History
There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.. Ecclesiastes 3:1
Mizpah GoodNews Ministries
Our History
While I was ministering in Mexico city on 22nd January of 1999, an Australian missionary Staine Graham and his two children – Philip and Timothy were burnt alive in Manoharpur village of Odisha (then, Orissa). This news was flashed in the Christian news all over the world. I who was an Indian origin was ministering in Mexico as a foreign missionary and cried before the Lord to open a door in India so that I can do something for the needy in the remote villages of India. God heard my cry and opened the door through Pastor Stalin Raj and started a small orphanage and sponsoring couple of pastors. We rented a house in Jyothi Nagar, Pollachi and ran the ministry there for almost a year. As the water was a big challenge in Pollachi in those days, we were praying for a suitable place where we can build infrastructure and with water resources. Again, the God of heaven heard our prayer and through Pastor William Yesudas (who has taken to the Glory couple of months ago), we got in contact with Brother George Alphonse and Sister Ranjitha Mary, Mettupattiyarveedu Nallur. They wholeheartedly opened their home for us and we shared the house for almost couple of years. Our orphanage was moved to their old cattle shed while we were doing the landscape of this present property and beginning to build the first orphanage building in this campus.
Water resources was a great challenge in this area. Even in the process of acquiring the land, I was not keen in looking into the geography or demography of this region except the fact of affordability and availability of resources. The name of the village or the town and the culture of the village was not our primary focus either. I believe God just blinded me from all those details as I would have not pursued further knowing too many details. There was not any water availability around seven villages of this place even after digging almost 700 feet down. Psalms 84:11b ‘No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.’ After the registration of the first portion of the land, we dug a borewell and at 128 feet down, we could find water and they could go only to 350 feet down due to the force of water flow. This well is still running as an artesian well which confirms that God is the source, and He has a great plan for this campus.
A man of God taught me many years ago that “if God gives you a vision, run after the vision, let the resource run after you.” I never began any project work with money in hand or any promises from others. Everything began with the vision and faith in God, and the Jehovah Jireh provided in its due season. We could experience God’s mighty hand in all the projects of Mizpah.
As we were conducting a youth seminar at Velanthavalam back in 2003, some of the young adults approached me asking about a Bible college. As they had a passion to pursue for theological studies, there were no institutions in the proximity of 50 kilometers. As they were poor and were depending in the farm works to have their livelihood, it was challenging to go out of town for studies. Also, the literacy of the region was comparatively very low. As we assessed the need, decided to install a bamboo shed accommodating 35 students of day schoolers and residence in the first batch. Then come the challenge for a library which was not even imaginable at that time due to the financial constraints. A friend of mine, Rev. Rick Oller who was the Dean of Academy of Western Bible college, Arizona was gracious to provide about 2500 books and we named the library as ‘Rick Oller Library.’ We are grateful for their generosity. Today, the Bible college advanced to the present seminary status offering up to Master of Divinity under Asia Theological Association accreditation. To get accreditation, we needed more resources in the library. I must acknowledge that Brother Joseph Chacko from Oral Robert University in Tulsa, Oklahoma was gracious to send us thousands of books and software. Today, we have over 25,000 books and hundreds of thousands of research sources on pdf software. Also, by God’s grace, we could build a ‘state of art’ library hall in the campus. Today, this campus is representing seventeen states with 80 students under the leadership of Rev. Kamaji Bou and other distinguished faculty members. Most of our faculty members are with Master of Theology and others are pursuing for the same. If God willing, we will be offering Master of Divinity in Psychology and Pastoral Counseling under the leadership of Dr. Sebin Kottaram who is a President of India award winner, international speaker, and a well-known author of many books in the field of counseling.
When we migrated to this area in 2000, there were no school under CBSE curriculum. Most of the school was in Tamil or Malayalam medium. The burden to enhance the people to a more advanced culture and to make the new generation educated, Mizpah started a school under CBSE syllabus in 2009. The school which started with 14 students have grown to 170 students now and also the graduates from this school is pursuing for higher studies including medical and engineering. Mrs. Hilda Sekhar, the principal and other teachers of the school has done a remarkable job in this community.
Most of the ladies in this region were illiterate and were abused emotionally and physically. To provide them a vocation, Mizpah had begun a tailoring institute in 2003 and thus far we have distributed 221 sewing machines. Those ladies who were awarded through our training are grateful to this ministry and to sister Susan Das and Sister Achun for their leadership and training.
We have conducted medical, eye, and dental clinics in the campus and in various villages. We own eight mobile dental units which are very sophisticated. We are partnering with the India Dental Association and are grateful to Dr. Anup, one of the Dentists in Palakkad.
We have provided financial assistance for housing, wedding, medical to those who are deserved from the beginning of this ministry.
Our moto is ‘Expect great things from the God and attempt great things for the God.’ (William Carey) All these were accomplished by the prayers and generosity of our friends and family. I must acknowledge the prayers and assistance of the church I pastor, International Assembly of God, Arizona.
My father, late Mr. P. C. Cheriyan was a great source of strength in my life to carry out this ministry thus far. I am indebted to the prayers of my mother, late Mrs Aleyamma Cheriyan even before I turned my life to Christ. Both of them are resting in the eternity. I am grateful to my wife Sarah Cheriyan, who is an intercessor and supported me in every venture of my ministry. I am also grateful to my sons, Josh, his wife Sharon, their children, Zion and Bella Cheriyan; Jason and his wife Rebecca Cheriyan, and Justin Cheriyan. There are many people who encouraged me in this journey – I cannot forget late Pastor P. C. George (Alapuzha Georgechayan) and Dr. Paul Pillai (Grace Theological Seminary, Haryana) who prayed and commissioned me in the ministry. If I mention all the names who were instrumental in molding me thus far, I might miss some people. May God bless all those who supported us.
I am grateful for the board members of this ministry – Mr. Jaimon Varghese, Mr. Melvin Nelson, Dr. Albin John, Mr. Kuruvilla Mathew, Rev. Finny Jacob, Rev. Johnson Sathyanathan, Rev. Vasanth Sathyanathan, Rev. John Durai, and Rev. Lawrence Arumanaikam.
There is more to do in India, and ‘the best is yet to come!’