N2O and CO occurred due to the shutdown of heavy industries in China. Also, emission of NO2 is one of the key indicators of global economic activities. Usually NO2 is emitted from the burning of fossil fuels, 80% of which comes from motor vehicle exhaust (USEPA, 2016). It is reported that NO2 causes acid rain with the interaction O2 and H2O, and several respiratory diseases suffered by humans. The level of NO2 demonstrated a reduction across Ontario (Canada) and found to be reduced from 4.5 ppb to 1ppb. Up to 54.3% decrease of NO2 was observed in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It is assumed that vehicles and aviation are key contributors of emissions

and contribute almost 72% and 11% of the transport sector’s GHGs emission respectively. Due to decreased passengers and restrictions, worldwide flights are being canceled by commercial aircraft companies.

It was also stated that the levels of NO2 and PM2.5 reduced by almost 70% in Delhi, the capital of India. The major sectors contributing to air pollution are transport, power plants, industries, construction activities, road dust resuspension and residential activities. Activities like restaurant landfill fires etc. also contribute to air pollution. From Jalandhar, Punjab, the Himalayas became visible for the first time in decades and this is a proof of improved air quality due to the drop in pollution (Pitcheta, 9 April 2020).

Reduction of water pollutionWater pollution is a common phenomenon of a developing country like India, and Bangladesh, where domestic and industrial wastes are dumped into rivers without treatment. During the lockdown period, the major industrial sources of pollution have shrunk or completely stopped, which helped to reduce the pollution load (Yunus et al., 2020). For instance, the river Ganga and Yamuna have reached a significant level of purity due to the absence of industrial pollution on the days of the lockdown in India. It is found that, among the 36 realtime monitoring stations of river Ganga, water from 27 stations met the permissible limit (Singhal and Matto, 2020). This improvement of water quality at Haridwar and Rishikesh was ascribed to the sudden drop of the number of visitors and 500 % reduction of sewage and industrial effluents. According to the real-time water quality monitoring data of the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board of India, physicochemical parameter dissolved oxygen (DO),

biochemical oxygen demand and total coliform of the river Ganga was found within the surface water quality standard of India. . These conditions are conducive to survival of aquatic life. Its biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) has correspondingly fallen, along with the concentration of total coliform.

It is also found that, the concentration of pH, electric conductivity and chemical oxygen demand (COD) has reduced almost 1-10%, 33-66%, respectively in different monitoring stations during the lockdown in comparison to the pre-lockdown period. Moreover, due to imposed a ban on public gathering, the number of tourists and water activities were reduced in many places. Due to the lockdown of the COVID-19 lockdown, the Grand Canal of Italy turned clear, and reappearances of many aquatic species. Water pollution is also reduced in the beach areas of Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives, and Indonesia. Owing to the reduction of export-import business, the movement of merchant ships and other vessels are reduced which also reduces emission as well as marine pollution.

As a result, as people stayed at home due to lockdown and travel restrictions, some animals have been spotted in cities. Sea turtles were spotted laying eggs on beaches they once avoided (such as the coast of the Bay of Bengal),due to the lowered levels of human interference and light pollution.

3.3 Reduction of noise pollutionNoise pollution is the elevated levels of sound, generated from different human activities (e.g. machines, vehicles, construction work), which many lead to adverse effects in human and other living organisms Noise negatively effects on physiological health, along with cardiovascular disorders, hypertension ,and sleep shortness

of human. It is reported that, globally around 360 million people are prone to hearing loss due to noise pollution. WHO predicted that in Europe alone, over 100 million people are exposed to high noise levels. Anthropogenic noise pollution has adverse impacts on wildlife through the changing balance in predator and prey detection and avoidance. Unwanted noise also negatively affects the invertebrates, which help to control environmental processes which are vital for the balance of the ecosystem.

3.4 Ecological restoration and assimilation of tourist spots- Over the past few years, the tourism sector has witnessed remarkable growth because of technological advancements and transport networks; which contribute significantly to global gross domestic product. It is estimated that the tourism industry is responsible for 8% of global GHGs emission. The places of natural beauty are usually attracting the tourists, and are very harsh. To facilitate and accommodate them, lots of hotels, motel, restaurants, bars and markets are built, which consume lots of energy and other natural resources. Visitors dump various wastes which impair natural beauty and create ecological imbalance. Due to

COVID-19 and local restrictions, the number of tourists has reduced in the tourist spots around the world. As a result of restriction, the color of sea water is changed because of swimming, bathing, playing, and riding motorized boats. Nature gets a time to assimilate human annoyance, and due to pollution reduction recently returning of dolphins was reported in the coast of the Bay of Bengal (Bangladesh) and canals, waterways, and ports of Venice (Italy) after a long decade.

COVID-19 and its associated lockdown has given an opportunity to step back and assess the numerous effects on the environment and the climate. The global reduction in modern human activity has caused a large drop in air pollution in many regions. COVID-19 and resulting lockdown has brought a decrease in material consumption, water usage, and waste production. Air quality improvement during COVID-19 lockdown was due to the restricted vehicle movement, halt on construction activities, less road dust resumption and crub on industrial activities. Thus the nation was restored into its former well being and the environment enjoyed rest that went on to become the HOPE IN CRISIS

Glimmer of

Thomas MTh I (History)

In the moments of brokenness, In the moments of chaos, Have a glimpse at the cross, ye pilgrim From there comes, healing and stillness.

When hopes are shattered When hearts are troubled, Have a glimpse at the cross, ye pilgrim From there flows, grace doubled

With fear and sorrows abounding, With comfort and strength fading, Have a glimpse at the cross, ye pilgrim From there dawns, hope enriching.

On the lonely road to travel, On the dry and parched land, Have a glimpse at the cross, ye pilgrim From there elicits, joy unravelled.

Through the clouds of despair, Through the darkest nights of storms, Take a glimpse at the cross, ye pilgrim From there draws, glee aflare.

An upward sigh will proffer hope, An upward sigh will heal soul, Renders hope to the hopeless, Help to the helpless!

Prince

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala

Inthe cold dungeon of a Roman underground prison sits a man on the lower section (Tullianum) of the cell. Though his fate be immutably sealed, his face betrays a fortitude unknown to any former occupant of this poorly ventilated black hole. A steady stream of sunlight visits this prisoner at his choice corner from an unintended hole in the wall. Poised to write a letter to the one most beloved to him, for a moment his hope filled face is clouded by dark clouds of anxiety and untold uncertainties. The unmistakable sound of a Roman sword being sharpened on a whetstone echoes through this dungeon. The prisoner is surely not troubled by that sound.

What is bothering him is nothing other than the imminent crisis that would arise at his earthly departure. Actually the crisis has already propped up its ugly head in Ephesus with the rise of dissenters and denouncers of his message and mission. His prodigy Timothy is facing the greatest challenge of his life The very Gospel for which Paul is about to lay down his life is being sidelined and replaced in the communities he formed in the decades gone by. Will my labour be in vain? Will the true message of the Gospel be smothered to whet the carnal appetites of the ungodly within and the lost outside the congregation? Will Timothy be able to carry forward the baton of faith and truth entrusted to him? In a previous letter Timothy has already been admonished to guard what has been entrusted to his care (1 Tim. 6:20). But the later reports that Paul has received since then have been bleaker and disheartening. Paul is right now staring at a crisis which threaten to swallow up the whole Jesus movement that had consolidated and become a force to reckon during his very

Alby Thomas MTh II (NT)

Theological Seminary-Manakala

Faith

lifetime. But he has not given up hope. Burning with zeal for his Lord and Master, Paul the death row prisoner inspired by the Spirit inscribes into bold letters the apostolic antidote to this crisis; i.e. the second letter to Timothy . Today’s world is going through unimaginable crises in all frontiers. Politically, economically socially and even spiritually we are forced to navigate situations unprecedented. But I am greatly persuaded from scripture and experience that the greatest crisis that we are facing today is spiritual. Just like the community which Paul had in mind while writing second Timothy the biggest challenge that lies ahead of us also pertains to the divine truths handed over to the saints once and for all ( Jude 1:3). I am fully convinced that the Pastoral Epistles and especially 2 Timothy holds the key to overcome this same catastrophic crisis that we face.

What Paul writes here as an exhortation and encouragement to Timothy is one of the most relevant and contextual message for our times. Like Timothy we are also hereby urged to stay true to the message of the Gospel which Timothy received from Paul. Many false teachers like Hymenaeus and Philetus were doing serious injury to the Church by subverting the true Gospel (2 Tim. 2:17,18). In this letter Paul envisions Timothy as the custodian of divine truths. This deposit of divine truths is referred to as a good treasure (2 Tim. 1:14) which is entrusted to Timothy not just for safe keeping but for proclamation and transmission for many generations to come. Dear Church and Seminarians, like every generation before us we are called to be the guardians of divine truth as enshrined in God’s eternal word. We cannot add to it, neither subtract from it. We cannot use it to tickle the itching ears of carnal people within the church

and even outside. And on the other hand we cannot courageously stand for this apostolic truth in our own strength. In 2 Tim. 2:1 Paul asks Timothy his dear son to be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus. Like Timothy we need supernatural empowerment to safe guard and pass on God’s Truth to the next generation. In 2 Tim. 1:14 Paul asks Timothy to guard the good treasure which has been entrusted to him by the power of the Holy spirit.

In this article let me put forth seven steps to successfully safeguard and transmit God’s truth by God’s Power.

Hear it carefully: In 2 Tim. 2:2 Paul elaborates on the exhortation given in the previous verse (2:1) to be strong. If Paul did not write this portion, the exhortation to be strong would be just a cliché without any practical relevance.

The plea to be strong becomes a reality based on one’s response to God’s word. So, in verse 2 Paul reminds Timothy of all the things he has ‘heard’ from Paul in the presence of multiple witnesses who can vouch for the integrity of Paul and absolute truthfulness of Paul’s message. Timothy can only be strong if he has heard and experienced IT (the Gospel/ good treasure/word of truth/sound doctrine) with great care and caution. A half hearted listening of God’s word would put his life and calling and even the future of his congregation in jeopardy. In the best interest of his flock Timothy must not only listen carefully but he must handle the Word rightly.

Handle it rightly: In 2 Tim. 2:15 Paul asks Timothy to present himself as a skilled workman who has God’s approval. Being skilled does not mean any kind of extraordinary set of talents that would impress people. It signifies a commitment to handle God’s word with surgical precision & utmost vigilance. He is commissioned to

rightly divide the word of truth. In other words in a world full of shortcuts and crooked ways Timothy is called to handle God’s truth with utter seriousness. He is called not for smart work but hard work He cannot manipulate the message of truth to please the masses. He is to handle God’s word with a singular audience in mind: God himself. Applause of men must mean nothing to him, rather, the approval of God must be his only ambition. This right handling is possible only when we esteem as more precious than our lives.

