(1919-2015)
In this article, Sister Mary Koshy remembers her late parents Justus and Grace Samuel. She narrates how her parents' exemplary life and the upbringing they gave her, molded her spiritual life – Editor
In this article, Sister Mary Koshy remembers her late parents Justus and Grace Samuel. She narrates how her parents' exemplary life and the upbringing they gave her, molded her spiritual life – Editor
My mother Grace was born on 12th July 1919 and was the youngest adorable daughter of the late K.G. Thomas and Saramma Thomas, from Ranni, Kerala.
She was saved at an early age through the ministry of the late Silas Fox and subsequently baptized before she came into fellowship with the believers at Zion Kunnu Assembly in Ranni. Godly saints from India and abroad frequented their home and she imbibed vital biblical truths from them and her parents. As she grew up, her father, a pioneer evangelist from Ranni, had the keen desire that she marries a godly man who was well versed in the scriptures.
My father Justus spent his childhood in Punalur, Kerala. The Bible attracted him like a magnet from childhood; one of his teachers was the late Chackochan Appachan, an evangelist from Punalur, popularly known as Punalur 1 Chackochan When Dad grew up, he moved to Bombay and was an active and keen member of The 2 Meeting Room, Fort . My parents were married in Kerala, in 1942.
She was saved at an early age through the ministry of the late Silas Fox and subsequently baptized before she came into fellowship with the believers at Zion Kunnu Assembly in Ranni. Godly saints from India and abroad frequented their home and she imbibed vital biblical truths from them and her parents. As she grew up, her father, a pioneer evangelist from Ranni, had the keen desire that she marries a godly man who was well versed in the scriptures.
My father Justus spent his childhood in Punalur, Kerala. The Bible attracted him like a magnet from childhood; one of his teachers was the late Chackochan Appachan, an evangelist from Punalur, popularly known as Punalur 1 Chackochan When Dad grew up, he moved to Bombay and was an active and keen member of The 2 Meeting Room, Fort . My parents were married in Kerala, in 1942.
Mom moved to Bombay in 1943 to join Dad and until 1977 they were in intimate fellowship with the saints at Fort. Those were the unforgettable prime years of their lives. Dad had to shoulder heavy responsibilities as an elder in the assembly in addition to his being a Senior Manager in a Swiss firm, but this was beautifully counterbalanced by Mom who threw open the doors of their home in loving care and gracious hospitality to countless saints and unsaved people.
My brother Jacob Samuel and I can testify that our beloved Mom was not a mere preacher but a practical Christian. Agape-love was her tonic. She was a good illustration of Romans 5:5.
Mummy’s motto was “Let gentleness be known to all.” Anger was never displayed even once at home. Truly she was a Santhamma. Entertaining guests was her great hobby, particularly God’s saints. 3 The late Bill Thompson called our home ‘Grace convalescing’ home. In later years, our beloved brother in Christ, V P Varghese, did all the cooking under Mom’s directions. He was honest and sincere and took charge of the kitchen. God thus gave Mom a pleasant life. Tongue control was another of Mummy’s assets. Mummy loved orphans, the fatherless and widows and was very generous to them. She had no enemies. All the neighbours were friendly to her. She taught us to love and forgive. Jacob and I were fortunate to be in her womb.
My dad was very conservative and was very strict with me. He would always check my nails for application of nail polish etc when I was a child and was strict about my dress. He never allowed me to buy or read secular magazines. He always insisted on attending all the meetings in Fort Assembly even when I had University exams on the next day. Every day, he used to check the portion I read in the morning and evening from the Bible and ask questions from them. My parents and believers in the Assembly helped me to grow spiritually and helped me to get saved and baptized at an early age.
When I went to the hostel of St. Xaviers College, Ahmedabad he gave me a text to be hung on the wall near by bed. He strictly told me to love things that Jesus loves and hate things that Jesus hates. My dad and mom educated me for my temporal and eternal life. They taught me to love the Lord and pray at an early age. One fine evening dad gave me a verse from the Bible Romans 10:9. I invited Jesus into my heart at the age of 12. It was much later at a college girls camp at Pune, I further surrendered my life at the age of 17. I then got the Blessed Assurance that Jesus was truly mine. I had the joy and Peace that my name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. Since, then my two weapons are Bible and prayer.
Dad and Mom had their early morning devotion; only after that would they read the newspaper though it used to come very early in the morning. At Bombay, we have attended only believers’ weddings. When wedding invitations would come from unbelievers, we would go to their home three or four days before the wedding and present a Bible or inspiring book to them.
