Puthencavu P.C. George: A Mighty Open-Air Preacher

(1902-1968)
Evangelist P C George was a mighty Gospel preacher who was called Home fifty years ago; after serving his own generation faithfully according to the will of God. He was a mighty open-air preacher, he preached regularly in and around Chengannur, Kerala till the end.

His Family

He was a very handsome man with fair complexion, simple, meek, innocent, down to earth and soft spoken, though he was well educated and hailed from a rich Marthomite family.

He got married to Mariamma George of Panampunnayil, Kottayam on 22nd January in 1923. God blessed them with three sons and one daughter. His first son Jacob George joined for Intermediate course in a College in Calcutta because of his love for football.

On the 15th day of his joining college, while taking bath in the hostel, back of his head hit against the tap and bled profusely. The wound became septic, and he died on 13th July 1946. He was buried in Calcutta. This made George very sad and caused unbearable sorrow to him. This incident took place six months after his return to Kerala from Singapore. His second son late Mr. P.C. George M.Sc., (Engineering), who married Leela George Thenmalil, Thiruvalla retired as Principal, Engineering College, Trichur. His third son Dr. P.G. John FRCP is settled in U.S.A with his wife Mary John, Thekkeveettil, Angadical South, Chengannur. The only daughter Grace Philip Oommen, B.Sc., is married to Mr. Philip Oommen B.E., MBA, retired Manager of M.R.F. Ltd. and settled in Chennai. They are in fellowship with Vepery brethren assembly in Chennai.

His military service and miraculous deliverance

He joined the British Indian Army in Singapore during the Second World War and had a narrow escape from being shot dead. More than 100 British Indian Army Personnel of his unit were made to stand in a line and were shot dead one by one by Japanese Army personnel. After shooting the person just before him, a question was put to Mr. P.C. George. On answering he was ordered to run away from the place. Then he had a tough time to survive without food and shelter, in hiding, in Singapore, which led to his accepting Lord Jesus as his Saviour. He was born again on 25th September 1940 at Buffalo in Singapore and was baptized in Singapore on 13th February 1942. He had a call for full time evangelism from the Lord on 9th April, 1943. (The information is collected from the jottings in his Scofield Bible presently with his daughter). He returned to Kerala in January 1946 and that was a big surprise for the family and people in Chengannur because for past four years there was no information from him, hence, people had assumed that he might have died during the war in Singapore. Further, to everybody's surprise he had come back as a full time Brethren Evangelist when the whole family members were Marthomites.

His Christian ministries and Open-air preaching

Within a few days' time, he started open air preaching in different locations from Chengannur to Mulakuzha and Puthencavu. In response to an announcement in Gospel Steward Magazine, for the need of a full-time evangelist, fluent in English in Mumbai, he left for Mumbai in September 1949. Late Dr. Justus Samuel received him at the railway station and accommodated him in his house. He was in Fellowship with Fort Assembly where a good number of European missionaries were present. Mr. K.M. Samuel, Kuramala, Edayaranmula fondly remembers that Evangelist P.C. George used to visit him every day at 4.00 pm for 76 days in 1949 and read Bible and pray with him while he was admitted for typhoid in the Infectious Disease Hospital on Arthur road in Mumbai. From the hospital he would go and join other Fort assembly members for open air meetings at 5.00 pm. He became diabetic at the age of 35. During his stay in Mumbai, he suffered from amoebic dysentery and was forced to return to Chengannur in 1950 because of his ill health. He was in fellowship with Puthencavu brethren assembly from 1946 to 1963. In 1963 he moved to Angadical brethren assembly being nearer to his home and continued there till his home call.

Evangelist, P.C. George had a passion for open air preaching because of his thirst for perishing souls. He always used to say that God has called him only for open air preaching, so he would not like to get involved in any other ministry. During the annual conventions on the banks of Pampa River in Puthencavu he agreed under pressure for speaking for one of the afternoon meetings which used to be pure Gospel. During 1946 – 1968, he would reach K.S.R.T.C Bus stand Chengannur or Midland private bus stand on his bicycle at 8.30 A.M every day except on Sundays, in rain or no rain and will preach till 11.00 A.M. Then he would move to another location and preach or distribute tracts to people in banks, offices or do personal evangelism to people on the roads. There used to be 3 or 4 other evangelists associated with him in this ministry viz. Late C.K. Abraham of Cheruvallethu, Kallissery, Kuramala Mathaichan of Edayaranmula, Cherianad Mathaichan and Chacko Sir, P.C. Varghese of Puthukkeril and K.M. Abrahamof Kochuttukalayil, Puthencavu. He would return home at 12.30 p.m. for lunch and again go back for the afternoon preaching session from 3.30 to 5.00 p.m.

His service in the British Indian Army had influenced his lifestyle to a great extent. Evangelist P C George was extremely punctual in starting the open-air preaching with a hymn and prayer. An incident in this regard is well known. About ten days before his Home call, he reached Thiruvalla Medical Mission Hospital to visit his close friend a fellow believer, the late Mr. P K Koshy who had undergone a major surgery. Dr. Gilmour Davis the then Director of TMM Hospital who was coming out of the surgical ward told him to wait for an hour because the visiting hours are from 4 pm to 6 pm. Evangelist P C George politely urged the doctor to grant permission to visit the patient because he has a very urgent appointment at 3.30 pm; otherwise, he has to postpone visiting the patient. Doctor finally conceded and granted him permission. Such was his commitment to start the open-air preaching at Chengannur bus stand at 3.30 pm, which he never cancelled nor postponed it.

He never aspired for any position in the assembly or in conventions. He was very proud of doing open air preaching in his own birthplace. He commanded a lot of respect from people in Chengannur and his own family members. He used to pray for his family members who were not saved, by preparing a list of them. He was very frank in telling his family members that you will never go to heaven just because you are born in a Christian family, unless you are born again but he would never force them.

He never accepted any gifts from any one and at the same time was always willing to help the poor in need of cash or in kind. He used to sell his landed properties one by one on the side of M C Road inherited from his father and put the money in the bank for his needs.

His Home Call

On 31st January, 1968 morning he presented the Gospel at Chengannur K.S.R.T.C bus stand on the subject of “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”. This was his last message. On his way back home, he had a massive heart attack and was with the Lord Jesus Christ at the age of 66 years. 2018 is the 50th year after he was promoted to Glory. Let us praise God for his devoted life, well spent for the Lord, as a faithful open-air preacher.

- Grace Philip Oommen

This article originally appeared in the Harvest Times magazine's September 2018 issue.