E. P. Varghese: Faithful in the Heavenly Father’s business

(1897-1984)

The beginnings
The late Br. E.P. Varghese was born in a business family in the year 1897, at Angamally in Ernakulam District of Kerala state in South India. He was born of godly parents who were originally from a Syrian Orthodox (Jacobite) family. His house was adjacent to the eastern wall of the Jacobite church of Angamally. His father, the late E.P. Paily was the Treasurer of the Jacobite church.

Brother Varghese was closely associated with that church in his childhood. There were two paintings on the inside walls of the church. These were large pictures of heaven and hell. The picture of souls being tortured by Satan in hell troubled the heart of Br. Varghese and created a fear of judgment to come. The parents accepted the Lord and separated from the denomination. The late Br. T D Lonappan, an evangelist who was a pioneer worker at Angamally was instrumental in Br. Varghese coming to the Lord. At the age of 16, Br. Varghese accepted the Lord as his personal Saviour and from then onwards , he became a burning light to proclaim the Gospel in India and abroad .

Immersed in the Divine call
After being saved, he began to testify for the Lord in and around Angamally. Angamally was a predominantly Christian village in those days and there were three ancient churches within a distance of two furlongs (about 400 meters). Br. Varghese's ancestral house was in the midst of these churches. Roman Catholics were in majority in Angamally. The nominal Christians in the village in those days were largely drunkards and of unruly behaviour. Soon after Br. Varghese accepted the Lord, severe persecution was let loose by the Roman Catholics under the leadership of the local priest. They wanted to kill Varghese, but the Lord wonderfully protected him. Br. Lonappan and a few other brethren were beaten up.

A very strange persecution took place at Angamally which is unheard of in any other part of India. The dead body of the child of the evangelist Lonappan was exhumed from the cemetery overnight and kept in the compound of the House of evangelist Lonappan. Br. Varghese and his brothers who were doing business at this place thought of leaving the place and seeking shelter at Parur a nearby town. In the meantime, due to the intervention of missionary J. M. Davies and others, the enemies of the Gospel became weak, and the Lord blessed the believers including Br. Varghese and their business flourished. Regular open-air meetings were held in the local market twice a week and Bible classes were held regularly by Varghese and other believers.

Keen student of the scripture
Br. E.P. Varghese studied the Bible in depth and became an efficient preacher. He travelled extensively to different towns in the area known as Malabar. He preached alone continuously for a period of 23 days in special meetings held in Cannanore. This is an outstanding ministry which was not repeated anywhere else later. Many people came forward to accept the Lord. Br. Varghese was an itinerant preacher, but he was also a good businessman. As he had to travel all over India in connection with his business and utilised such occasions for preaching the Gospel. He was a man of prayer, and this accounted for his success in the ministry.

Br. Varghese had an opportunity to go to Pakistan in connection with his business and stay there for a few weeks and preach the Word.

Borders of ministry being enlarged
A tragic incident took place in his life in 1939. Br. Varghese was a passenger in the train that met with an accident which is known as the Ayyalur disaster. This happened near Trichy around 12:35 am, in the dead of night. Br. Varghese was thrown out of the compartment, but he landed safely under the great protection of the Almighty. As the survivor of the train accident, he received much publicity all over India. A Punjabi Christian lady who was the wife of Delhi Police Commissioner wanted to meet him.

He arranged a tour of North India for 3 months and visited places like Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, and Calcutta. In memory of the wonderful deliverance from the train accident, Br. Varghese started publishing a magazine in Malayalam, called Sathyaprakashini. In those days, this was the only magazine among the brethren in Kerala and it served a great need of that period. Br. Varghese was the editor and he contributed articles regularly. Other eminent writers like Br. K.G. Kurien also regularly wrote in the magazine. Over the years, this magazine became a great blessing not only to the brethren believers, but to other evangelicals also. The articles were edifying and doctrinally sound.

Br. Varghese took keen interest to start an all-India Christian book club, based at Angamally for distribution of good Christian books in Malayalam and thereby reach many Christian homes with sound edifying books. He taught in many of our Bible schools. He was a good agriculturist and had a large family of three sons and eight daughters.

As a preacher and teacher of the word, Br. Varghese was well known in Brethren circles in and out of India. Even in his old age, preaching of the Gospel was his great passion. His preaching was powerful and brought many to the Lord. He was a burning and shining light.

Towards the crown of righteousness
Br. E P Varghese fought a good fight, finished his course, and entered into his eternal rest on 31st May, 1984 at the age of 87.

On the day of his funeral, Br. Justus Samuel of Bombay happened to remember his association with Br. Varghese and said “He was a prince and a great man. As one who has had occasion to listen to great preachers, it was Br. Varghese's sermons that were a great blessing to me. There was originality in all his sermons, and he was a 'Prince of Preachers'. Br. Varghese used to visit Bombay often and reside with his son-in-law, the late Br. B.P. Thomas. He used to minister the word in Fort Assembly on many such occasions.

A few books he wrote in Malayalam, including his autobiography, are still available. May his zeal and devotion to the Lord challenge us. All glory to the Lord. Amen.

This article first appeared in the Harvest Times magazine in the June 2014 edition.