Hide it preciously: Timothy cannot dare to lose it. This is a priceless pearl. An unfathomable treasure. These are the sacred writings which proffer eternally saving wisdom which is in Christ Jesus alone (2 Tim. 3:15). Like Mary who treasured everything that was revealed to her concerning the Divine child she conceived, Timothy must prize these gospel truths so devotedly that he wouldn’t squander it for anything in the world. Clothing and suiting from Raymond cannot make a complete man, only the God inspired scripture can (2 Tim. 3:17). No wonder it is so preciously worth hiding i.e. storing up within which actually includes putting it to memory with the sole of intent of unleashing it a verse at a time (cf: Ps. 119:11; Matt 4:1-11) in the battle against the tempter.

Heed it wisely: As a young leader Timothy cannot afford to just know the truth and to make it known. His life & works must stand as a witness to his words. In 2 Tim. 2:22 Paul asks Timothy to pursue the virtues of righteousness faith, love and peace along with other people who have set apart their lives to heed to god’s word. So, Timothy must place himself in a community that seeks God with a pure heart in order to obey him truly and fully. God’s people are not just verbally and intellectually committed to

God’s truth, they seek with their whole heart to practice what they believe and pursue a life that pleases God in all respects. Such people who heed to God’s Word wisely are building on the right foundation and no storm can shake them off.

Hold it dearly & tenaciously: In 2 Tim. 3:14 Paul implores Timothy to continue in what he has learned and become convinced of. He cannot just hear and obey it when it is convenient for him. His convictions in God’s word must be kept alive by continuing in it. He must hold on to God’s word with a tenacious death grip. This calls for an iron grip on eternal immutable truths. Like a drowning man holding on to a floating object, he must hold on perpetually as if his whole life and survival depends on it. Actually in the case of Timothy and each one of us we owe our very existence to God and his God. Man cannot just live and survive on material provisions and physical food. Jesus himself responded to the tempter by reminding that man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matt. 4:4). Like the Hebrew Christians (Heb. 2:1) neither Timothy nor any of us can afford to let God’s word slip away from our grasp. If we lose our grip on God’s word and thereby fail to continue in it, in the way which Paul counseled Timothy, we are bound to drift away fully and finally.

Herald it boldly: In 2 Tim. 4:13 Paul gives his final charge to his spiritual prodigy. Timothy is commanded to “Preach the Word’’. In the context of the Roman empire the word picture of heralding is communicated best through the following Roman staple affair. This was a common sight to behold, whenever the Emperor comes to a city, the heralds go before him and proclaim throughout the city that the emperor is coming on a particular day with a definite agenda. In the same way we are the

Gospel heralds. If such a context of intense persecution called for intensified focus on the ministry of heralding the gospel. How much more do we need to proclaim the gospel with supernatural boldness? If we are ashamed of the gospel, how can we succeed in transmitting the gospel faithfully to the next generation?

6. Handover it faithfully and intentionally: Timothy needs to respond to God’s word appropriately so that he can become an integral part of the “generational chain of Gospel transmitters”.

They run with all their might but the outcome of the race is determined by the passing of the baton and the competence of all the runners in their team. Gospel is like a baton. This baton of truth lighted at the Cross of Calvary ought to be handed over faithfully and intentionally to the next generation.

Dear readers, as I conclude this article, I beseech you as a fellow soldier of the Gospel we need to get our act together. We are facing a spiritual crisis. There is a famine in the land. Not a famine of food or water or even scarcity of basic necessities. This is a spiritual famine of God’s Word. We have a lot of preachings and programs and personality centred ministries. People are flocking to get their ears tickled with carnal, materialistic, enticing words of falsehood that feed our flesh’s lust for the world and its temporary things. If we could see through the letter of 2 Timothy into the heart of St. Paul who is about to face death; We can see a man whose heart is deeply grieved and burdened with concern for beloved Timothy and the Church at large. To ensure the continuity of his ministry and the apostolic legacy even after his death, Paul focuses on One Thing throughout the letter i.e., the Apostolic ministry of the

Word. Paul desired that Timothy must hear God’s Word carefully, handle it rightly, heed it wisely, hold it dearly, herald it boldly. Above all, the final step stands out as a culmination of all the steps beginning from hearing God’s Word carefully. What is the final step? Every Christian minister of every generation like Paul needs to be a custodian of God’s truth and find faithful men like Timothy to whom this deposit can be entrusted. Most Christian movements are facing the threat of decline and even extinction due to internal and external challenges. In the midst of this the only hope giving apostolic solution is “Returning to God’s Word.” We need to fill the lacuna of God’s Word in our generation. Like Paul and Timothy we must be engaged in the task of handing over God’s eternal truth to the next generation. In such a perilous context as this, I see our illustrious institution Faith Theological Seminary to be strategically placed in every respect to fill up the lacuna of God’s Word in today’s generation. Like Timothy, as an institution FTS is divinely positioned to identify reliable individuals and to invest in them God’s unchanging Word in a special way. As a seminary we are called to equip the upcoming generation for the task of faithful inter-generational and intragenerational transmission of the true doctrine and true faith. This is the hope of giving apostolic solution to the catastrophic crisis that we are facing today. This is the most practical realization of our institution’s motto; “Perfecting to make Perfect in Christ’’. If we apply these seven steps in our Christian life and ministry, we surely can be hopefully assured of a better, vibrant tomorrow beyond this crisis. This is the hope embedded in the unchanging Gospel handed over to us from generation to generation

Faith Theological

Dreams became my hope... But was hanging on a rope... Someone’s here to stop... For my goals to flop... Whether my dad’s love... Or my bro’s abhore... Whether deep down in pit... Or sold me for bits... Whether forced to sin... Or locked me in grills...

Yet... I dreamt... I dreamt in hope... And yes came the dream... That shone in gleems... Who made me down... I became a crown...

Sharon Masilamani BD Final

Hope: A Theological Perspe

There is just one thing that can keep one going in this world full of uncertainties: hope. The current happenings in the globe may not be entirely new, in the sense that the world has always been plagued by various problems at various periods, but the dynamics of them may be novel to human society. Decay can be found in many aspects of life, from the religious to the political, economic, and social realms. Human suffering appears to be at an all-time high, with new levels of agony and tears being released daily, not only to humans but to the entire cosmos. Despite this, the Omnipotent God has guaranteed God’s people his enduring presence in the midst of all of these uncertainties. What are the consequences of God’s promises to humanity now in terms of our hope in a world that is becoming increasingly perilous and dangerous?

The Concept of Hope

The fact that humans can or do hope is a source of solace in their current terrible circumstances. What exactly is hope, anyway? Encarta 2009 defines hope in its verb form as “confident desire: a sensation that something nice is likely to come... “A chance that something nice will happen or be possible” is defined as “a chance that something desirable will happen or be possible.” It goes on to define it as a “wish or desire: something that someone wants to have or do, or something that someone wants to happen or be true, or a feeling of trust.” We will seek deeper study of the word and its notion from philosophical and biblical viewpoints because our zone of discussion extends beyond the English literary sense of hope.

Philosophical Perspective of Hope

Hope, according to Brian Treanor (Professor of Philosophy), is “that which permits me not to despair, that which gives me the strength to continue to construct myself in availability to the other.” Treanor goes on to say that this line of reasoning may appear to be nothing more than wishful thinking—often incorrect, as events all too often demonstrate—that everything will work out in the end. In the face of adversity, hope makes a person appear foolish in the eyes of “smart” people. The person who hopes does not accept the current position as definitive; nonetheless, he or she does not imagine, expect, or predict the event that will free him or her from his or her predicament; rather, he or she simply hopes for relief. The more hope transcends any expectation of the shape that deliverance will take, the less open it is to the objection that the hoped-for deliverance will not occur

Hope, in general, refers to anticipating God’s future activity, and the foundation of hope is God’s previous actions in creation, the history of God’s people, and, most importantly, God’s redemptive work in Jesus Christ.

John V. Alexander MTh I (Christian Theology)

in many circumstances. It is highly conceivable that a person’s wish to have his or her ailment healed by a certain medical operation will be denied. This is what distinguishes hope from desire. Even in the face of an unplanned, painful, and terrible scenario, one’s wish may be blocked, but one’s hope does not. As a result, the Bible says of Abraham, “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations…” (Romans 4:18)

“Hope does not go alone, nor does it surrender to fate; rather, it is active while calmly waiting for the outcome it seeks.”

Biblical Perspective of Hope:

The Old Testament Perspective: It is important to note that there is no separate Hebrew term in the Old Testament that can be translated as the English word ‘hope.’ As a result, in the King James Version, the term ‘hope’ (noun and verb) stands for about 15 Hebrew words, nearly all of which are translated differently elsewhere.” Other translations, on the other hand, have sought to be more systematic and have frequently translated the phrase machseh. (Jer 17:17; Ps 40:4; 65:5, etc.), tiqrâh (Ezek 37:11), as hope and have variously been used in different senses thus in the Old Testament. The absence of specificity in any term that is etymologically translated as hope in the Hebrew language does not imply that the concept of hope is undervalued in the Hebraic religion. Hope is associated with expectation in the Old Testament as well as in other areas. There is no such thing as a neutral expectation; it is either good or negative, evoking either hope or terror.

“Hope as the expectancy of good is strongly related with trust, and expectation is also yearning, in which the aspect of patient

waiting or fleeing for refuge is emphasised,”. Bultmann goes on to say that, If God’s expected help delivers from present distress, it is more specifically thought of as the eschatological help which puts an end to all distress. The attitude of expectant and confident hope increasingly expresses the realization that everything in the earthly present is provisional, and it thus becomes increasingly hope in the eschatological future.

Hope is likewise associated with life in Hellenistic Judaism, and it is only extinguished by death. The sick man hopes for recovery; the wicked’s hope is in vain, and they have no hope when they die. The righteous, on the other hand, have hope even in death because their hope is centred on God, thus they have nothing to dread. “Their trust is in the powerful God who is their protection and help in general and in special need,”.

The New Testament Perspective: Conceptually, According to Russell Pregeant, the New Testament “hope has deep roots in the OT, where KJV ‘hope’ translates a variety of Hebrew words, which mean ‘confidence’, ‘trust’,’‘safety’, etc., sometimes so rendered in more modern versions”. Etymologically, the word hope is from the Greek word elpizō (verb) and elpis (noun) which is often translated as ‘hope’, ‘trust’ (sometimes as ‘faith’ in KJV), denotes the sense of anticipation usually with pleasure; expectation (abstractly or concretely ) or confidence.” Hence the usage of elpizein in Luke 6:34; 1 Cor 9:10; 2 Cor 8:5; 1 Tim 3:14; Acts 16:19, etc. speaks of expectation, however, where such expectation relates to persons, we have the trust which is typical of the Old Testament concept of hope (2Cor 1:13; 5:11; 13:6, etc.). Sometimes, the idea of hope is used interchangeably with the word pepoithēsis which

is often translated as ‘confidence’ or ‘trust’ as in 2 Cor 1:15; 8:22; 10:2.

“Hope, like love, is evidently directed to men in 1 Cor 13:7,” Bultmann correctly observes, “but for Paul this attitude rests on the comparable relationship to God, as indicated by the logical transition from the one to the other in v. 13.” In general, where hope is set on God in the New Testament, it encompasses the three qualities of future expectancy, faith, and patience in waiting. Hope cannot count or depend on controllable factors or depend on blepomenōn, but trust in the divine future. As a result, this world has no hope. “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitied of all mankind,” Paul says (1 Cor. 15:19). Hope is an element of the Christian experience in this world, and it is concerned not with the fulfilment of human worldly hopes about the future, but with the assurance of God’s gift, which is awaiting the completion of time.

Hope, in general, refers to anticipating God’s future activity, and the foundation of hope is God’s previous actions in creation, the history of God’s people, and, most importantly, God’s redemptive work in Jesus Christ.

Before we consider the ramifications of our faith in this omnipotent God it’s important to remember that this God is omniscient – that is, He knows everything (Ps 139:1-12).

To summarise, biblical hope, whether from the Old Testament or the New Testament, is founded on an omnipotent, omnipresent, selfexistent, and immutable God whose work in creation, deliverance of the covenant people (Israel of the Old Testament), and the work and life of Jesus Christ have become the believer’s consolation that God will not change in giving hope to the New Testament covenant people

UNITY IN THE BODY OF CHRIST THE KEY TO REACHING THE WORLD FOR CHRIST

Samuel Albert BD Final

The Greek meaning of Hope is “expectation, trust, and confidence.” Hope is meaningless unless there is a community to exercise it. Church is the hopeful community marked by love, justice and freedom. According to R. Bultmann, Church is the fulfiller of Old Testament promises particularly of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the appearance of the messianic era.

The church was instituted by the Lord to be His instrument in reaching out to people and also expressing and demonstrating His love for you and me. It is His tool in making and bringing changes in the lives of people and in the society.

The early chapters of the book of Acts set in Jerusalem describe the Day of Pentecost (the coming of the Holy Spirit) and the growth of the church in Jerusalem. The

church in Jerusalem is established and begins to grow through the preaching of the apostle Peter despite persecution and other issues that threaten the integrity of the church.

The Jewish audiences heard the gospel proclaimed and responded with repentance and faith, were incorporated into the church through baptism, and they devoted themselves to a common faith and a common life. Through baptism we become members of the body of Christ. Now we are connected to one another. There is an organic relationship we enjoy. Isn’t that amazing?

A true church is born out of a genuine conversion and of life in Christ!

The message of Jesus Christ is the only message powerful enough to change the path of a person’s life. If the message of Christ is the only power that can do that and if

that message has been entrusted primarily to churches, then the church is the hope of the world because it has the only message that can transform a human life.

Let us remember: Business isn’t the hope Government isn’t the hope Education isn’t the hope

The church is the only final hope for this world.

And if the church really is the hope of the world, each of its attenders really matters. They are the church, it’s not the building.

We may be from different areas; we may speak different languages but now that we have become part of God’s family, we enter into a covenant relationship. We see the church people assembling, gathering together, participating and getting so close to each other that they called each other brothers

They worshipped with great joy and liberty. They prayed bold prayers and God answered them with miracles, signs and wonders.

and sisters and they took their masks off and they self disclosed and functioned like a loving family (Acts 2:44-47). They were a community of faith aligned with God’s will and actions.

Sharing with one another

These first Christians sold their possessions and shared everything equally (Acts 2:4447). They turned over all their possessions to the apostles for use by the church as a whole. They didn’t keep anything back for themselves. They didn’t say of anything, “This is my own.” Instead, they were constantly thinking about the needs of others. Nowadays most Christians don’t sell their possessions; they don’t have everything in common. However, there are two things that we must do; one, we must regard all of our possessions, including our own bodies, as belonging to God; And two, we must love our neighbors as ourselves (Mk. 12:31). If we do these two things, then in God’s sight we will be doing as those first Christians did.

Those first believers did everything together. They broke bread in each other’s homes; that is, they celebrated the Lord’s Supper together, one time in one home, another time in another home. Together with the Lord’s Supper, they also ate an ordinary meal (Acts 2:46-47). What a godly, joyful, and caring community that first church was! When other people saw the lives of those first believers, they came to join their fellowship. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. The community of people was so radically devoted to God that whatever He asked them to do they would do. They had so much integrity in that community that people outside the church were curious about what was going on inside the church and they respected it.

They worshipped with great joy and liberty. They prayed bold prayers and God answered them with miracles, signs and wonders.

There might be a question. Will the church, the hope of the world, be able to sustain itself until the end of time?

Whole empires made up of hundreds of millions of people were thought to be permanent fixtures of history have come

God has a critical role for you and me to play. God is asking us to join Him in the privilege of building His church, the hope of the world. We need to ask ourselves – Am I busy in building “my” thing, my net worth and so on.

and gone. They are curiously absent from the landscape today. Multi-billion dollar multi-national corporations that were thought to be permanent fixtures have come and gone. Who would have thought that corporations with hundreds and millions of dollars of assets with just like evaporated. And they have. Anil Ambani once counted among the world’s richest man with a net worth of 42 billion dollar declared to a UK court his “net worth was zero” and that he was bankrupt.

So why should we have any confidence that this thing we call the church can outlast empires, multi-generational dynasties and worldwide corporations?

Matthew 16:18 says I will build my church, Jesus said these words, “I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.” What gives us confidence in the churches’ sustainability, how the church will outlive and outlast every other organization and dynasty and empire is who is building it, who is in charge of it, who is regenerating it, who is recreating it from age to age and who is protecting it throughout history and that’s none other than Jesus Himself, God’s Son, Second person of the Trinity, Saviour and Sustainer of the church till the end of time.

The only thing that Jesus is doing between when He ascended to the Father and when He comes back for His own the only thing He is doing is building His church. His full time focused attention 24/7 is on building His church the hope of the world. And He builds it in Kashmir, in Kerala, in Mumbai and Kolkata City and Nepal and in Bhutan and in places all over the world.

God has a critical role for you and me to play. God is asking us to join Him in the privilege of building His church, the hope of the world. We need to ask ourselves – Am I busy in building “my” thing, my net worth and so on.

Christ’s guarantee is valid only when He builds the church His way. When we follow His blueprint, we can be sure that He is doing the work through us and that nothing, not even the gates of hell, can stop Him. Let’s commit ourselves to the role God has invited us to play as He is building His church in this world. The church was so important to God that He sent His only begotten Son to die on its behalf. We are the church. And Jesus has invited every one of us to play a critical role in the building of His church. We should work together in maintaining and fostering that unity within the church.

Unity matters to God. Unity creates belief. Disunity fosters disbelief. “The world will be won for Christ when the church is one in Christ.” We are members of the body of Christ; we become unified when we pray together, study God’s word together and work together to share the gospel. We cannot do this on our own. The only way that we can truly be in unity with others is by asking God to humble us. Let us work together; let there be unity in the body of Christ. There is much that needs to be done in this community. If we decide to “stick together” – we can do anything!!! The body of Christ is the only hope for the world.

T RA nsl AT ion Department Inauguration

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala

A i DS DAY

AN AFTERNOON WITH PASToR V. A. ThAMPY & MARiAMMA ThAMPY

Ona very hot day Thomas Mathew sir and three of us drove to Chingavanam in Kottayam district in Kerala. All of us were both excited and nervous at the same time. We had been praying for and looking forward to this conversation. When we were just five minutes away, we received a call saying that Pastor would not be able to see us today since he spent almost the entire day attending phone calls because of which he won’t be able to speak and his earph have swollen because of using the phone with a hearing aid. The day before we were going to meet him, he had written a feature in the third page of Malayala Manorama newspaper sharing the gospel and inviting people to repent and come to the Lord. At the end of the article his phone number was given for people to call for prayers. As soon as people read the feature calls started flooding in and despite his old age and ill health he eagerly answered all the calls and shared the good news and prayed for them. This went on till the sun went down. We were both amazed and sad at the same time since it’s not everyday we get to spend time with a spiritual giant who loves the Lord more than anything and also a pioneer in every sense who went on to establish New India Church of God a very active Christian missionary organization that is extensively involved in church planting along with various charity activities. God has expanded this organization in a short span of time to have over 3000 churches, 16 Bible Training Centers, 7 Mobile Evangelistic Teams, 12 Homes for Orphans, 6 schools, a home for Aids affected women and children, rescue homes for women for all walks of life and refugee homes for ladies who were abandoned by their families for the sake of the gospel. They also feed and educate hundreds of street children in the cities of Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi and rehabilitate drug addicts.

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala

I come from a community called the Knanaya who are believed to have arrived at the port in Kodungallur under the leadership of the Jewish Christian merchant Thomas of Cana during the 4th century.

Since we had reached Chingavanam, we requested to meet with him, pray and leave, to which they agreed. We were ushered into Pastor Thampy’s old and beautiful bungalow in the NICOG headquarter campus. We were greeted by a radiant and smiling face, whom everyone calls Mariamma ammachi. As soon as she saw us she started talking to us and told us about Pastor Thampy’s condition. We sat with her for a few minutes and we were called into the living room where Pastor Thampy was sitting. A man used by the Lord to save thousands of perishing souls, a man after the Lord’s heart. Even though all we asked for was prayer and a few pictures he started to share his testimony and all we could do was sit in awe and listen to him speak.

“I come from a community called the Knanaya who are believed to have arrived at the port in Kodungallur under the leadership of the Jewish Christian merchant Thomas of Cana during the 4th century. It was a closely knit community who held dearly onto their lineage and traditions. Even though there was much resistance in me getting baptized and becoming a pentecostal, I gave my life to the Lord and was filled with the Spirit. When my mother used to ask me anything I would reply in tongues. My mother would think if I’ve gone mad. I left home. I didn’t know anything, had no destination, only had one thing in mind that I’ve to preach the Gospel so I used to get up at 4 in the morning and get out of my house to preach this Holy Word. During that time communist party led by EMS was growing at a significant rate and was ruling Kerala. People were all insane about communalism at that time. They carried a megaphone and rambled in rice fields and the leader cried out loud saying “the children of this soil, wake up, protest and fight for our rights. Don’t let the landlord use you as his slaves, don’t let them benefit from your sweat and blood, protest and follow me -Inqulab Zindabad”. And as they were walking I was watching this sitting on the top of the coconut tree and my blood was boiling with rage and I was thinking Jesus Christ sacrificed his life for us. Is there no one who was as passionate for Christ? I got inspired by that and went to the blacksmith with a kerosene tin to make a megaphone and 500 women farmers were sowing rice in our

land. Seeing them I cried “Children of this land, wake up, come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens’’. I didn’t know how to preach, just knew a few bible verses. Those who believe in Jesus Christ raise your hands and all of them are raised, I prayed for them and that’s how I started my service of the Lord. Until late evening preached and reached the banks of a river, I felt so weak because I had no money to eat and slowly out of hunger my vision started going dark. One lady came and asked me “Son, since morning you’re preaching, did you eat anything”. I said all I had since morning was prayers. She opened her purse, gave me a few coins (naalana) and took me to her work place. I ate 2 pieces of bread and gained some energy. There were some laborers camping and they wanted to hear from me. That was the first crusade. There was no song, no mic, no people, they were from CSI church and they started singing ‘Yehova daivamam vishudha jadi naam’ for a long 1 hour. They dropped me back home via boat. My mother didn’t allow me to enter the house. I slept in the varanda and the

next day I went out again. For seven years I had nothing and without any rest I preached in open air meetings and wherever I found an opportunity and as it is written in Ecclesiastes “Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle. Till 10 I used to preach with an empty stomach with no food or money. I cried to the lord saying my own mother doesn’t want me, I am alone still I won’t leave you. I don’t know anyone, I’ve no church. And as all this was happening I went to Ranni medical college to distribute tracts and on my way in Thiruvananthapuram I met a pastor named Rajan. He sent a 5 rupees money order with a card saying there’s a meeting of nominal Christians and Thampychan must share your testimony and it started there. We built a church there and I was a member of the church where God placed me. I started to travel extensively. I went to the Kumbanad convention where my friend and I used to sit inside the

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala

tent. He would bring something to eat. We used to pray during the nights. 100 people used to sleep together and it was thronged there. We used to pray at night and K Abraham, TJ Ommachan, CK Daniel all of them came to pray, they placed their hands over our head and blessed us that is how I received my ordination. With tears in his eyes and a trembling voice Thampychayan said at 2 in the night all of them laid hands on him and that’s how he received the Holy Spirit. No was there to give me ordination, no was there to hold my hand.

