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
Nadu, India, 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 Kerala, Trivandrum, 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.