Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Believers Church initiates to help widows in India on 'International Widows Day'

In an effort to help below poverty line (BPL) widows of the country, Believers Church started a drive to make these women financially self sufficient.

The drive was started on International Widows' Day will reach out to 8000 women across 20 states of India by end of July.


These widows were selected by the volunteers of Believers Church in several dioceses across the country. The widows were gifted income generating things like sewing machines, cooking equipment, livestock etc.

The widows received the gifts happily, while some even shed tears of joy and expressed their gratitude to the church for the humanitarian work.

The list of states include, AndhraPradesh, ArunachalPradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh,Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telengana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

Several ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly and other dignitaries are part of this drive on their respective constituencies.

"In our country widows still have to struggle to fit into a patriarchal society which has no place for them. Our sisters & mothers face discrimination in the society. The initiative is to facilitate poor widows, who are living under risk of starving in the rural areas. Through this drive we are just trying to help them earn their livelihood in order to lead a healthy and respectful life," said Dr. K.P Yohannan.

The United Nations first acknowledged June 23 as International Widows' Day in 2011 to raise awareness about the poverty, alienation, violence, homelessness, health problems and human rights issues faced by widows around the world.

Since then, Believers Church regularly marks the day by carrying out these drives to empower and enable widows across the country.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Bridge of Hope concludes plantation drive to mark 'World Environment Day'

With an aim to make earth a better planet, believers Church's child care project Bridge of Hope concluded 15 Day sapling plantation drive across India.

The drive was started on June 5th 2016, on the occasion of World Environment Day. More than 3 lakh saplings were planted across 29 states and seven Union Territories of India by 80,000 children and 5000 staff members of the organization.


As a part of the drive, children and staff conducted various rallies, skits, street plays and distributed one sapling a home and asked them to take care of it. The children also motivated and urged the citizens of the country to purchase one tree for their home and nurture it to give a better future to the coming generations.

Under this project the team also planted saplings in local government offices and identified various road side medians and planted saplings in the area.

The first sapling of the drive was planted by Rajnath Singh (SHO) of Towari Pur Police station, Gorakhpur, UP in the presence of Gorakhpur Diocesan staff and other members of the organization.

"It is a great move by Believers Church. I really laud them for taking these measures to protect environment as well as combat global warming. I will extend full support to them whenever they carry out such socially significant activities," said Rajnath Singh.

"We at Bridge of Hope are committed to improve the environment which is currently depleting at a very rapid pace due to global warming, felling of trees, setting up of various industries and multiple other reasons. It is no more a choice but a necessity to save our environment so that this planet is livable for our future generations," said Director Bridge of Hope, Prince Josiah.

"I really thank children, countrymen and our staff for making the 15 day drive successful. We believe in making our mother earth a great place to live in and this is one such step in that direction. Preserving and protecting the environment for a better future of our country men is top most priority. I request our citizens to help us in the drive and each family to plant a tree to maintain the ecosystem for our coming generation," said Metropolitan of Believers Church' Dr. K P Yohannan.

Last year, in a similar drive Bridge of Hope planted one lakh saplings across India.

Monday, July 18, 2016

Gospel for Asia-Supported Workers Holding 7,500 Vacation Bible Schools Across Asia





Children Taught Bible Stories, Respect, Love, Personal Discipline





Workers supported by Gospel for Asia (GFA) are holding 7,500 Vacation Bible Schools (VBS) across Asia this summer, teaching children important values, including respect and love for parents and friends as well as personal discipline through a variety of activities such as songs, skits and crafts.





"Vacation Bible School is an inviting place for children to come during the summer," said K.P. Yohannan, founder and international director of GFA. "There, they learn solid values through fun, educational activities, all while being taught that they are precious and loved by the God of the universe."



VBS typically begins with the support of church pastors. Each program has a theme — this year's is "New Beginnings" — and classes are formed according to age group.  VBS classes are well-organized and are conducted by people who have been given special training to teach, in collaboration with local Sunday School teachers. Typically, VBS fills entire days and are generally a week long.



On the first day of the program, each child is given an age-appropriate VBS book filled with stories, games and songs. GFA-supported workers guide each program so each child's unique gifts are highlighted through enjoyable classes, skits, puppet shows and competitions. Teachers encourage the students to continue to develop their gifts as they grow.



The schools also supply snacks and juice each day provided by the church. On the last day, each child receives a VBS certificate and is given the opportunity to participate in a presentation for their parents by demonstrating the songs and dances they learned and showcasing the crafts they made.



To date, more than 6,000 VBS programs have been conducted. VBS is held over several months and is on schedule to exceed program attendance of 231,713 children in 2015.



About Gospel for Asia
GOSPEL FOR ASIA has – for more than 30 years – provided humanitarian assistance and spiritual hope to millions across Asia, especially among those who have yet to hear the Good News. Last year, this included more than 75,000 sponsored children, free medical services for more than 180,000 people, 6,000 wells drilled, 11,000 water filters installed, Christmas presents for more than 400,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry.

