Mammen Kurian: Who will go for us?

(1912-1997)
A brief biography of Mammen Kurian, Kallissery, Kerala Mammen Kurian had the zeal of Evangelization like his maternal uncle Moothampakkal Sadhu Kochukunju Upadeshi. He was actively involved in Church planting ministry.

Salvation experience
Though he had the privilege of being in the company of believers, he himself did not know the saviour till he turned twenty. In 1932, he was attending the Gospel convention in Kizhakkenmuthoor assembly. Esteemed missionary, Bro. J M Davis was the preacher on that given day. He preached on the death of Abner from 2 Sam 3. Abner died at the outskirts of Hebron , the city of refuge. Had he been in Hebron he would not have died. And David lamented, 'Abner, died as a fool dieth'. The message went deep down into the heart of Mammen Kurian as he thought of how close he was to Christ, yet he was not in HIM. That same night he trusted the Saviour for his salvation. Since then, he was active in the things of God.

Marriage
As the time for his marriage, a proposal came from North Parur. In order to pursue the matter his elder brother P K Oommen visited the place. Accordingly, Mammen Kurian married N C Martha, the youngest daughter of evangelist Chacko of Parur assembly. Lord has blessed this family with long 59 years of married life.

(P K Oommen was a godly man with great burden for the spiritual things. Though he worked as a school teacher, he was involved in bible teaching and evangelism. It was he who initiated the assembly work in Punalur. During his visit to Parur some special meetings were arranged. He emphasized the need of young people committing their lives for ministry. This moved a young man to resign his job and serve the Lord. and that was Bro. V T Mathai who continued to serve the lord for more than fifty years. Bro. V T Mathai, was the first Evangelist, who resigned his secular Job and came out for the full-time ministry, from among the Kerala brethren)

Kirkee Assembly
He was involved in the spiritual things along with his secular job wherever the Lord had placed him. In order to take up a job this young family had moved to Pune. Along with some other brothers who were working there he was instrumental in starting an assembly fellowship in Kirkee, Pune. This assembly has grown since and continuing still for the glory of God.

Back to his hometown
He had to return to his hometown due to some reason. He took up a job in Pampa sugar factory. Along with this he took time to be involved in various spiritual activities in different places. Believers and Lord's servants were always happy to have fellowship with him. All these years he had been a good student of the word of God. He had maintained a good testimony wherever he went. It was during this time the Lord has called him for full time service. It was during the message of Bro. Silas Fox, he committed himself for the service. Later he got confirmation thru the counsel of esteemed Kochumathen Upadeshi. In fact he was about to get a promotion. He took leave for a few days to take part in the convention and when he returned instead of taking the promotion, he tendered his resignation much to the surprise of his authorities.

Desire for church planting
As he was now called for full time involvement in the ministry, he developed a desire to go to a new place and start a work with aim of planting churches. Since he was a factory employee, he thought of working in an industrial area. He desired to move to Kalamassery. He took admission for his only daughter in Aluva UC college. He started visiting the place and came into contact with the believers over there. The Lord used him to begin the assembly testimony in Kalamassery. But his desire to shift did not materialize because the Lord had other plans for him to be used in a wider way.

Continuing to stay in his hometown he started serving the Lord in various ways. According to the counsel of his fellow workers he began to teach at Bethany Bible School, which is now situated in Kumbanad, and went on till he was pretty old. Along with this he went around as a gospel preacher and bible teacher in various conventions and conferences. He always loved to take bible classes on the book of Daniel, minor prophets, apostle Paul's missionary journeys and letters, tabernacle, offerings and feasts of Jehovah.

Some of his services were very much liked by the believers. The way he conducted weddings, the public prayers he used to make, the thoughts he often shared during breaking of bread meetings were sought after. He usually taught that 'without a broken heart and tears, worship is never complete.'

One of the fine qualities he had was the importance he gave to his own family. He used to spend time in a spiritual way with his family. His loving nature, punctuality, and fearlessness are all worth mentioning.

Home call
He continued his active ministry till the early 1990s. He went to be with the Lord on May 13, 1997, at the age of 85, after a 2-year long periods of sickness during which he could not speak. The Lord used him as a blessing to many; especially 2 of his 3 grandchildren came to know the Lord and got baptized through him. In the mercy of God many families from his father's household are called to serve the Lord and the very words he heard "whom shall I send; who will go for us?" is still significant.

It originally appeared in the Harvest Times magazine's March 2015 issue.