Kerala brethren
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Kerala Brethren are a subgroup of the larger Christian movement known as the Plymouth Brethren. Kerala is a small state in India, where this movement started in 1898 with the baptism of four men from traditional churches. Soon this movement spread all over Kerala and India, and today there are more than 600 Brethren churches in Kerala, and almost 2200 throughout India.
India has had a Christian presence ever since Saint Thomas, the doubting disciple, brought the Christian message to this country. The middle of 1800 was a time of great spiritual awakening and revival among Indian Christians, more so for Christians in the state of Kerala. Itinerant preachers from India and abroad were warmly welcomed in revival meetings that were common in Kerala those days.
Of the preachers, VD David, popularly known as Tamil David, had a great impact upon many in the Mar Thoma and Jacobite churches. Many of them left these churches to embrace a non-episcopalian type of church pattern. On 19th March 1899, a worship meeting with the Lord's Supper as per the New Testament pattern was conducted at Kumbanad. A communion service was conducted without any priest for the first time. This was the beginning of Kerala Brethren.
Contents |
[edit] Pioneers
P.E. Mammen (Kumbanattachen), P.C. John Upadeshi, Mahakavi KV Simon, Koshy Mathunni, Missionary E.H.Noel.
[edit] Conventions and Conferences
Annually the largest Kerala Brethren Conference is held at Kumbanad in last week of December. In North America, there are 2 major conferences, Indian Brethren Fellowship (IBF) and The Fellowship of Indian Brethren Families in North America (FIBA).
[edit] Institutions
[edit] Medical Mission
This includes the TMM Hospitals at Tiruvalla, Mannmaruthy, & Vazhoor and the College of Nursing at Tiruvalla
[edit] Schools
1. Noel Memorial High School, Kumbanad.
2. Noel Memorial High School, Kariamplavu.
3. Brethren English Medium High School, Kumbanad.
There are other Upper and Lower primary schools in Noel Memmorial Management
[edit] Bible Schools
1. Bethany Bible School, Kumbanad.
2. Brethren Bible Institute, Pathanamthitta
[edit] Orphanages
1. Bethesda Boys Home, Irinjalakuda.
2. Rehboth Girls Orphanage, Thrissur.
3. Daya Vihar Orphanage, Thiruvalla.
[edit] Old Peoples' Homes
Brethren Mercy Trust, Kumbanad
