Here is a story about me, which perhaps you may not have heard,
Appachen.
An unforgettable event in my life.
God willing, I will be completing 77 on October 14, 2008, yet another occasion to count His blessings. Let me now gratefully recollect one of the several unforgettable events in my sojourn in this world.
Rev (late) C I Abraham Cheppanalil, my uncle, mother's eldest brother, one of the then leading priests of the Marthoma Sabha, once told me that every priest of the Marthoma Sabha wishes to get an opportunity to speak at the maramon convention, the biggest gathering of Xians in Asia, but few only are blessed to get it. As a youth, I used to watch with owe and wonder, how the world renowned Christian speakers standing on the platform of the maramon convention and speaking to the thousands sitting in front of them, on the wide sand beds of the mighty Pamba river. How I yearned for an opportunity to speak a few words from that platform. While in the Scouts Movement, I have had opportunities to address huge crowds of scouts and guides, but the crowd at the maramon convention is definitely different.Thank God, my dream-an opportunity to speak from the maramon platform- has come true at 2.30 PM on Thursday, February 8, 1999. one of the most unforgettable moments in my life. Thanks to the Lord, and to Mr. P V Alexander, the then Correspondent Secretary of the Marthoma Evangelistic Association, which organizes the convention, I got the opportunity to witness Jesus to the multitude gathered at the maramon convention.
Every year, the National Missionary Society of India is allowed 15 minutes time in the after noon session of a day of the maramon Convention, to speak on its activities connected with the spread of the Gospel among the unreached areas and people of the nation. Usually, this prestigious session is handled in English by the National leaders of the NMSI. But For the particular session in 1999, it was decided that the speech should be in malayalam. As the national leaders, who had been there to participate in the session, could not handle it in Malayalam, I was chosen for that assignment, a bolt from the blue. (I was the NMSI Trivandrum Area Committee Secretary and National Executive Committee member then). Even though, I had longed for such an opportunity for long, this sudden decision was quite unexpected and I was quite unprepared- to address the nearly one lakh crowd in front of me, in the presence of so many world renowned distinguished speakers, bishops, priests and a host of other dignitaries and scholars. Like Hamlet, I faced the dilemma-to do or not to do. Yet, I was unwilling to give up the the God given opportunity for which I longed for long and at the same time, frightened to accept it. There was hardly thirty minutes time left for preparation. Resting on the assurance of my Lord that He would always be with me in what ever situation I am put in, with all humility, I accepted the offer.
I could not believe, I was offered a seat in the front row, along with the world renowned speaker of the day, Bishop Mar Ireanius, the present Metrapolitan, the then presiding Episcopa of the function and a number of other bishops. After the Convention choir sang the song, "daiva kripayil njan aasrayiche..."and prayers by Ireanius Thirumeni, I was introduced and asked to make the presentation. With out a stethoscope , I could then hear my heart beat. After a moment of silent prayer, I approached the podium, and made the presentation extempore, of course, in malayalam, which is summarised below:
"Started on the Xmas day in 1905, at Serambur University campus in Calcutta by 17 young men including Sadhu Sundar Singh "on their knees", the National Missionary Society Of India has been working with the mission of 'proclaiming the gospel in the unreached places and to people groups through evangelistic and missionary works, with a wholistic approach'. Its motto " expect great things from God and attempt great things for God" is still a great attraction for thousands. Its activities are spread to 17 states in India, Sikkim, Bhutan and Nepal. The mission is wholistic and it is involved in proclaiming the good news as well as in social work, which aids in the upliftment of the poor people, mostly illiterate tribals of India. Its work is now concentrated in nearly 140 centers with the help of about 200 missionaries. It is also running five tribal hostels for the poor children in Tamil Nad, Karnataka and Jharkand, 4 Primary Schools in Sikkim, West Bengal, Orrisa and NMS C.K.Ashram, Hospital Ministry in Charitable Ashram at Tirupathhur and tailoring institute in Bijapur.
Even after 2000 years since Jesus Christ shed his holy blood on the cross and exhorted all to spread the gospel to all the world, only less than 3 percent of the population in India have heard of his great message of love and sacrifice on the cross. For the spread of the gospel, the National Missionary Society needs your prayers, yourself (as worker), and your help to continue the blessed mission taken up by the founding leaders.
Hi, brotheren, just pause for a moment and ask yourself: What have I done in obedience to Jesus call, " Go ye into all the world; and preach the gospel to every creature?" Mark 16.15?
Gracious God, bless us all.
Greetings to you all in the name of the National Missionary Society Of India, hallelujah."
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