I was getting pressure from my family to marry in Knanaya church. I said no, I am in Christ. Kovoor Babuchan, Aniyachayan from Changanassery and a few other well wishers found my Mariama and we got married. No one came from my house. It was a simple marriage with no video or photo, no food , no dowry but I had the blessed hands of a few men of God. They laid hands over our heads and prayed for us. They blessed us. We had no home, no shelter. We had to spend the night

at the bus stop. My elder brother called me home, I went home, and their intention was me to marry off in Knanaya tradition, they had everything arranged for the wedding - wedding chain, milk banana, manthrakodi, people friends relatives, everyone was there and I was baffled and asked them what all this romp and show was about? I told them boldly that I had left all these traditions behind and now I’m married and I have decided to follow my Jesus and there’s no turning back.

“The world didn’t know me but my God knew me he was with me.”

I was called to a place to preach the Gospel and I was there for a few weeks during the course of which there was fight, murder, chaos and in the middle of that me and a fellow man of God baptised 110 people. We went on to build 10 churches and registered under the leadership of Kanam Achen. With humble beginnings like that in Kerala we now have more than 500 churches and all over India we have around 4000 churches, many more in the Gulf region,

Burma, Nepal and many parts of the world. There are 150 churches in Karnataka alone.

Our evangelism journey started From Tamil Nadu and went all the way till Arunachal Pradesh. There’s still a long way to go, it is like collecting drops in a bucket. My 4 children are working with me for the Lord. Day and night working hard in 4 different states. baptizing more than 100 people in Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh. a church was established. I am 82 but I want to work for the lord as long as I live. I don’t perform baptism service now due to my weakness. I’ve baptized more than 1000 people by God’s grace. I haven’t written any book about myself but only about my God. I’ve written tracts. Haven’t had any debts yet, our God is faithful. Have to bring at least one person to Christ till the last breath of my life. If anyone comes here for any help or to visit I give them tract, share my testimony, share the gospel and talk about the kingdom of God. I submit to them and pray for them. Have you read my tract?

Gopalkrishnan called and said Thampychan no one has ever written this much, this is really good. It contains valuable thoughts, facts and truth. A lot of people are calling me and saying the same. Many Hindus and receiving salvation, Muslims are receiving the truth.

We wanted to know what was the biggest challenge Pastor Thampy faced in his ministry and he shared-

In 1966 In north India we got into many fights, got bruises all over us. Have you heard of Udaipur? During those times I was ministering in Ganganagar with my team. I used to sit on the back of my friend’s scooter and travel. Our tract was over and he asked me to stay with him for a week as there were few believers and we had to talk to them and pray for them. They had been praying for a jeep to be able to travel far and share the gospel. I used to sleep in the varanda of that Udaipur house, he had nothing. I encouraged them through my speech and God spoke to me and said give them what you have. And I thought I have 1 wife and children. I also had one motorcycle which was sent to me from someone abroad. I gave it to them for the service and when they got it they started jumping and dancing with joy. They went back

home after having lunch and we went to distribute tracts. There the locals and sardars came and they beat us very poorly. They were all furious and thought we were doing black magic and filed a complaint against us in the police station. The policeman came and we told them that we are the ambassador of the king and almost 100 people are praying for us. And now there are 28 churches in the same place. We faced a lot of harassment in North India.

And also in Kerala, We had our 1st convention in my hometown, the place, tent and mic was destroyed and the people were brutally beaten up. Now there are many churches around that area. Wherever I’ve sowed the seeds, God has done marvelous works. In Changanassery I was living in a rented house, I had no income, no source to pay off my rent. My children were hungry, had no money to buy milk. I put my child over my lap and prayed that “God even if this child dies I won’t leave you.”

And I went to distribute the tract, when I came back the postman came with a mail from New York sent by an English man. In the letter it was written that I’m praying for Asia and I got your address and I know that you’re in trouble. The letter had 20 dollars, so I

converted it and bought milk for my child. Now she’s feeling 2000 unwanted children, educating them, motivating them, saving them from drugs, looking after 600 churches, helping the pastors who are in need. My youngest son is also serving the Lord in Calcutta and many other states. One of our pastors, Madhavan in Nepal, he was a brahman now looking after 30 churches, he faced many harassment, challenges, threats but has never asked for any loan. After this long narration of the things this mighty man of God had endured in his life for the sake of the gospel, we all were drenched in tears and were encouraged and we asked Pastor Thampy about how he overcame all these challenges. With much authority and a shaky voice and gleaming eyes he boldly declared, “By God’s grace, By God’s grace, My grace is enough for you ,for my power is made perfect in weakness.” For 51 years My wife Mariamma has been living and praying with me . We get up at 4 in the morning to call in Changanassery that we have killed one snake in the morning. Nothing will happen because God is with you.

The Knanaya community kicked me out of the house because I didn’t have money to pay off the rent. I left and started my ministry in

Changanassery and after 20 years I came back here. Harassment, threats, faced everything in my life and in the middle of all this Lord gave me people, this place became the International headquarters, it covers 6 acres of land.

God is no man’s debtor. By that time he narrated all these things Pastor Thampy was already out of breath. We asked him not to speak anymore and we got up to ask him to pray for us. Before we could say anything he asked Thomas sir to lay hands on him and pray for him. We were awestruck by his humbleness. We prayed for him and then he prayed for us.

Following this we were called in for lunch. Ammachi didn’t ask us for lunch but she told us. It felt as if we were her own children and she sat with us and ate while Pastor Thampy went to get ready for pictures. During lunch she told us a great deal about the role she plays in the ministry and spoke about the difficulties that they faced in the ministry and about the contemporary trends in mission. What was the most difficult situation you ever faced in your life?

In September 1989, when I reached Kerala, God showed me a vision about Generational powers. For that we took 21 days of fasting continuously for 6 months. We used to send two students each to different places to share the Gospel. After that some students from Trivandrum randomly came to us saying that they wanted to take 21 days of fasting and prayer. After listening to it, I was filled with joy and felt as if it was God’s way of confirming our decision. We Brought palm leaves and with that we made a shed and started praying in that shed. From morning till 1 in noon, we used to pray in spirit. On another such instance two sisters from Malabar came and told me that God told

them to pray and take fasting with me. In the month of October and November, people used to come like this and we fasted together and prayed. In the month of December, I fasted alone. Thus, in March 1990, 18 people got Baptized and it was a great breakthrough. But during those days lots of people were against us and performed all kinds of black magic to destroy our ministry. Many false accusations started rising against us. They started telling the people that my husband is in jail. People from other religions started to spread the news everywhere and because of that our relatives, dear ones, started calling us. And our children suffered a lot, while they were going to college everyone used to gossip about us. As it is written in Gospel of Matthew 5:11,12 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be Glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the Prophets who were before you. “When we think of these verses, our heart fills with Joy, but while we hear from others it used to hurt us a lot. During that time a crusade was going at Cherthala and my husband was doing great ministry over there. This was the most difficult situation which we faced in our lives but because of that in Kerala God helped us to establish 38 churches in that year itself. Now more than a thousand believers were there in different places.

Do you think that after the PostPandemic situation is there any possibility for Revival?

There is a result for every work, we know that lots of prayer warriors increased/enhanced during this time. So definitely Revival would occur. I was not much aware about social media. But during this pandemic time, I came to know about Zoom and also used it for

God’s Glory. From 2016 onwards me and my Seminary students took fasting every Tuesday and prayed for the Revival of India. Then God spoke to me, now it’s time for you to go to different states, and take fast and pray, 3 days for each state. So, I started my Journey in 2017, with me there were so many spirit-filled youths and we together started our journey from Maharashtra and within two and half years we ended our journey in Jammu & Kashmir. Before going to any place God revealed to me about that place. When we reached Gujarat, we started praying continuously for six hours and it was a great deliverance for people. Next, we went to Varanasi. Every day at 6:30-8:30 Pm, spiritfilled we prayed for each District of that state. And this prayer was a golden opportunity that God gave us. While in Kerala also God helped me to pray for each state. And by God’s grace we went to every state and prayed for each District of that state. For 8 hours we prayed in Spirit. After every 3 hours I used to ask my students if God showed them any vision. Like that we prayed for every state and experienced God’s presence. So, in 2019 we completed our journey in Jammu Kashmir.

After lunch we went back to the beautiful living room and had a fun photo session. We said our goodbyes and left with precious memories we had made in those two hours. Pastor V.A. Thampy and Mariamma Thampy continue to serve the Lord strenuously despite their old age. Both of them still travel to villages and towns across India preaching the gospel and praying for the land. They are blessed with four children and ten grandchildren. All their children are serving the Lord in various parts of the country and the world

Persistence is an an important characteristic of the child of God. A persistent salesman refused to leave when the secretary told him the boss was out. An hour passed, then two . Finally weary of being a prisoner in his own office, the boss came out and admitted the salesman, “ my secretary told you I was out” exclaimed the puzzled boss. How did you know I was in “. “Easy” explained the salesman. “Your secretary was working. Some times persistent waiting on the Lord with out losing hope makes the difference, Here is the case of Jairus the synagogue ruler who came to Jesus and fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly saying that his little daughter was at the point of death and requsted him to come and lay hands on her so that she may be made well and live however some people came from his house and informed him that his daughter is no more and not to trouble the Master,But overhearing what they said Jesus told him not to fear but only believe.This incident was written in all the synoptic gospels.(Matthew 9:18-26,Luke 8:40-56;Mark 5:21-43).Jairus travelled from the edge bitter despair to a great hope, from utter hopelessness to a great hope. A little glimpse into that passage surely will strengthen us.