Life in Kabui Khullen is slowly returning to normal after the nondescript village in Manipur was the worst hit in the January 4 earthquake, thanks to the efforts of the KP Yohannan, church, scientists and geologists and a minor relocation.


The village in Tamenglong district was the epicenter of the earthquake, which measured 6.8 on the Richter scale and jolted the entire state and 53 houses suffered almost 80 per cent damage.

"After the earthquake, many organisations and NGOs visited our village. Many came just to collect information. They took photographs of the devastation and left, we never saw them again," says village chairman B T Malianthuan.

He says though some organisations gave them relief materials but it seems "nobody understands our suffering and pain".

Some villagers then contacted the Believers' Church in Imphal, about 98 km from the village, and the authorities there sent a four-member team to survey the affected area.

The scientists and geologists who visited the village after the earthquake had suggested there was possibility of quake recurring and landslides taking place, says Juria Bardhan, the Bishop of Believers' Church.

More than 80 per cent of the houses were damaged and experts pointed out that large crack lines appeared on both sides of the village with some cracks more than 1.5-km-long and 30-feet-deep with available water sources drying up due to the quake's impact, Bardhan says.



The scientists also suggested relocation of the village and so the villagers left their original home and re-located to another place, which is about 11 km away.

"It pained us much when we were asked to leave our village. My broken house was nothing compared to my broken heart..." says another village elder 70-year-old R Keijinang.

After the survey "we realised the hardship the villagers were going through and we took the decision to rebuild their lives as our first priority", Bardhan says.
The survey indicated that the villagers are struggling to

cope with life following the calamity, they currently travel long distances to meet their daily water requirement, many children have stopped going to school, there is no regular daily income and it has become difficult to support the families, Bardhan points out.

Following the survey, a project plan was chalked out and it was decided to implement it in three phases over a period of six to seven months, he adds.

The rehabilitation package includes providing aid in construction of a school building in the new village and to initiate a child care project named 'Bridge for Hope' for over 100 children in the area.

This project will provide free tuition, regular health check up, a daily hot meal, regular educational and hygiene supplies among others, Bardhan says.

It also includes developing a water source for the village to get safe drinking water, drilling of a borewell or well, taking water from a natural source on a mountain and connecting with a pipe to a water tank in the village.

The package also includes providing skill training to ensure that the residents have access to a permanent source of livelihood, Bardhan says.

In the first phase from June to August, as no construction will take place due to the monsoons, the Church plans to distribute tarpaulin, bamboos to cover their temporary shelters, distribute livestock and farming equipment for their livelihood and supply dry ration till they begin cultivation.

In the second phase from September to November, it plans construction of 53 houses, drilling of borewell and well along with providing help in developing fruit and vegetable plantations for their livelihood while the final phase from December to January will include construction of school building and opening of the 'Bridge of Hope' centre.

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Speaker to open YMCA meet at Adoor


The South-West India region meet of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) will be held at the Mar Thoma Youth Centre, Adoor, on July 9.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, YMCA national president Leby Philip Mathew said the theme of the meet would be ‘Youth for change and peace’.
Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan will inaugurate the meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Minister for Forests and Environment of Mizoram Lal Rinn Mavia Ralte, who is also the YMCA North-East India regional chairman, will be the guest of honour.
Geevarghese Mar Coorilos Metropolitan will deliver the keynote address and Chittayam Gopakumar, MLA, will deliver the national integration message.
Bishop K.P. Yohannan, Metropolitan of the Believers Church, will inaugurate an ecumenical meet to be held later.
Gabriel Mar Gregorios Metropolitan, president of Kerala Council of Churches, will deliver the benedictory speech.

Thursday, July 14, 2016


Dr. K. P. Yohannan, Metropolitan Bishop, Believers Church, Kerala calls on PM



Dr. K. P. Yohannan, Metropolitan Bishop of Believers Church, Kerala along with a delegation called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today. Dr. Yohannan donated Rs. 1 crore towards Ganga cleanliness campaign. Prof. P.J. Kurien, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha was also present on the occasion.



To read more: 


Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Kollam fire tragedy: Church to provide aid


Believers Church is collecting medicines and food items from its centres across the country and the national capital to help the victims of the Kollam temple tragedy. It has ensured speedy delivery of these relief items to the tragedy-hit area. More than 5,000 packets of food and medicines will be delivered within the next two to three days.



Bishop Simon John of the Delhi centre of Believers Church said, “Our priority at the moment is to ensure that food and medicines are made available to all those in need. We are pooling resources from Delhi and other places such as Kolkata, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Amritsar and Udaipur, to ensure that items of need are delivered at the earliest. We pray to Jesus to give strength to all those who have been deeply affected by the incident.”

Believers Church is also mobilising its medical team of specialised doctors from its Thiruvilla hospital, 35 km away from Kollam, to aid in relief operations.

A number of volunteers on behalf of the Believers Church are also assisting the local administration in rescue and relief operations.

“Doctors for the counselling of the tragedy-hit victims, mentally and medically, have been also sent,” said bishop John.

Dr K.P. Yohannan, Metropolitan of Believers Church, said, “We will do everything in our power to help the bereaved families and provide timely medical assistance to those who have been injured.”

To read more: