[MSP] Indian Brethren

Brethren in India

Dr. Sunny Ezhumattoor
(John Mathew Thekkel) M.A.,Ph.d.

All denominations in Kerala proudly claim that they are the true descendants of
the church established by the apostle Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of
Jesus Christ. Most Christians believe that St. Thomas came to Kerala in 52 A. D.
An impartial study of Christianity in Kerala would prove that the St. Thomas
Christians of Kerala followed the doctrines and practices similar to the present
day Plymouth Brethren movement.

In 345 A. D., seventy-two families belonging to seven Jewish clans emigrated to
Kodungalloor (Kerala, India) from Mesopotamia (Iran and Iraq) under the
leadership of Thomas of Kana. Thomas of Kana came to know that the local
Christians had no episcopate priesthood or hierarchical structure. So he
imported bishops and deacons, and changed the lives and practices of the
Kerala Christians. The historians who support organized churches think that the
Indian Christians had no leadership, due to their weakness and opposition from
others. However, the truth of the matter is that Kerala Christians had been
following the New Testament pattern given in the Bible. Kerala churches were
independent and led by local elders only. Child baptism was introduced in India
only after the sixth century A. D.

The Brethren movement in England sent missionaries all over the world. In
1833, Anthony Norris Groves, a selfless, dedicated, and saintly man came to
Andhra Pradesh, India. His disciple, John Arulappan, a native missionary and
preacher from Tamil Nadu, came to Kerala and conducted numerous revival
meetings. The second wave of great revival started in Kerala by the arrival of
Tamil David in 1894. He was an effective preacher, and thousands of people
accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Another great missionary who
established assemblies in the northern part of Kerala was Brother Handley Bird.
The distinct work of the Holy Spirit is visible in the formation of the Brethren
movement in Kerala.

A Baptist missionary and Bible teacher, J. G. Gregson, visited Kerala in 1896. Mr.
Gregson conducted numerous Bible studies and meetings organized by
“MARTHOMA” Church. In 1897, he was a speaker of the world renowned
“Maramon Convention.” Under the leading of the Holy Spirit, Mr. Gregson started
leaning toward the Brethren doctrines, and he is known as one of the founders
of the Brethren movement in Travancore, Central Kerala. Another German
missionary who worked for the Basal mission in India, studied Scripture
thoroughly and accepted the Brethren doctrines and practices. Another pioneer
was a Marthoma Vicar, Rev. P. E. Mammen. In March 21, 1899, the first Brethren
assembly meeting in Travancore took place at Kumbanad. Brother Mammen
was the leader of that assembly.

Mahakavi(great poet) K.V. Simon

In 1902, Mr. K. V. Simon (1883-1944) received believer’s baptism and came out
of the Marthoma Church. K. V. Simon organized a separatist group called
“Malankara Viojethan”assembly. Later, this group merged with the Brethren
movement. K. V. Simon was a polyglot, who knew the languages of Tamil,
Telugu, Kannada, Hindustani, English, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Sanskrit, and
Syriac. In his mastery of Sanskrit, he can be compared with any great scholar in
India. In his native language, which was Malayalam, he was a gifted poet who
combined in himself classical grandeur and lyrical flavor. He was a prose writer
of rare charm, a composer of soul-stirring Christian hymns, an eloquent and
scintillating speaker, an outstanding teacher, and an invincible debater. He also
had a profound knowledge of the Hindu Darmasastras, and a remarkable
mastery of Christian theology. Above all, Simon was a towering spiritual leader
who lived a life of great sacrifice, and had steadfast faith in his Master, for whom
he walked with great zeal and devotion. Such chosen instruments of God are
rare in life.
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Courtesy: http://www.brethrenassembly.org/