Saturday, September 16, 2017

IPC Central Church, Marthandam, Kanyakumari

IPC Central Church, Marthandam, Kanyakumari
IPC Marthandam Central Church is one of the central churches of the Indian Pentecostal Church of God. It is one of the popular spiritual centers in Kanyakumari District of Tamil NaduIndia, serving holistic developments.

History
Marthandam is a major trade centre of Kanyakumari District in Tamil Nadu state of India across the National Highway (NH 47) between Thiruvananthapuram (the capital of Kerala) and Kanyakumari (the southern tip of the Indian sub-continent.) In the 20th century Marthandam was blessed with missionaries and Christian missions. It has its pride of education and multi religious settlements. The Christian missionaries Rev. Robert Sinclair and Rev. H.I. Halker were notable personalities in Marthandam at various levels of education and other social developments .
Marthandam IPC church was founded by Pastor S. Chellan in 1972. Pastor Chellan hails from a small village near Marthandam, he was born and brought in Hindu background, after his schooling he went to Mumbai for a special training, returned from Mumbai, he joined working in a private pharmaceutical company at Trichy and then gained a job at Ordinance Factory at Trichy. During his job there he felt ill and adhered to Pentecostal faith. His change of life inspired him to do Christian ministry. So he resigned his job and joined in the Pentecostal ministry in 1965. He had his ministry training at Apostolic Bible School in Chennai, he ministered as a missionary in Rameswaram, Andaman and Salem.
In 1972 he returned to his hometown and started the IPC Church at Marthandam. He served as the center pastor of IPC Marthandam center during the period 1992 to 2011, as the IPC Tamil Nadu Vice-President (President in Charge) during the period 1994-1997 and 2003–2006 and as the state secretary during the period of 1997 to 2003. He also served as the member of state and general presbytery since 1982 to 2011. He was honoured as the IPC Tamil Nadu state Senior Minister in 2007 until his home-going in July 24, 2011.
The Church
IPC Marthandam Church was founded in 1972 at Kirubalayam, Marthandam, then it moved to rented places in 1975; the present campus at Paruthivilai, the heart of the town was bought and the church was built and inaugurated for worship in 1977. In 1979 the satellite campus at Kattuvilai near Kuzhithurai was bought and a hall was built there too. Following this development, several churches were formed in the nearby villages and developed as the branch churches. In 1991, the IPC General Council constituted the IPC Marthandam Center and it was then approved by the IPC Tamil Nadu State Council.
The IPC Marthandam Center was headed by Pastor M.S.Samuel in the time of approval and then Pastor Chellan was elected to be its president and center-pastor. After Pastor Chellan's demise, Pastor Lawrence held the position during 2011 to 2016. In 2016 Pastor Dr. Kingsly Chellan is elected as the president and center-pastor. Now it have 27 local churches, 12 outstations, 24 ordained pastors, 7 elders, 5 evangelists, 3 believer preachers, 9 women workers. Pentecostal Young People Association is the youth wing of the church it is run by a committee of 5 members and representatives of all churches in conducting camps, retreats, counseling programs, skill development programs etc.
Sunday School Association is the Christian education wing of the church which is run by a committee of 5 members and representatives of all churches in conducting children's retreat, bible studies, Vacation Bible classes, common examinations and competitions etc. Sodhari Samajam is the women's wing of the church which is run by a committee of 5 members and representatives of all churches and works with women in encouraging and forming house groups and conducting prayer rallies and woman conferences.
Connectivity
Marthandam is located at about 4 Kms from Kuzhithurai, 27 Kms from Nagercoil, 48 Kms from Kanyakumari, 7 Kms from Thiruvattaru, 14 Kms from Thuckalay and 46 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram. Marthandam lies on the National Highway connecting the city of Trivandrum and Nagercoil. A bus stand is also located in Marthandam near the Market Road. Marthandam has a railway line connecting the capital of KeralaTrivandrum, with the southernmost tip of India, Kanyakumari.
Kuzhithurai station is found to be centered between Trivandrum — Kanyakumari railway route. Most of all daily trains passing through this route halts in Kuzhithurai station. Marthandam is well connected to Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore by rail service also bus service to all over Tamilnadu. Nearest Airport is located at Thiruvananthapuram.