(i) Humility of Jairus: one of the fierce opponents of Jesus during his ministry were pharisees, Sadducees, and religious people of synagogue. Therefore it is in fact great risk being a synagogue ruler approaching and prostrating at Jesus feet. Jairus was a religious leader, probably the highest rank official

Vidyasagar Alladi M.Th.I (NT)

in the area. He was administrative official who would look after the rota of the synagogue. He was running the risk of arousing hostility of his peers and of being censored and losing position. Luke stresses Jairus dignity and place in Jewish establishment, official representative of Judaism who, here prostrates himself before Jesus.He humbled himself before Jesus which is very rare with Jewish official,but he did not hesitate. The mention of the age of girl sheds some light about the girl approaching the age of marriage so her womanhood is under threat.

The NT clearly depicts that several people demanded miracles of Jesus but they didn’t get them, Scribes and Pharisees in (Mt.12:38), Pharisees and Sadducees (Mt.16:1), Jewish leaders during the cleansing of the temple (John 21:8). But In Jairus case It is not so, he fell at Jesus feet. Act of humility, Such an act was unusual then especially for synagogue rulers. Therefore, humility in the life of person is very crucial in order to see a miracle of God.

(ii) Demonstrated his faith: v.23 says we need to be specific as what God wants us to do in our life.He said “come put your hands on her so that she may live, According to Matthew 9:18 Jesus was right in the middle of teaching “while he spoke these”, this shows us that Jesus is willing to be interrupted when he hears our cry He cares about people , not things.

(iii) Jesus went with Jairus: He will come with us in the midst of our crisis, Jesus will come to our house, or job place, broken marriage, children situation whatever may the case. He will come to your space to help you and say “Do not fear, only believe” provided you have humility and earnestness in seeking him.

(iv) Discouragements Jairus faced on a road to Miracle: Many are the discouragements on his road to miracle, the first one is “huge crowd”, Luke says “As Jesus went on His way, the crowds almost crushed Him”(Lk.8:42). It is like trying to get your loved one to the hospital and getting struck in a terrific traffic Jam. For Jairus, every second was critical- his daughter’s life was ebbing out of her and here they were surrounded by a mob that bought progress to stand still. His position as synagogue ruler is also an obstacle and lastly some body gave him the bad news his daughter was dead. In this desperation he stayed there

seeking savior’s help, yes often we struck up in similar situation but persistence coupled with faith in the Lord can lead us to victory in the respective field.

(v) Victory: Nothing was over unless Jesus says “it was over”, often circumstances seem so pathetic that spiritual giant like Elijah may be discouraged but God will have thousand ways to solve our problem. May it be that your rivers are dried up and fig tress are not budding or may it be that no grapes on the vines, But still we can rejoice and hope in the God, He is the God of impossibles and he proved it time and again. When the world says It was over, God says that its in my control, so nothing is over unless He says “it was over”. He said “Damsel Get up” and life came into the girl.Jesus tells the dead girl to do what she cannot do, with the power of his everlasting word and she does it.The only criteria for a miracle in our lives is “only believe and do not be afraid”,Belief coupled with persistence and humility made this possible, Do you need a miracle in your life, be it any field just follow the pattern. You will find one, When world shuts the door before your face God opens thousand doors for you,for past few years we were waiting on God and often felt desperate, Are our prayers travelling through roof top and we were bewilderment but slowly God changed the scenario, what scared us two years back extremely is just like another seasonal disease now, people are bold now, they are challenge now thats the power of prayer of persistence, Yes time for miracle in your has dawned, Just wait its almost there. Jesus loves you and He has great plan for your life cheer up.Jesus is coming soon

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In this desperation he stayed there seeking savior’s help, yes often we struck up in similar situation but persistence coupled with faith in the Lord can lead us to victory in the respective field.

Roshina Roy BD Final

LIVING

HOPE SUFFERING

Our forefathers have brought us up in the path of love, eternal life and deliverance. It has been said that “ I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33). Crisis is an indivisible part of life. No one can override their life without crisis. The crisis defines the strength that we gathered and lessons that we learned over a lifespan. Many have fallen when a crisis has arisen in their life. The one having the vision about the arising crisis will be provided with suitable remedies. For all a crisis is not meant to be fallen, otherwise it is meant to keep him prepared for a battle that is raging furiously against him.

God has created this wide spread, immeasurable, ultimately mysterious universe and its components with his mighty commands and has provided a law that no force can break through. Afterwards humankind has been created in his likeness with his own hands. The creator loved and blessed his creations and for the human race he has given the highest honor and dignity. Even though we all have these blessings we have to go through the crisis and the other problems.

Here we can classify crisis in three different ways i.e., when we

IN THE MIDST OF

violate the laws of nature, when we violate the commandments of our savior and the persecution of a true believer (Suffering for the sake of Christ).

Violation of nature’s law

During the time of creation of the universe, God had provided a set of laws. If there is a law, there will be punishment for violating it. Therefore nature will respond in its full potential if anyone has violated the law. Nature has its own way of sustainability and survival of creations.

God created the earth and its law as a perfect way to live for humans, So that we have responsibility to protect the earth and we are required to analyze and understand why the disaster is happening in nature. If we do not do that our life will be in trouble and nature will be against us.

Violation of Eternal Law.

Eternal law is God’s providence rules the world, His reason evidently governs the entire community in the universe. In the bible we can see God’s laws like The Ten Commandments, The Beatitudes, The Commandment to Love One Another, Canon Law (Law of the Church), The Old Law (The Law of Moses). This Law was given by God to disclose His absolute standard of righteousness,

to convince us all of our true sin before Him.

The ultimate goal of human beings is to follow the laws of our God and if we disobey the law all His commandment is a sinful activity. When someone commits a sin, our loving father will give not formidable but an exemplary punishment. “But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:31, 32). The bible clearly says that all the crises rising against us are not for our destruction. It is an eternal caring scheme for those who believe in him. The Lord almighty will always keep us morally right and justifiable by giving instantaneous simple punishments. Hence we have been offered with another opportunity to judge our transgressions by ourselves and repent therefore. The one who judges himself will be forgiven and be saved from the day of judgment and punishments. We all need to understand and apply this context personally, so that we abandon any attempt to justify ourselves.

If we spend our lives explaining ourselves and criticizing others,

we will eventually stop laughing. We’ll be standing before God, all of our excuses will go in vain, speechless and we will hear the Sovereign Judge proclaim, “Guilty as charged!” It will be too late to cry out in pain at that time.

Suffering with Christ

Not all of the hardship we experience as Christians is Christian suffering. We are fallen animals in a sinful world by nature, vulnerable to sin and its consequences in and around us. Under such conditions, we all suffer to some extent, and we all get considerably less than we deserve. As sinners and creatures in a world wracked by sin, we suffer. Without God’s gratuitous grace, we would be doomed to eternal torment in hell. Christians are no longer who we were by nature because of grace. We were once dead in our trespasses and sins, but now we are alive in Christ. Even though our sins have been forgiven, we still bear some of the temporal repercussions. In

a fallen world, we nevertheless have to deal with creaturely sufferings. We have been spared the unending torments of hell that we deserve, as our Redeemer was punished instead of us. We live linked to Christ by faith, having been cleansed by His blood and risen with Him to newness of life, the life of the age to come. We have become citizens of paradise, pilgrims on our way to a realm free of suffering and filled with love and gladness. As Christians, we now have the privilege of suffering.

Christians have been persecuted well into the twenty-first century. Christianity is the world’s largest religion, with followers all around the world. Persecution of Christians today includes persecution of Christians by Christians as well as persecution of Christians by ISIL(Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) and other terrorist groups, with official state persecution primarily occurring in African and Asian countries with state religions

or governments and societies that favour religious minorities.

True Christianity is no easy sell. We don’t call them to a crown first, but rather to a cross. The road to glory is paved with pain. With Christ yet to come, our happy suffering with Christ will be swallowed up by splendour. The worst that the world has done will pale into insignificance in comparison to that first moment of resurrection life. All current suffering with and for Christ will then be viewed as worthwhile, because He is truly worthy. I will provide the privilege to eat from the tree of life, which is in God’s paradise, to the victorious.

“The way of life begins or manifests itself from the instance when we find an explanation in the midst of a crisis for what purpose did this happen to me in the first place rather than why did this happen to me”

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Whenlifeisgettingdown

Andneedalittlehope Lookdeepdownyourselfand Youwillfindwayoflife

Whenlifeisgettingdown

Andneedalittlelove LookuptoJESUSHavehopeandrestinHim

Whenlifeisgettingdown Andneedalittlesmile Cometoafriend,HeisJESUS InHimyouhavecheerfullife

Whenlifeisgettingdown Don’tallowittogodown Changethewayyouthink LookforwardandfollowHim

Whenlifeisgettingdown

Don’tsitandmope

PutyourlifeinHishands Youhavealwaysblessedlife

Whenlifeisgettingdown

Taketimetopray

SpendtimewithJESUS Don’tallowtorunaway InwhomyouhaveHOPEOFLIFE

Holding on in Crisis

Mrs. Renji Sam

Crisis, Recession, Covid 19, and the war in Ukraine have shuffled our world, striking us unexpectedly, causing us to be unprepared and incapable of planning. As Christians, our dependence on Scripture enables us to see things differently. This perspective gives us hope and a stronghold because He makes all things beautiful in His time, even in this Crisis.

Hagar was an enslaved Egyptian that Sarah had. In her Crisis, Sarah uses Hagar as a tool to hold on. This Hagar then becomes a challenge for Sarah, making her mistreat her. When Hagar runs away from Sarah, God appears to her with a promise and direction to go back. However, we see Abraham sending Hagar and Ishmael away later on. A stronghold in times of their Crisis became a deadlier crisis. Desert has all sorts of difficulties that one can imagine, thieves, poisonous snakes, lack of food and water, heat, sand storm. Hagar and Ishmael ended up in such a crisis with no means of survival. God Almighty was faithful to her and her son in this, too. Used and unvalued, Hagar suffered mistreatment and denial of justice. Ishmael became fatherless in no time. Genesis 16:11-12, God comes down for her and gives her hope for life. Her Crisis paved the way for God to appear, revealed his faithfulness, and intervened with miracles. God saw her trouble, understood her and her son’s predicament, and opened the doors of provision.

Our Crisis is always a space for God to show his mighty hand of wonders. Hope is the trust of each believer that their God is with them through the Crisis, which is the aspiration that one holds. Just as our predicaments are unending, so are the miracles and hope we have in God. This hope we have is the good news shared over centuries, and it has always saved the lives and souls of thousands of people like us. Holding on to God in times of Crisis will never let us down but lead to the unseen God who works miracles

offiCe BeAReRS

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Joseph S Practical ministry

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2022 GRADUATES

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b a C h E lo R of dI v I n I ty

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RETIREMENT

Rev. V. M. Varghese was a faculty member of Faith Theological Seminary in the Malayalam medium division. Along with his Ministerial service as a teacher, he also rendered his service as the coordinator for Extension Education Department since its inception in June, 1991 till his retirement in July 2021. We the Seminary community acknowledge his sacrificial service to the Lord through Extension Education Department.

