A man of vision and mission Parayil Itty Chacko, from Kallisery, Kerala affectionately called as Punalur Chackochan was a pioneer missionary to Punalur, Kerala and the nearby state of Tamil Nadu. Here writer gives us a brief sketch of his missionary endures. .
The climactic years of the 19th century was a period that paved the way to a threshold of transition in the history of India. Around 1900, A.O. Hume collaborated with the Indian National Congress and Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa, who later became the driving force of the party. The years and decades that followed witnessed the freedom struggle that led to the independence of India.
Around the same time span of those historic years, a spiritual revival that led towards pure doctrinal freedom from tradition-bound legalistic Church dogmas was in its embryonic stage. Subsequently, this became the Kerala Brethren Assembly movement and its work spread all over India and abroad.
During 1897, V. Nagel, a Basel Mission missionary baptized by the itinerant Bible Teacher Handley Bird, began a sort of New Testamentpatterned work at Kunnamkulam in Kerala. The tidings were heard by Rev. P. E. Mammen who had been serving as a 'Priest Minister' with the Marthoma Church, one of the strongest Christian denominations in the mid Travancore area of Kerala. He was already inspired by the doctrinal Bible classes conducted by J. Gelson Greson between 1896 and 98, an invited speaker of renowned Marmon Convention. Rev. Mammen set his journey towards Kunnamkulam, spent a few days with Mr. Nagel in the discussion of the New Testament-patterned assembly life, and got baptized byHandly Bird and returned to his home town in Kumbanadu.
Mammen's next step was to begin a New Testament-patterned gathering for breaking of bread in all its simplicity in contrast to the norms of practice. The practice was based on the Mass of transubstantiation and consubstantiation which is accompanied by repetitive chanting of prayers and singing, veneered against the incense smoked idols of the Cross, Mary and Jesus placed in a temple-like 'Madhua' (ascribed to be the Holiest of Holy place).
Thus on March 19th of 1899, the first day of the week, Mr. Mammen along with three men of God with similar convictions gathered in a home for breaking of the bread. The news spread to the tradition-bound legalistic churches of clerical ecclesiastic system. With much excitement and a sense of opposition, several gathered around to witness the event. Among them were, P. C. Cheriyan, from the Malakara Orthodox Church, and P. I. Thomas (grandfather of the author) from the Knanaya Syrian Orthodox Church. The churches had been in existence from AD 52 and AD 377 respectively. They both hailed from Kallissery and claimed their spot in the history of the church in Kerala. The gathering that proclaimed the death of Christ enlightened the hearts of these two men towards salvation.
The family members of both P. C. Cheriyan and P. I. Thomas subsequently came to the Lord by the work of P. E. Mammen as well as the great poet and intellect theologian K. V. Simon, who was the founder of a Brethren-patterned assembly movement called 'Viyojithan' (simply meaning 'those who are separated'). In 1929, it merged with the Brethren movement itself by the mediatory work of a missionary named Mr. Noel. Prominent among them were P. K. Oommen, nephew of P. C. Cherian who was the older brother of late Servant of God Mammen Kurian, and P. I. Chacko, brother of P. I. Thomas; the first member of Orthodox Parayil home and the latter from Knanaya Parayil - two neighborhood families that led to the foundation of the Brethren movement at Kallissery in Kerala, immediately after the first gathering of Travancore at Kumbanadu.
The Acts of the Holy Spirit in evangelism and planting of assemblies in those early days resembled the first century missionary movement. P. I. Chacko and P. K. Oommen regularly gathered in a red brick quarry for prayer and meditation. Their hearts were filled with vision and burden for the souls. The first assembly youth fellowship and Sunday school among the Kerala Brethren were started by the work of these stalwarts at the joint family home premises of P. I. Thomas and P. I. Chacko. A portion of which later became the P. E. Mammen Memorial Parayil School, the premises subsequently became the centre of several spiritual activities. Along with their secular businesses, they took time to preach the Gospel at various villages and towns of mid Travancore.
