MISSION ACTIVITIES OF THE DIOCESE

Jason M. Thomas, Convener, Diocesan Mission Board & Council Member

Mission work is a vital part of the Mar Thoma church with the emphasis that ‘Every Marthomite is a Missionary’ according to Abraham Marthoma, the 17th Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church. The role of the church is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every believer and member of the Church is given the light so that they can lighten others. Being a Missionary does not mean to only preach the Word of God to all, but also includes feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, and providing the basic needs to those who lack the same. In Mathew 25: 34-40 it says: ‘Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Hence the Mission Board is entrusted with the great responsibility of fulfilling God’s will in this world by providing the basic needs to those who are deprived of the same.

The official web site of the Mission Board is http://www.marthomamission.org/. For the past 25 years, we have evolved from a small congregation to about 54 parishes and 23 congregations. We have 52 clergy serving in this Diocese including retired clergy. The Mission Board appointed by the Diocesan Council is coordinating the mission activities of the Diocese. The Mission Board’s purpose is to organize various mission activities in this part of the world so that the youth of this Diocese may have firsthand experience with mission work. Mission work is a life changing experience for everyone involved, including the islanders in Mexico and the Native Americans in the United States. Presently, Rev. Vinoy Daniel, Vicar of MTC Dallas- Farmers Branch, is providing leadership as the Vice President of the Mission Board.

The Mar Thoma church has embraced the great commission of Jesus Christ by preaching the Gospel to people in various regions throughout the world, including the United States, Mexico, and India. Under the leadership of our Diocesan Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos Episcopa, and the Mission Board, our mission projects have continued to move forward in serving the underprivileged ones. The major missions undertaken by the Mission Board is the Mexico Mission and the Mission among the Native Americans with full support of the Diocesan Youth Fellowship in addition to the different projects undertaken by the Diocese in different mission fields in India. The formation of the Mission Board in 2001 as well as missions to Native Americans and Mexico in 2002 are humble attempts by our Diocese to share and witness our faith and traditions to our neighbors in Mexico and the Native Americans in this county.

The Diocese has undertaken different mission projects in India through various Diocesan organizations including Sevika Sangham, Voluntary Evangelists Association, Yuvajana Sakyam, Sunday school, Youth Fellowship, Doctor’s Fellowship etc. The Mission Board also conducts annual mission trips to different mission fields in India for youths who are interested in staying in the mission fields for short period of time. These trips to India are organized by the convener Mrs. Mariamma Thomas (Houston, Texas). They also visit other mission fields and projects undertaken by this Diocese. The Diocese collects the necessary funds for its mission activities in India through the Mission Day offertory held every year in the month of November to support the different mission fields and projects adopted by the Diocese. The Mission Board thanks those who contribute to the various mission activities of the Diocese.

Recently, we have undertaken the renovation of the “Kadavil Malika” the place where the formation of the Voluntary Evangelists Association of the Church was occurred. Our Diocesan Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos Episcopa took special interest in raising the necessary funds through our Diocesan Voluntary Evangelists Association to renovate the old Malika House at Chengannur, Kerala. In addition to this project the Diocese has undertaken several other small and large projects in the past in India.

We continue to lead in the activities of the Mexico Mission under the leadership of Rev. T.S. Philip, Convener for Mexico Missions. Throughout the summer, youths from different parishes in the Diocese visited the islanders and conducted VBS and medical camps. They also distributed clothes and household items to the islanders. The Diocesan Youth fellowship has increased its role in the mission projects by providing more participation and leadership. The Diocesan Youth Fellowship is mobilizing funds for land to construct hostels for the children of the islanders and to develop this mission field as a place where youths can undertake mission trips, especially during summer vacations. There have been various VBS and medical mission trips scheduled for the past couple of years in Mexico.

The Diocesan Assembly held on Chicago this year has unanimously adopted the resolution to buy land in Mexico in the name of “Chrysostom Mar Thoma Mexican Association”, a civil organization registered with the Mexican government, to construct houses for the islanders and hostels for the children of the islanders. The council has decided to buy two parcels of land in the main land one parcel closer to the city and the other about 30 miles from the city and not far away from the island so that the islanders may continue to do their fishing. The intention is to build hostels for about 150 boys and girls of the islanders who are not attending school right now due to lack of school facility in the island, so that they can stay in the hostels and attend the schools in the city of Matamoras. The other parcel of land is intended to build 90 houses in celebration of the ‘Navathy’ of our Valiya Metropolitan Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan.

Native American Mission includes trips to various Native American territories including Oklahoma and Alabama. The teams from the parishes conduct VBS and other interactive activities to understand each other’s culture in a better way and also at the same time spreading the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Native American Chief and his family from Oklahoma visited MTC Dallas, Farmers Branch. The Native Children also visited the Atlanta Mar Thoma Church. We will continue to plan more trips such as these in the future so that a firm relationship may be developed between our witnessing community and the Native Americans. The Native American mission continued to expand this year. During Labor Day weekend, under the Native American Mission Convener, Nirmala Abraham, a group of volunteers helped to rebuild homes of Native Americans destroyed by the hurricane Katrina.

We hope and pray that these mission activities under taken by the Mission Board of the Diocese will open new doors of witnessing ourselves as a faith community so that we can create a relationship with God and his children in Mexico and among the Native Americans. We believe that Christ has commanded us to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything [Christ has] commanded [us]”. (Matthew 28:19-20). We request your humble prayers and support for the mission activities of the Diocese undertaken by the Mission Board.