BACHElOR Of DiviniTY iii

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aªn XWp¸v kncIfnte¡v Bgv¶nd§p¶ AhØbn Hcp ]pX¸v t]mepw e`n¡m¯ kmlNcy§fn IqsS IS¶v t]mb t¸mgpw Hcp Imcyw a\Ênembn ssZhw Ahsc Pbnen F¯n¨Xv

Hcp Imcm{Kl {]amWnsb c£bnte¡v sImïv hcphm³ ]utemkns\bpw ioemkns\bpw Pbnen Ab¨Xv t]mse ]mÌÀ _nPp tXmakns\ bpw Iq«pthe¡mscbpw ssZhw XShbv¡pÅn Ab¨p F¶hÀ hnizkn¡p¶p. {]XnkÔnIÄ¡v-AI¯p {]Xymi ssIhnSmsX apt¶dnbm \s½s¡mïv ]eXpw sN¿n¸n¡phm³ ssZh¯n\v Ignbpw F¶v _nPp tXmaknsâ PohnXw \s½ ]Tn¸n¡p¶p. \ap¡v e`n¡p¶ Hmtcm aWn¡qdpIfpw ]camh[n D]tbmKn¡phm³ ]mÌÀ _nPp tXmakv Blzm\w sN¿p¶p. ImcWw Hmtcm aWn¡qdpIfnepw PbnedIfnte¡v t]mIp¶hcpsS F®w hÀ[n¨p sImïncn¡pIbmWv. Ahsc AÔImc¯n \n¶v AÛpX{]Imi¯nte¡v \bnt¡ïXv \½psS D¯chmZn¯w BIp¶p F¶v At±lw HmÀas¸Sp¯p¶p

kpjp]vXnbn \n¶pw DWÀ¶p hcp¶ {]`mX¯nsâ kuay k©mcs¯ A\p`hn¡pI Hc\p {KlamWv. FÃm Ne\§sfbpw DÄhln¡p¶ \nÝeXsbbpw FÃm iЧsfbpw [ym\m ßIam¡nb au\s¯bpw AhnsS ]cnNbn¡m\mIpw. izmk\n izmk§Ä¡nSbnse au\w t]mse {]IrXnbpsS AXohlrZyamb lrZbmImiw AhnsSbmWv BgamÀ¶ [\yXtbmsS A\p` hambn hcnIsb¶v \ap¡v A\p `qXnbmIpw. F´pw t\cs¯ XpS§p¶Xv \ÃXp Xs¶. Ahkm\n¡p¶Xphsc apdnhnÃmsX {i²tbmsS XpScm \mbm alm`mKyw Xs¶. CSbv¡psh¨v C«pt]mb F{Xtbm Imcy§fmWv AIta \nehnfn¨v \s½ Fs¶¶pw Atemkc s¸Sp¯p¶Xv. AXn \n¶pÅ apànbv¡v hgnsb´v F¶t\zjn ¡p¶htcmSv {]`mXau\w ]dbp ¶Xv H¶pam{Xw:

{]XnkÔnbnse {]Xymi

A¨pXm\µ³ ]n. BD Ori.

Fsâ icnIfnÂ

Pohn¡emWv icnsb¶v iTn¨ncp¶ Adnhn\v Fsâ am{Xamb Hcp icnbnsöv sXfnªp In«nbn«pïv. PohnXw Poh¯mIp¶Xv `qXImekvacWIfpw `mhn{]Xo£Ifpw tNcpw]Sn tNÀ¶v hÀ¯am\s¯ {]Imi ]qÀ®am¡pt¼mgmsW¶v FhnsStbm t_m²yapïv.

Beky¯n\pw AhKW\bv¡pw adhn¡pw kzbw _enbmSmImsX {i²bnte¡v {i²m\znXcmIpI. \ap¡pd¸pÅ Cu PohnXs¯ AXnsâ k¼qÀ®Xbn Pohn¡pI. {]XnkÔnIfpsSbpw kpJZpxJ§fpsSbpw am\m]am\§fpsSbpw Gänd¡§Ä PohnX¯n kzm`mhnIamWv. AhnsS Gdnamdn¯ncnbm¯ t_m[au\s¯ {]Wb]qÀÆw tNÀ¯p]nSn¡pI. _mlyw Hcn¡epw \nÝeamInÃ. AI¯n\v B km²yXbpïv. AIw F¶m kq£vaw Ft¶ AÀ°apÅq. {]`mXw DWÀ¶phcp¶Xn\p ap¼pÅ B {]IrXnau\w t]msebmWv AIw. AXv _mlyw Xs¶bmWv. F¦nepw B _mly¯n kq£vaamb HcIs¯ \mw sXmSp¶pïv. DÅnte¡v XncnbpIsb¶m icoc¯n\pÅnse Ft§ms«¦nepw XncnbpI F¶v AÀ°tabnÃ. \ap¡v A\p{Klambn e`n¨ C{µnb§sfbpw a\Êns\bpw _p²nsbbpw AXpÄs¡mÅp¶ t_m[s¯bpw AXXnsâ temI§fn kÀ¤mßIambn, kq£vaambn, {i²tbmsS HgpIm\\phZn¡pI Ft¶ AÀ°apÅq. AhnsSbmWv FÃmw F{Xam{Xw aqeyh¯msW¶v \mw sXm«dnbpI. AhnsSbmWv \mw DÅp sXm«Xmbn A\p`hn¡pI. {]`mX¯n\papt¼ DWÀ¶v {]`mX¯nte¡v NnepNne¨v hcp¶ ]£nIfpsS iЧfn \mw B au\\mZw A\p`hn¡mdpïv. au\w apän \n¶ im´amb Ccpfn \n¶v BImi¯v hÀ®§Ä hmcnhnXdn kqcy³ DWÀ¶phcpt¼mgpw au\w apdnbpt¶bnÃ. BgamÀ¶v \ndbpt¶bpÅq. AXn\pImcWw \mw lrZb¯n ]pWÀ¶ncn¡p¶ B XpS¡s¯ Agnªphogm³ A\phZn¨nà F¶XpXs¶bmWv. AXgnªphoWnà F¶XpXs¶bmWv. A½bpsS KÀ`]m{X¯n NpcpïpIqSn InS¶ncp¶ amwk ]nÞ¯nsâ lrZbkv]µ\s¯ H¶v [ym\n¨p t\m¡nbm B Poh³ Npäp]mSpambn kzcebs¸Sm³ {ian¡p¶ {i² A\p `hn¡m\mIpw. AXv \mw Hmtcmcp¯cpambncp¶p. AXv \½n F¶pw Dïmbncp¶p. Ct¸mgpw \mw AXpXs¶bmWv.

B t\cnb \nemhp \ndª ]p©ncnbmÀ¶, ]ckv]cys¸Sm\pÅ sh¼ens\, hnXp¼ens\bmWv \mw [ym\n¨pWÀt¯ïXv. AXmWv acWw hsc \ap¡v Xm§pw XWepambn IqsSbpÅXv. Fsâ icnIfn Pohn¡emWv icnsb¶v iTn¨ncp¶ Adnhn\v Fsâ am{Xamb Hcp icnbnsöv sXfnªp In«nbn«pïv. PohnXw Poh¯mIp¶Xv `qXImekvacWIfpw `mhn{]Xo£Ifpw tNcpw]Sn tNÀ¶v hÀ¯am\s¯ {]Imi]qÀ®am¡pt¼mgmsW¶v FhnsStbm t_m²yapïv. C\nbpw Ddbvt¡ïXv B {i²bmWv. AdnªXv Pohn¡pt¼mÄ ImenSdn hogmXncn¡m\pÅ {i². AXv Ddbv¡nsöpw {i²sb {i²tbmsS {i²nbv¡Â am{XamWv Htcsbmcp t]mwhgnsb¶pw AdnªtXmsS B ]nSnbpw hntSïn hcp¶p. apt¶m«v \S¡m³ C\n BsIbpÅXv cm{Xnbn BImiwt\m¡n aeÀ¶p InS¶t¸mÄ \£{X§Ä I®ntemXn¯¶ a{´§fmWv. an¶nan¶ns¯fnbp¶ B {]Wbm£c§fmWv C\nsbsâ PohnX¯n\v tbiphmWv GIm{ibw!

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala

{]XnkÔnIÄ¡v AI¯v

\n¶pw {]XymibpsS s]m³IncW§Ä ImWphm³ Ignbp¶hÀ¡v iàambn ap³t]m«v PohnXbm{X sNbvXp hnPbn¡phm³ Ignbpw. {InkvXob PohnXw \ÂIp¶

Dd¸pw ss[cyhpw AXv Xs¶bmWv.

]mÌÀ PÌn³ ImbwIpfw ]qÀÆhnZymÀ°n

IãXbn BIp¶Xv KpWambn F¶v \½n Bcpw ]dbm³ Cãs¸SmdnÃ. IãX F¶Xv PohnXs¯ XIÀ¡phm³ Bbn IS¶ph¶ hnjbw BsW¶v kIea\pjycpw IcpXpIbmWv. F¶m k¦oÀ¯\¡mc³ ]dbp¶p Fsâ PohnX¯n Iãw h¶XpsImïv Rm³ XfÀ¶p t]mInÃ. ]Icw ssZh¯nsâ N«§Ä ]Tn¡phm³,ssZhk¶n[nbn Ccn¡phm³, {]mÀ°n¡phm³, X\n¡v Ahkcambn.

]¨¡dn sNSnIÄ \Spt¼mÄ Ct¸mÄ Hcp {]tXyIXcw {]{Inb Dïv.hn¯v apf¨v \mene ]cphw BIp¶ kabw apX shÅw sImSp¡msX Cfw shbn apX sImSpw shbn hsc sImÅn¨p AXns\ lmÀU\nMv F¶ Hcp t{]mkÊneqsS IS¯nhnSpw.

H«pw ]nSn¨p\n¡m³ IgnbmsX hmSn XpS§p¶ kabamIpt¼mÄ am{Xw HcÂ]w shÅw AXn Xfn¨v sImSp¡pw.Znhk§Ä \ofp¶ Hcp {]{InbbmWv lmÀU\nMv. {]XnIqe kmlNcy¯n IqsS IS¯n hn«v \msfIfn iàamb ^ew Imbv¡p¶Xn \pÅ Icp¯v sNSn¡v C§s\ e`n¡pw. shÅanÃmsXbpw, shbne¯pw, agb¯pw lmÀU\n§neqsS IS¶p t]mb ssXIÄ hmSn t]mInÃ. Cu A\p`h§fn IqsS

IS¶v t]mIp¶ sNSn¡v Hcpd¸pïv CXns\ sbÃmw Xm³ Hcn¡Â AXn Pohn¡pw. Hcp]t£ hfÀ¨bpsS BZy ]ShpIfn hfsc Xnàamb A\p`h¯neqsS IS¶p t]mb Cu sNSn ]qÀWXbnte¡v F¯pt¼mÄ asäÃm sNSnIsf¡mfpw iàamb \nebn \Ã^ew sImSp¡phm³ CSbmIp¶Xv t]msebmWv \s½ ssZhw IS¯n hnSp¶ NnekmlNcy§Ä.\ ap¡v ITn\w F¶v tXm¶ntb¡mw ]s£ \½psS \mi¯n\v AXv ImcWamInÃ. \½psS PohnX¯n IS¶p hcp¶ Iã§Ä, {]XnkÔnIÄ, {]bmk§Ä, BIpeXIÄ F¶nh \msfIfn \½n IqsS shfns¸Sphm\pÅ ]qÀWX bpsS ^e¯n\p thïnbmWv F¶v Xncn¨dnªpsImïv k¦oÀ¯\¡mct\mSv tNÀ¶v ]dbmw Rm³ IãXbn BbXv F\n¡v KpWambn!