Sister Mary, the first fruit of Punalur mission shortly then suffered the sorrow of her husband's death and subsequently she herself was called to glory. At her death bed she entrusted her four children into the hands of Evangelist Chacko and his wife Achiyamma who together brought them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord as their own children.
A very sincere step for the Lord would bring everlasting results; none can disagree with this fact based on the Word of God. It is also true in the light of the blessed experiences of saints who served the Lord through several years.
Several years later, Solomon David, brother of Justus Samuel, while on vacation from the Gulf in Kerala, had the opportunity to be at the Sunday Worship and ministry gathering arranged at the closing of Kumbanadu Annual Convention. Missionary Silas Fox was ministering the Word of God. He was describing the way God had been graciously leading him during the early days of his ministry in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. As he was packing his luggage to travel to another station from Punalur, post the Annual Convention meetings and after prayer, Evangelist P. I. Chacko presented a comparatively huge amount into Silas Fox's hands and said, “This amount is the realization of gold ornaments that Sister Mary handed over to me at her death bed and she wanted the sale proceeds be given to missionary Fox for his travel expenditure.” Silas Fox responded, “ I had been praying for the same amount to buy a ship ticket to go on furlough and God provided it at the right time ”.
After the meeting, as missionary Fox was shaking hands with several people, he shook the hand of Solomon David as well. The young man said to him, “That widow was my mother”. Missionary Fox was stunned for a moment at the unbelievable coincidence and hugged Solomon David. Flashback to this event hides a story of faith. Sister Mary, a widow at her death bed was surrounded by her four children, all below 15 years. Her husband had already passed away and she was about to be flown to eternity. Evangelist P. I. Chacko and his wife (known as Auntie of Punalur) were tearfully watching the scene. Sister Mary handed over some gold she had (which she never wore after her baptism) to the Evangelist who led her to Christ and requested to give the sales proceeds to Silas Fox. That was her only savings! The astounded P. I. Chacko asked, “What will the children have if you give out even this meager wealth?” She replied with firm faith, “The Lord will take care of them.”What a step of unfeigned faith!
Decades of history proved that certainly God took care of her children. Justus Samuel, S.S. David and their two sisters have been well off throughout their lives decorated with high secular positions. Sister Mary's grandchildren and even their children are blessed both materially and spiritually all over the world. Of course, they are all assets of the Kingdom of God as well.
Parayil Home adjoined with the Chemmanthur Brethren Assembly Hall was very busy in housing and serving several Lord's servants during the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. Mrs. Chacko who was 'Aunty' to all, served the Lord with her husband who was always busy in soul-winning and assembly-planting.
He has been an inspirer and consoler and also trained several in the Lord's ministry. Late men of God such as Evg. M. P. John, Evg. Kochumathaichan, Late Evg. P.I. Abraham, Evg. J. P. Immanuel, Evg. P.C. Mathew, Evg. C. M. Philip, and others were trained and inspired by him. He also encouraged several of the Elders and Deacons in the surrounding assemblies in their ministries. He was very particular to encourage the young generation in ministries.
And the spiritual investment and efforts of Evg. Chacko and his wife rendered to the great late Servants of God - Justus Samuel and Solomon David, while bringing them up, became the source of great ministries in India and abroad. Ministries of Justus Samuel based in Fort Brethren Assembly in Mumbai since 1930s is an inspiring story that proved that secular positions and involvement for self-support is not a hindrance for a committed Servant of God to carry out the ministries that God planned through him. Steward Bible College (successor of ABTI, Pune) and Bird's Children's Home in Chennai are the brain products of Justus Samuel and other men of similar vision. While travelling through the mission fields of North India, the author could meet several Lord's Servants who had been nurtured in the doctrines and mission outlook through these institutions. But, the original seed of these ministries in India and abroad was sown by P. I. Chacko.
