P சாமுவேல் / P Samuel (FMPB) / Missionary Stories / Pugazh Yesuvukae

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The main emphasis of the early period was evangelization of the nation. In the late 1950s, the movement began in the southern part of Tamil Nadu P. Samuel pioneered the VBS (Vacation Bible School) movement in India in 1952.[2] A few other young people, including Sam Kamalesan, Emil Jebasingh, J T K Daniel, John Christopher and Theodore Williams[3] helped him.

In 1937, the World Gospel Mission started the South India Bible Institute (now SIBS Ministries), which in turn created the Vacation Bible School movement in India. In 1952, in a small village called Kovilpatti in south Tamil Nadu, a VBS session was held with 75 children and 8 teachers.[4]

Then, on 26–30 December 1959 at 211, Dhanaskodi Street, Kovilpatti of Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, nearly 25 Vacation Bible School Friends (committed young people) gathered. They had started a Praying Movement which was later named Friends Missionary Prayer Band. In that time it was declared that it was only a praying group, not an organization, Church or society. This group began to start small prayer cells in every city of Tamil Nadu. Bishop Jebaraj of the Tirunelveli Diocese was the first Patron of the FMPB. Later Bishop Leslie Newbigin of Madras Diocese became the Patron of this movement. Seeing the work of FMPB, he said "this indigenous movement is nothing but the work of the Holy Spirit". Following his advice, the constitution of FMPB incorporated in its constitution, the three historic creeds of the universal church to be added to the statement of faith of the Organization. Consequently, FMPB works as an arm of the Church.

The growth of Friends Missionary Prayer Band
1959-67 Praying movement
1967-87 Sending (cross cultural missionaries to needy place) movement
1987-97 People movement (the decade of harvest among people groups)
1997-2000 Partnership with other Christian agencies
2004- Integrating Kukna churches with CNI Gujarat Diocese
2006- Integrating Malto churches with ECI

In this series, we are going to see different stories of Christian Missionaries.
I hope this series will help you to understand your calling in Christ and motivate you to do something for God.
#MissionaryStories #PugazhYesuvukae #6ManiManna
The supreme purpose of history is a better world.