{]XnkÔnIÄ¡v AI¯v \n¶pw {] XymibpsS s]m³IncW§Ä ImWphm³ Ignbp¶hÀ¡v iàambn ap³t]m«v PohnXbm{X sNbvXp hnPbn¡phm³ Ignbpw. {InkvXob PohnXw \ÂIp¶ Dd¸pw ss[cyhpw AXv Xs¶bmWv. C¶v A\p`hn¡p¶ Hmtcm kmlNcy§fpw hcm³ t]mIp¶ \nXyPohnX¯nte¡pÅ {]XymibmWv {]Zm\w sN¿p¶Xv.

kvt\lkv]Àiambn

Zo-]v-Xn

ssZ-ho-I-ZÀ-i-\-¯n-sâ- B-cw-`w... 2009 B-K-Ìv 19-þmw Xo-b-Xn s^-bv-¯v Xn-tbm-f-Pn-¡Â sk-an-\m-cn-bn-se A-²ym-]-Icm-b tUm. am-Xyp. kn. hÀ-¤o-kv, tUm. kq-k³ am-Xyp Z-¼-Xn-I-fp-sS D-Ån ssZ-hw \Â-In-b ZÀ-i-\-¯n-sâ km-£m-Xv-¡m-c-am-bm-Wv "Zo-]v-Xn skâÀ t^mÀ NnÂ-{U³ hn-¯v sk-dn-{_ ]mÄ-kn' F Øm-]-\w B-cw-`n-¡p-¶Xv. `n¶-ti-jn-I-tfm-Sp-Iq-Sn ssZ-hw \Â-In-b a-I-\m-b tPym-Xn-jn-eq-sS-bm-Wv Cu Zu-Xyw A-h-cn-te-¡v ssZ-hw ]-IÀ-¶Xv. 2010-þ kv-s]-jy kv-Iq-fm-bn {]-hÀ-¯-\w B-cw-`n-¨ Zo-]v-Xn-bn C-t¸mÄ 174-þ ]-cw hn-ZymÀ-°n-IÄ ]Tn-¡p-¶p. \-S-¯n-b h-gn-IÄ... ssZ-ho-I ZÀ-i-\-¯n-\p-Å L-S-I-§Ä F-Ãmw \Â-Ip-¶Xv ssZ-h-am-sW-¶Xn-\v 'Zo-]v-Xnbp-sS' bm-{X-IÄ km-£yw h-ln-¡p¶p. tPym-Xn-jn-sâ P-\-\-¯n-\v ap³-]n am-Xm]n-Xm-¡-sf¶ \n-e-bn B-Zyw Zpx-Jn-X-cm-sb-¦n-epw ssZ-ho-I i-_v-Zw F¶pw A-hÀ¡v h-gn-Im-«n-bm-bn-cp¶-p. 100 In. an. A-[n-Iw bm-{X-sN-bv-Xpw Zq-c Ø-e-§-fn ho-Sp-IÄ hm-S-I-bv-s¡-Sp-¯pw tPym-Xn-jn-\v {]m-Y-an-I ]-cn-N-c-W-§Ä \Â-In-b-t¸msg-Ãmw h-cp-w \m-fp-I-fn \q-dp-I-W-¡n-\v am-Xm-]n-Xm-¡Ä-¡v Cu th-Z-\-bpw bm-{X-I-fpw D-ïm-Im-Xn-cn-¡p-hm³ ssZ-hw D-]-tbm-Kn-¡p-hm³ t]m-Ip¶ ]-²-Xn-bp-sS `m-K-am-Ip-sa¶v Cu Ip-Spw-_-¯n-\v A-dn-bn-Ãm-bn-cp-¶p. Xp-SÀ ]T-\-¯n-\m-bn Cw-¥-ïn F-¯n-b-t¸mÄ, a-I-\v G-ä-hpw an-I-¨ ]-cn-N-c-W-§Ä e-`n-¨-t¸mÄ am-\-kn-I-am-b \n-e-bn B-cpw B-iz-kn-¡p¶ km-l-N-cy-¯n-epw \-½p-sS \m«n k-am-\-am-b th-Z-\-IÄ A-\p-`-hn-¡p¶ am-Xm-]n-Xm-¡-fp-sS Nn-{X-am-bn-cp¶p B Ip-Spw-_-¯n-sâ Nn-´. Xn-cn-sI h-¶Xv h-en-sbm-cp Zu-Xy-¯n-sâ Xn-cn-¨-dn-hp-am-bmbn-cp-¶p. hy-àn-]-c-am-b k-t´m-j-§-fpw k-ar-²n-bpw k-I-e-hp-am-bn Im-Wp¶ \-½n ]-eÀ-¡pw Zo-]v-Xn-bp-sS Cu Xp-S-¡w H-cp am-Xr-I-bm-Wv. sN-dn-b B-cw-`-§-sf Xp-Ño-I-cn-¡m-¯ ssZ-hw.... hn-c-en-se-®m-hp¶ Ip«n-I-fp-am-bn B-cw-`n-¨ Zo-]v-Xn kv-IqÄ C¶v tI-c-f-¯n-se X-s¶ k-hn-ti-j hn-Zym-`ym-k cw-K-s¯ {]-ap-J Øm-]-\-am-bn h-fÀ-Xn-\p ]n¶n ssZ-h-¯n-sâ I-cp-X X-s-¶bm-Wv. \m-ep hm-l-\-§-fn-em-bn hn-ZymÀ°n-IÄ Pn-Ã-bp-sS hn-hn-[ `m-K-§-fn \n¶pw k-ao-] Pn-Ã-I-fn \n¶pw C-hn-sS I-S¶-p-h-cp¶-p. C¶pw Xp-SÀ¶p h-cp¶ ssZ-ho-I A-Ûp-X-§Ä Zo-]v-Xn-sb {]-Im-i-\-am-¡p¶-p. Zo-]v-Xn-bp-sS {]-tXy-I-X-IÄ........ sk-dn-{_ ]mÄ-kn, Hm«n-kw, Uu-kn³-{Uw, _p-²n-]-c-am-b sh-Ãp-hnfn-IÄ, Im-gv-N-]-cn-an-Xn Xp-S-§n hn-hn-[ im-co-cn-I _u-²n-I sh-Ãp-hnfn-IÄ A-\p-`-hn-¡p¶ Ip«n-IÄ C-hn-sS ]-cn-N-cn-¡-s¸-Sp¶-p. k-hnti-j hn-Zym-`ym-kw, ^n-kn-tbm-sX-dm-¸n, kv-]o-¨v sX-dm-¸n, H-¡p-t¸-j-W sX-dm-¸n, {In-tb-äo-hv t¹, Iu-kn-enw-Kv, F¶n-h hn-ZymÀ-°n-IÄ-¡v \Â-Ip¶-p. Iq-Sm-sX 18 h-b-Ên-\v ap-I-fn-ep-Å Ip«n-IÄ-¡v thm-t¡-j-W s{S-bn-\nw-Kv \Â-In hnhn-[ sN-dp-In-S D-ev-¸¶-§-fp-sS D-ev-]m-Z-\-¯n-eq-sS kz-bw h-cp-am-\w I-sï-¯p-hm³ {]m-]v-X-cm-¡p-¶p. kv-amÀ«v ¢m-kv, {In-bm-ß-I-am-b ]mTy-]-²-Xn, {]-tXy-I I-fn-t¡m-¸p-IÄ, sk³k-dn dqw, \-Ã-]mTw F¶n-h-bpw Zo-]v-Xn-sb hy-Xy-kv-X-am-¡p¶-p.

en_p tXmakv Zo]vXn kvs]jy kvIqÄ

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala

]-I-cp¶ sh-fn-¨w... C-cp-fn H-cp sN-dn-b sh-fn-¨w Xn-f-§p-sa-¦n-epw a-äv hn-f¡p-I-fn-te-¡v Iq-Sn ]-I-c-s¸-Sp¶ B sh-fn-¨w C-cp-fn-s\ ]qÀ-®-am-bpw \o-¡n A-hn-Sw {]-Im-i-]q-cn-X-am-¡p¶-Xp -t]m-se Zo-]v-Xn-bp-sS {]-` H-cm-fn H-Xp-§n-t¸m-Ip¶-n-Ã. Ip«n-I-fn \n¶v am-Xm-]n-Xm-¡-fn-te-¡v, A-h-cp-sS Ip-Spw-_-§-fn-te-¡v, k-aq-l-¯n-te-¡v Zo-]v-Xn-bp-sS sh-fn-¨w H-gp-Ip¶-p. `n¶-ti-jn-bp-Å Ip«n-I-fp-sS am-Xm-]n-Xm-¡-fm-b-Xn-sâ th-Z-\ H-cp P-·w ap-gp-h³ h-ln-t¡-ïn-h-cpw F¶v kz-bw ]-cn-X-]n-¨n-cp¶ ]-e-cpw C¶v Zo-]v-Xn-bn-se A-½-am-cp-sS Iq«m-bv-a-bm-b "am-Xr-Zo-]v-Xn-'bn-se k-Po-h Aw-K-§-fm-Wv. \n-c-h-[n km-aq-ln-I {]-hÀ-¯-\-§-fn C-hÀ ]-¦m-fn-I-fm-Ip¶-p. \nÀ²-\-sc k-lm-bn-¡p-hm-\pw, tcm-Kn-IÄ-¡v ssh-Zy-k-lm-bw F-¯n-¡p--Xn-\p-sam-s¡ Zo-]v-Xn-¡v km-[n-¡p¶-p. am-Xm-]nXm-¡Ä-¡pw a-äp Ip-Spw-_mw-K-§Ä-¡pw th-ïn Ip-Spw-_kw-K-a-hpw Zo-]v-Xn kv-IqÄ \-S-¯p-¶p. Zo-]v-Xn-bp-sS t{]m-{Km-ap-IÄ........

BÀ. kn. sF (do-lm-_n-en-tä-j³ Iu-¬kn Hm-^v C³Uy) \yq-UÂ-ln-bp-sS Aw-Ko-I-c-t¯m-sS \-S-¯p¶ kn. BÀ. C. t{]m-{Km-ap-IÄ-¡v Zo-]v-Xn B-Xn-Yyw A-cp-fp¶-p. k-hn-ti-j hn-Zym-`ym-k cw-K-s¯ \yq-X-\ B-i-b-§-fpw co-Xn-I-fpw A-²ym-]-I-cn-te-¡v F-¯n-¡p-hm³ C-¯-cw t{]m-{Km-ap-I-fpw sk-an-\m-dp-I-fpw k-lm-b-am-Ip-¶p. Iu¬-kn-enw-Kv....