Similarly, Solomon David reached Bahrain in 1943 (the same year M. E. Cherian reached Madurai) in order to take up his secular position with Bahrain Petroleum Company. His next step was to start the Assembly and thus the first Brethren Assembly of the Gulf was established in Bahrain in 1944, the starting point of the Assembly movement in the Gulf, the members of which currently serve as main supporters in prayers and material to the Lord's ministries in India. Solomon David after his return to Punalur from the Gulf in 1962, stood as a faithful 'Barnabas' and history of the Kerala Brethren would not be complete without portraits of his ministries. For Evg. Chacko, Solomon David was like Timothy to Paul, 'true child in the faith' (1 Tim.1:3).
Several kin and kiths of Evg. Chacko from the Parayil Family in Kallissery, that housed the second Brethren Assembly after Kumbanadu, were touched and inspired by his life and ministries. Several grandchildren in the family: late Ev.P. I. Abraham (Rajapalayam), E. Billy, P. Jacop and Ev. George Jacop (Siliguri) Ev. Sam Jacop, (Pathancode) Ev.P. T. Thomas (Kalyan) etc. have committed their lives for full-time ministries. But several grandchildren of his family chose a Pauline style of self supporting preaching and teaching ministries such as George Thomas (Bangalore), Jose Zachariah (Trivandrum), Saju Thomas (USA), Sam Joy (Doha), etc. and the writer of this article (Rajan Thomas) who came to the Lord at the age of 13 by reading the biographical sketch of Chacko published by late Evangelist and author, T.E. Easow.
Surrounded by several family members and believers, the pioneer Lord's Servant,set out on his journey to the presence of Christ thus ending a very laborious sojourn for the Lord as his spiritual son Solomon David who arrived just moments before, was praying after a tiresome journey from Bahrain. That was on December 30, 1958 and a Hindu lady spontaneously cried out, “here faded the lamp of Punalur!.”
It originally appeared in the Harvest Times magazine's April 2015 issue.
The Acts of the Holy Spirit in evangelism and planting of assemblies in those early days resembled the first century missionary movement. P. I. Chacko and P. K. Oommen regularly gathered in a red brick quarry for prayer and meditation. Their hearts were filled with vision and burden for the souls. The first assembly youth fellowship and Sunday school among the Kerala Brethren were started by the work of these stalwarts at the joint family home premises of P. I. Thomas and P. I. Chacko. A portion of which later became the P. E. Mammen Memorial Parayil School, the premises subsequently became the centre of several spiritual activities. Along with their secular businesses, they took time to preach the Gospel at various villages and towns of mid Travancore.
The Punalur Mission
Both Chacko and Oommen heard of Punalur, a south-eastern town of Kerala situated off the dense forest of Eastern Ghats. Prayerfully, they decided to go and preach the Gospel in the then comparatively-backward town that was filled with peasants and pedestrians. The mission reflected the style of Pauline missionary journeys, preaching in different villages and market places as they travelled. They made several such mission trips to Punalur together, but later on Mr. Chacko chose the town and the rural areas around Punalur as his mission field. He commuted to Punalur from Kallissery, often as a pedestrian, while looking after his textile shop.Faithfulness in faith
Often, during such trips he spent nights at some shop fronts of Punalur market. During one such trip, when Ev. Chacko was preaching in the marketplace, a devout woman in traditional Christian apparel, had come to the market to shop. She carefully listened to the message at the roadside. In the same way as Lydia's heart was moved at the riverside of Philippi 'that she attended unto the things which were spoken' (Acts.16:14), her heart was opened to the Gospel. In those days, Kerala Orthodox Christian women never mingled with strangers, whether they were prophets or priests, and any communication was usually made to other men folk through the father or husband only. While preparing dinner for husband, her heart was dwelling on the living words she had heard from the Lord's Servant. And she was concerned about the Lord's servant. Just as Lydia invited Paul and company in hospitality, she sent her husband to probe the welfare of Evangelist Chacko and to invite him for boarding and lodging. That very evening, before the dinner table, she came to the saving experience of the Lord. She was the first fruit of Punalur who responded to the message of salvation heralded by Ev. Chacko. She was Sister Mary, the Philippi-type Lydia of Punalur, who was the mother of late Dr. Justus Samuel, Solomon David and their two sisters who subsequently became 'chosen in the Lord' ( Rom 16 :13).Sister Mary, the first fruit of Punalur mission shortly then suffered the sorrow of her husband's death and subsequently she herself was called to glory. At her death bed she entrusted her four children into the hands of Evangelist Chacko and his wife Achiyamma who together brought them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord as their own children.