When Dad changed his job and started working in Sandoz, we 4 shifted to Thane . There Dad and Mom had sweet fellowship with the late Uncle Alfred, Aunt Alfred, Dr. Stephen and my precious sisters in Christ, Margaret, and Lydia. Another Thane resident, my beloved Flory Aunty, was close to us from my early childhood and always used to give us spiritual counsel. In 1977, Dad took early retirement from Sandoz since he got a call from God: “feed my lambs”. He started a Bible School (ABTI) in Pune, which later got 5 shifted to Chennai . Dad and Mom moved to Madras in 1977 and were instrumental in extending the 6 ministry of GFTI to the Stewards Bible College and the Bird Memorial Children’s Home. In all these ministries, Mom played an important role as a loving caring mother to the saints at the Bethesda Chapel, Kilpauk, and to the students as well as the children.
Dad and Mom loved their son-inlaw, my husband Dr. P.K Koshy. The Lord blessed us with two daughters, twins in answer to prayers, Joycemol & Gracemol. Like Job, my mom was blessed to see even her great grandchildren (Job.42:16); she loved and pampered them.
As the time approached for Dad to be called home, he took ill. All the believers of Kilpauk Assembly, Chennai and the staff and students of ABTI, Chennai were very helpful when he was admitted to the Appollo & Devaki hospitals. May God reward them for all their concern, deep love and care for Dad! When the Lord called Dad home in 1997, Mom returned to Bombay to be looked after by her son and daughter-in-law and she continued to have close fellowship with believers from all the assemblies in the city.
Among Mom’s frequent visitors was the beloved Uncle Robby Andrews. I have seen Uncle Robby kneeling down beside Mom’s bed whenever he prayed for her. My beloved uncle Thomas Mathew and my brother K V Simon came home often to talk to Jesus with Mom. Beloved Uncle Daya Patel and sister Mani Bahen came home to pray with Mummy, whom they affectionately called Kochamma. Then there was the late beloved Aunt Maudy Andrews; she had an assignment from God to visit Mummy for prayer and cheerful talk for a long time during every fortnight. Mom’s daily talk on the phone with Kuttamma Kochamma was highly uplifting. The spontaneous smile of Sajini (Kuttamma Kochamma’s daughter) made Mummy happy. The precious late Aunt Kay Benjamin took care of the whole family when sickness visited us. My main contribution, as Mom’s only daughter, was my tears raised to the throne of grace.
I fondly remember beloved Uncle Ben (B P Thomas) and his family. Our Uncle M .E Eappachen (who was working with GLS ) visited us daily at Bandra to have sweet fellowship with us. We are also deeply grateful and thankful to Bethel Christian Assembly, Santa Cruz. They announced Mom every Sunday for prayer when she was old. The elders and other believers approached the throne of grace for special mercy. The sisters of Santa Cruz Assembly often came home with tasty homemade snacks and sang Malayalam hymns, which Mummy enjoyed. The beloved Professor Dr. Raj Kumari of National College, Bandra visited Mom everyday. She gave many sweet kisses without number or ration. Mummy would call me and inform me of her visits. The Bible says “greet each other with a kiss” and this was the practice always at home. Lewis Samraj and Florence Alva from Bangalore were also a great encouragement to us.
During Mom’s critical illness, my brother Jacob, and his wife Sherly got her admitted at Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai and took excellent care of her. Among her visitors were my sister in Christ, Valsa Abraham from Kerala, and my cousin Sunny from Kerala.
On one occasion, Mom was at the point of death, but the skill of Dr. Farokh Udwadia, coupled with God’s sovereign help in response to the prayers of God’s people, brought her back to a measure of health. Dr. Farokh Udwadia nicknamed her ‘Amazing Grace’ as she astonished the doctors with her tenacity in overcoming dire critical illnesses. But finally, all were unanimous in not denying her the greatest of all joys – of being with her beloved Lord and Saviour and so on Tuesday, 8th December, 2015, at 2.30pm, Grace went beautifully into the safe arms of Jesus.
The funeral was held on Wednesday, 9th December 2015 and many spoke appreciatively of her life and there was a well-marked spiritual tone to the proceedings, which were witnessed by a large number of believers and people from other faiths.
Looking back, there is much to be thankful for. Dad and Mom, we children, and their grand children, all experienced Calvary’s love (Psalms103:17). Dad and Mom had many sons and daughters in the Lord like Benjamin Alexander from Delhi, Ravi Wilson and his family from Nagpur, and Sam and Mercy Bob from Cuddappah. I look forward to the time when I will see my parents again in the Saviour’s glorious presence.
Beyond the Sunset, Oh! Blissful morning When with our Saviour heav’n is begun Earth’s toiling ended, Oh! Glorious morning Beyond the Sunset when day is done, Amen
Endnotes
1 For more details refer HT issues, April and May 2015
2 The very first assembly in Bombay
3 Missionary from the U.K. who was an Elder of Fort Assembly and One of founding trustees of GLS
4 A satellite city of Mumbai
5 It was renamed SBC
6 The late Gordon Ritchie,T G Samuel, Ben P Thomas and Justus Samuel Initiated the ministry of GFTI in Bombay at the close of 1953 and finally started in the year 1954.
-Mary Koshy
It originally appeared in the Harvest Times magazine's February 2016 issue.