A-£-c-Zo-]v-Xn..... aq¶v am-k-¯n-sem-cn-¡Â Zo-]v-Xn kv-IqÄ {]-kn-²o-I-cn-¡p¶ am-kn-I-bm-Wv A-£-c-Zo-]v-Xn. A-²ym-]-I-cpw, am-Xm-]n-Xm¡-fpw Xq-en-I sIm-ïv A-£-c-¯n-eq-sS Zo-]v-Xn-sb k-aq-l¯n-\v ]-cn-N-b-s¸-Sp-¯p-¶p. Cu-Sp-ä te-J-\-§-fpw A-\p-`h-§-fpw, I-Y-I-fpw, I-hn-X-I-fpw a-äp A-\p-Im-en-I F-gp-¯pI-fpw A-£-c-Zo-]v-Xn-sb an-I-hp-Å-Xm-¡n am-äp-¶p. \n-§-fn H-cp-h³....... `n-¶ti-jn-¡m-cm-b Ip«n-IÄ t\-cn-Sp¶ A-h-K-W-\-IÄ-¡v C¶pw Ip-d-hn-Ã. k-aq-lw ]-e-t¸m-gpw C-§-s\-bp-Å Ip«n-I-sf tNÀ-¯p-\nÀ-¯m-dn-Ã. F¶m hn-hn-[ hn-Zy-m `ym-k- Øm-]-\-§-fn `n-¶ti-jn-¡m-cm-b Ip«n-I-sf \n-§-fn H-cp-h-\m-sW¶v ]-cn-N-b-s¸-Sp-¯p-I-bpw Ip«nIÄ-¡v B-h-iy-am-b t_m-[-hÂ-¡-c-W-¢m-Êv \Â-Ip-Ibpw sN-¿p-¶p. \n-d-b-s« Zo-]v-Xn.... Hm-tcm Ip«n-I-fpw hy-Xy-kv-X-cm-bn-cn-s¡ Hm-tcm-cp-¯À-¡pap-Å {]-tXy-I ]-cn-N-c-W-§-fm-Wv Zo-]v-Xn-bn e-`y-am-¡p¶Xv. hm-¡p-I-fn-epw hm-Kv-Zm-\-§-fn-epw H-Xp-§p¶ `-c-WIÀ-¯m-¡-fp-sS k-ao-]-\-§Ä-¡p-a-¸p-dw Zo-]v-Xn C¶pw Ip-Xn-¡p¶-p. \n-c-h-[n \-à a-\-Êp-IÄ Zo-]v-Xn-s¡m-¸w D-ïv. ssh-I-ey-§-fp-sS-bpw ]-cn-an-Xn-I-fp-sS-bpw sh-Ãp-hn-fn- A-\p`-hn-¡p-¶h-cp-sS H-cp h-en-b tem-Iw \-ap-¡p-Np-äpw D-ïv. A-h-cp-sS C-S-bn H-cp {]-Im-i-tKm-]p-c-am-bn Zo-]v-Xn am-dpI-bpw km-´z-\-¯n-sâ I-c-kv-]À-i-am-bn Zo-]v-Xn \n-e-\n¡-s«sb¶pw \-ap-¡v {]mÀ-°n-¡p-I-bpw {]-Xym-in-¡p-I-bpw sN-¿mw.

Contact: Dr. SUSAN MATHEW, Head of the Institution, Deepti Special School, Manakala P.O., Adoor, Kerala, India - Pin:

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Pallikizhakkethil house nellimukal P.o., adoor, Pathnamthitta, kerala-691551 manuglad65@gmail.com 9074855932

PR. MAJESH ANToNY Fellowship ashram theological college, khanvel Post Dadra & nagar haveli Pin: 396230 ephinova@gmail.com +919265802941

JADDU. GoPI RAJU 2-51/1, kosuruvaripalem, north chiruvolulanka, krishna, andhra Pradesh- 521125 gopi1993beu@gmail.com 7995211902

SIJAN P JACoB Puthenpurackal Ebenezer channanikkadu P o kottayam 686533 sijanpj@gmail.com 9847483743; 9961608183

ALBY THoMAS MATHEW new life ag Worship center, Kadapra P.O. Kumbanad, thiruvalla, kerala - 689547: albytmathew@gmail.com +91 9895443752, +91 7012465392

SANSAKA SEKHAR DAS at/post- Borogam, Via- mirganguda, Dist -koraput, odisha, 764063 ssdasodisha@gmail.com 9337147312

PHoEBIN JoHN

Puthethu Tazheparambil House mezhuveli, kerala pjm4god@gmail.com 705397254

CHIKULU RHAKHo

Phek town Baptist church Phek town +918131956534

BENNY HRUTHAYARAJ

Puthenpurackal (h) rajakumary P. o, idukki - 685619 bennyhrudayaraj@gmail.com Mob. 9562635264

CHRISTo VARUGHESE chamathackal house Vennikulam, 689544 christov1503@gmail.com 8281258315

CHRISTHURAJ HRUTHAYARAJ

Puthen purackal (h) rajakumary. P. o iddukki-685619 christu717@gmail.com 8590578436

GIDEoN ELISHA kanyakumari, tamilnadu Pin- 629702 gidi4christ@gmail.com Mob- 9790214442

GUTHULA SATYA VARA PRASAD kalluru,nSP, khammam District, telangana State. Pin- 507209, satyavara1999@gmail.com cell.7989426622,7893082038

JEREMIAH SAJI THoMAS 621, rama apartments, Plot - 2, Sector - 11, Dwarka, new Delhi - 110075 jerrysaji514@gmail.com 8377997519

JIBIN RAJ D L Jibin Cottage Vilangara, oorutambalam P.O trivandrum jibinprasath@gmail.com 9207258083

JIJIN JoHN thiruvonam - mP. Vii 566B malayinkeezhu P.o trivandrum - 695571 jijin129j@gmail.com 8089542715

JIJU MoN R

koipurath house, oonnukal (p.o) chenneerkara Pathanamthitta 689647 jijumaria6881@gmail.com 9946846881,7736139663

JoBIN JoHN

Madappallil House Kumbazha P.O Pathanamthitta Pin : 689653 jobinjohn7799@gmail.com Mobile – 7510125413

JoEL ooMMEN ZACHARIA 202, Rai chandraya smruti , Garibachawada, Dombivli west, thane -421202 joel4christ133@gmail.com 8452034503

JoYAL JoSEPH

Pulickal house, Pallikkara. kakkanad. 683565 joyaljoseph67@gmail.com Mob; 7902627015

MATHEW JESTIN SURESH

Flat no 503, Vedantpuram society Vikasnagar, Dehuroad Pune - 412101, maharashtra mailjestinmathew@gmail.com 9529651596

JoSEPH S

Siyon mandhiram, mullilavuvilla kudayal P.o Pin 695505 jhsjoseph89@gmail.com 9656715689

LIBIN RAJU SAMUEL rajamangalathu house, Venmoney P.o chengannur 689509 libinsamuel2017@gmail.com 9633695545

RICHARD G RAJU

Ebenezer House kollaka P.o karunagappally, kollam - 690536 richardgraju@gmail.com Mob: 08547864340

RINTo RoY

charuvila puthen veedu, karukone P. o, anchal- 691306 rintoroy48@gmail.com 9567065372

RoSHAN KUMAR

Village jajru, Ballabgarh Faridabad, haryana, Pin- 121004 roshankshah44@gmail.com Mob: 9310012807

SAMUEL ALBERT type 1/1, Block no. 9 Farakka Barrage - P.O., Murshidabad West Bengal - 742212 iamsamuelalbert@gmail.com Mob: 7044273848

SHANTU K MATHEW kalladayil house Pullickalkavala P.o 686515 shantumathewkallada@gmail. com Mob: 9383474070

SIJU SAMUEL charuvilayil house kadackamon Pathanapuram 689695 sijusamuel86@gmail.com 9656660455

SIRIPURAPU SUDHEER KUMAR thota Street, eleswaram, P.o east godavari, andhra Pradesh 533429 sudheersiripurapu96@gmail.com Mobile: 9493742681

SoNY YoHANNAN Valuparambil Bethel manjamonkala, elicode P.o Punalur, kollam 691322 sonyyohannan1998@gmail.com 8129967915

STEPHANoSE HENTRY

Vadakkumannadivila veedu, keezhkolla, amaravila P.o trivandrum- 695122 stephanosehentry@gmail.com 8593972264

SABIN SAMUEL S

maranatha Prayer house, anthiyoorkonam ,kollode P o malayinkeezhu, trivandrum-695571 sabinsamuel22@gmail.com 9061877418, 9497877418

ANJANA thekkekkara (h) thrikkalloor (Po) Palakkad, 678593. raveendrananjana139@gmail.com Mob: 8590384910

BINCY MoL CG

Peniyel veedu mottamoodu naruvamood P.o trivandrum 695528 bincymolcg123@gmail.com 7306620401

BLESSY SUNNY

thayyil house, chellackadu Po ranny, Pathanamthitta-689677 sunnyblessy106@gmail.com 7902631684

fTCW

C

rajahmahedravaram, east godavari district, lydiachunchu@gmail.com

naduvathrayil Bethel ( keerukuzhy P. Pathanamthitta- 689502 roshina123roy@gmail.com

SHAR Salem Prayer Bhuj-kutch, P sharonmasilamani@gmail.com

In of Memory

Rev. Thomas Tharakan Mr. Joseph o. Mr. Thomas

staff advisor

From the

Hope in Crisis

Rev. Thomas Mathew

The Covid 19 pandemic was an unprecedented global crisis that crippled us in countless ways. We have faced our worst fears regarding health, finance and safety as this pandemic seemed to stretch on infinitely. Knowing the brevity of life and the reality of death the archnemesis that does not discriminate based on age or status was a rude realisation. The number of people undergoing mental trauma, depression and social withdrawal reached an all time high. Under strict lockdowns, mandatory isolation and utter loneliness all hope and expectations for the future fizzled out.

Amidst such a catastrophic crisis, as followers of the death defying risen Lord Jesus we are called to be a people possessing Living Hope. Our Hope is anchored in the person of Jesus and the promise of an eternal abode with Him beyond the grave. As the famous contemporary hymn "In Christ Alone" states; No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny No power of hell, no scheme of man Can ever pluck me from His hand Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

This is the Christian Hope that endures in every crisis and enables us to face any challenge in life with fortitude and grace.

Thank you

Amere "Thank You" won't suffice gor the all the help and support the FTS community has given for the successful publishing of Mochanam 2022. We thank everyone who stood with us and prayed for us in these times of crisis and rendered us with great hope. It is that hope that helped us to keep going forward. May God bless us all.

Faith Theological Seminary-Manakala