A very sincere step for the Lord would bring everlasting results; none can disagree with this fact based on the Word of God. It is also true in the light of the blessed experiences of saints who served the Lord through several years.
Several years later, Solomon David, brother of Justus Samuel, while on vacation from the Gulf in Kerala, had the opportunity to be at the Sunday Worship and ministry gathering arranged at the closing of Kumbanadu Annual Convention. Missionary Silas Fox was ministering the Word of God. He was describing the way God had been graciously leading him during the early days of his ministry in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. As he was packing his luggage to travel to another station from Punalur, post the Annual Convention meetings and after prayer, Evangelist P. I. Chacko presented a comparatively huge amount into Silas Fox's hands and said, “This amount is the realization of gold ornaments that Sister Mary handed over to me at her death bed and she wanted the sale proceeds be given to missionary Fox for his travel expenditure.” Silas Fox responded, “ I had been praying for the same amount to buy a ship ticket to go on furlough and God provided it at the right time ”.
After the meeting, as missionary Fox was shaking hands with several people, he shook the hand of Solomon David as well. The young man said to him, “That widow was my mother”. Missionary Fox was stunned for a moment at the unbelievable coincidence and hugged Solomon David. Flashback to this event hides a story of faith. Sister Mary, a widow at her death bed was surrounded by her four children, all below 15 years. Her husband had already passed away and she was about to be flown to eternity. Evangelist P. I. Chacko and his wife (known as Auntie of Punalur) were tearfully watching the scene. Sister Mary handed over some gold she had (which she never wore after her baptism) to the Evangelist who led her to Christ and requested to give the sales proceeds to Silas Fox. That was her only savings! The astounded P. I. Chacko asked, “What will the children have if you give out even this meager wealth?” She replied with firm faith, “The Lord will take care of them.”What a step of unfeigned faith!
Decades of history proved that certainly God took care of her children. Justus Samuel, S.S. David and their two sisters have been well off throughout their lives decorated with high secular positions. Sister Mary's grandchildren and even their children are blessed both materially and spiritually all over the world. Of course, they are all assets of the Kingdom of God as well.
Effects of the mission
Punalur and its surrounding rural areas heard the pure Gospel, several responded, and the Assembly at Chemmanthur was formed. The first convention meeting was held in early 1920s and missionary Silas Fox who was laboring for the Lord in Andhra Pradesh was the speaker. Subsequent annual conventions were held in which prominent men of God from India and abroad taught the Word. In one such meeting, while great Bible teacher Handley Bird shared the Gospel, Justus Samuel got saved. And by the strenuous labor of Chacko, who was known as the 'Teacher', several Assemblies were formed in the rural areas of Punalur.Man of vision and missions
The Great Poet K. V. Simon, who penned down the history of the early stages of the Kerala Brethren movement, commented that Evangelist Chacko was a man of God who loved evangelism more than his life's breath. Not a passerby missed listening to the Gospel from him and his passion for souls was exemplary testimony to his co-workers.Parayil Home adjoined with the Chemmanthur Brethren Assembly Hall was very busy in housing and serving several Lord's servants during the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. Mrs. Chacko who was 'Aunty' to all, served the Lord with her husband who was always busy in soul-winning and assembly-planting.
