Edavaka Mission

The formation of Voluntary Evangelists Association (Lay Ministry) in Mar Thoma Church, started with a group of enthusiastic people, yearning to present the gospel to others, meeting for prayer and fellowship. The Holy Spirit led them to be the first Voluntary Evangelists in the Church. Their movement was fully supported by the late Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Thoma. The Association was formally recognized in 1925, as the Evangelical wing of Mar Thoma Church. The Edavaka Mission in our Parish is a unit of the Mar Thoma Voluntary Evangelistic Association.

The Bible demands us to pass on the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, to those who do not know Christ. The Church recognized that its mission of evangelization can not be effectively achieved by a few full-time evangelists. Therefore “every member of the Church must be a missionary filled with such joy and assurance of salvation as to be Christ’s witness to those who come in contact with him/her irrespective of one’s work or profession, in secular life.”*  With this motto, the Voluntary Evangelistic Association functions in every parish through its members.

The members of the Association meet together in each parish, at least once a week for intercessory prayer, fellowship, Bible study and sharing of experiences. They share the gospel message with their co-workers and outside world. The members provide active spiritual support in their parish through prayer meetings, house visits, Sunday Schools and Youth fellowship. They visit the sick and the needy and provide spiritual fellowship and material help. The Association emphasizes the ministry of the laity in the Church.

The Edavaka Mission was formed in our Parish in 1987. The Edavaka Mission  meetings are held on Friday evenings at the church. At these meetings, our Vicar gives leadership for Bible study. Studies on Sacraments, the Book of Revelation and the Book of Daniel are some of the recent topics of study.  In the absence of the Vicar, Bible studies are led by members or lay leaders.  Intercessory prayers are an integral part of these sessions. On special occasions we have prayer meetings at the residences of our members.

Our Edavaka Mission has been supporting two evangelists in India through Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, one in Bhopal Mission Field and another in Pollachi, Tamil Nadu. In 2007 we also supported an Evangelist in Sihora Mission Field.

The Edavaka Mission strives to obey the great commission of Jesus Christ.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Mathew 28: 18-20

* Source: “Other organizations of the Church” by His Grace The Most Rev. Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan

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