He has been an inspirer and consoler and also trained several in the Lord's ministry. Late men of God such as Evg. M. P. John, Evg. Kochumathaichan, Late Evg. P.I. Abraham, Evg. J. P. Immanuel, Evg. P.C. Mathew, Evg. C. M. Philip, and others were trained and inspired by him. He also encouraged several of the Elders and Deacons in the surrounding assemblies in their ministries. He was very particular to encourage the young generation in ministries.
Beyond the border
Europe sent missionaries with burning vision and burden for souls during 18th and 19th century through steam ships that sailed to and fro the continents for commerce. The Kerala Brethren movement that commenced during the early 20th century followed such missionoriented steps across the borders from 1940s. The first missionary who crossed the Eastern Sahyadri Ghats to Tamil Nadu was late Evangelist and Bible Teacher M. E. Cherian in 1943. He was inspired and influenced by the first missionary to Punalur, P. I. Chacko. It was Evg. Chacko who encouraged and accompanied him to Madurai and rendered all support. Subsequently, the Parayil home became an inn for those missionaries who commuted to and fro in rail steamers that passed through Punalur railway station, to Chennai Central station and then to various parts of India.And the spiritual investment and efforts of Evg. Chacko and his wife rendered to the great late Servants of God - Justus Samuel and Solomon David, while bringing them up, became the source of great ministries in India and abroad. Ministries of Justus Samuel based in Fort Brethren Assembly in Mumbai since 1930s is an inspiring story that proved that secular positions and involvement for self-support is not a hindrance for a committed Servant of God to carry out the ministries that God planned through him. Steward Bible College (successor of ABTI, Pune) and Bird's Children's Home in Chennai are the brain products of Justus Samuel and other men of similar vision. While travelling through the mission fields of North India, the author could meet several Lord's Servants who had been nurtured in the doctrines and mission outlook through these institutions. But, the original seed of these ministries in India and abroad was sown by P. I. Chacko.
Similarly, Solomon David reached Bahrain in 1943 (the same year M. E. Cherian reached Madurai) in order to take up his secular position with Bahrain Petroleum Company. His next step was to start the Assembly and thus the first Brethren Assembly of the Gulf was established in Bahrain in 1944, the starting point of the Assembly movement in the Gulf, the members of which currently serve as main supporters in prayers and material to the Lord's ministries in India. Solomon David after his return to Punalur from the Gulf in 1962, stood as a faithful 'Barnabas' and history of the Kerala Brethren would not be complete without portraits of his ministries. For Evg. Chacko, Solomon David was like Timothy to Paul, 'true child in the faith' (1 Tim.1:3).
Several kin and kiths of Evg. Chacko from the Parayil Family in Kallissery, that housed the second Brethren Assembly after Kumbanadu, were touched and inspired by his life and ministries. Several grandchildren in the family: late Ev.P. I. Abraham (Rajapalayam), E. Billy, P. Jacop and Ev. George Jacop (Siliguri) Ev. Sam Jacop, (Pathancode) Ev.P. T. Thomas (Kalyan) etc. have committed their lives for full-time ministries. But several grandchildren of his family chose a Pauline style of self supporting preaching and teaching ministries such as George Thomas (Bangalore), Jose Zachariah (Trivandrum), Saju Thomas (USA), Sam Joy (Doha), etc. and the writer of this article (Rajan Thomas) who came to the Lord at the age of 13 by reading the biographical sketch of Chacko published by late Evangelist and author, T.E. Easow.
Surrounded by several family members and believers, the pioneer Lord's Servant,set out on his journey to the presence of Christ thus ending a very laborious sojourn for the Lord as his spiritual son Solomon David who arrived just moments before, was praying after a tiresome journey from Bahrain. That was on December 30, 1958 and a Hindu lady spontaneously cried out, “here faded the lamp of Punalur!.”
It originally appeared in the Harvest Times magazine's April 2015 issue.