By Mathew Victor
February 03, 2010 | 06:16:14

WHEN Indian Evangelical Team’s founder Bro. P G Vargis was looking for a successor to lead his missionary organization, he set his eyes on three young men. One of them was Bro. Joy Thomas. Vargis observed the three men over the years and felt led in the spirit to appoint Thomas as his successor. When we asked him, what qualities he found in Thomas, Vargis replied: ‘I looked for faith and holiness…Now, I know that it was God who prompted me to select him.” Today, Bro. Thomas oversees the operations of IET, perhaps the largest church-planting mission in India with over 3,000 missionaries and as many as 5,000 churches. THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER met Joy Thomas in Chennai recently. Excerpts from an exclusive interview:

 

Can you share your salvation experience with us?

 

When I was five years old, I had an encounter with Jesus Christ. I was born and raised in an Orthodox Syrian family. As a child, Sunday school was mandatory. Once, I happened to overhear a blind man sharing his testimony with a few women. That man’s testimony and commitment to God touched my heart. I gave my life to Jesus and started growing in the Lord. When I was 11 years old, I received the baptism of Holy Spirit. Thereafter, I didn’t want to continue in my old church. I wanted to attend a church that believed in the Holy Spirit, and His infilling, so I became part of a Pentecostal church.

 

How did you get the calling to be a missionary?

 

I had a burden in my heart to become a missionary and dedicated my life for that. Soon after I completed pre-degree (Plus 2) education, I joined a Bible college. Ever since, I have been praying to God to show w h e r e m y f u t u r e ministry lay. One day, a pastor from north India came to our church. He was looking for someone who could be his assistant. He spoke to my pastor. Later, the pastor from north India came over to me and asked me if I would go with him. I prayed and God asked me to go with him. So, in December, 1983, I went as a missionary to north India.

 

How did you join IET?

 

As a missionary, I went to a place in Madhya Pradesh. We worked there and planted a church. Later, we started a Bible School. Circumstances forced us to join an organization. That’s how we joined the IET in 1992. I was the pastor at that time with a fellowship of 150 believers. The church we planted is still there in Madhya Pradesh. Now, it has added another one into its fold.

 

What were you looking after in IET?

I joined IET and developed some evangelical programs. The team made me a divisional leader. Later, I had to go to Ujjain. From there, I went to to Nagpur looking after IET’s work in Nagpur and Telangana. Later, I was selected as the president of ‘Beersheba Churches’ in 2001.

Why do you think Bro. P G Vargis selected you as his successor?

He was praying and considering the issue of succession for sometime. He often says the Holy Spirit spoke to him about who his successor would be. Maybe, the fact that I

was with IET for many years was a factor in my favor. I guess, I also proved myself to be a good steward in the area of finance.

 

What was your response when he announced his decision to you?

I never wanted to be the successor of Bro. Vargis. So, when he told me about his decision I was not really excited. After he announced his decision, I prayed about it and felt that God wanted me to take over from him.

How many churches have been planted by IET till date?

 

There are 5,140 churches, according to data available with us. Perhaps, there are more than that. We plant one church almost every day.

What do you think are the hindrances for the ministries?

I think the main hindrance is the fierce competition that exists between missionary organizations. That should go. If they have mutual understanding and are ready to help and trust each other, we can do much better. Secondly, we need a lot of prayer support. Finally, we need good people to lead the missionary movements. Yes, there are oppositions and tribulations in our way, but I don’t consider them as hindrances. Wherever there is persecution, the church will grow. I feel some people are in the ministry field just to raise funds. This attitude needs to change.

What do you think are the main challenges facing the church in north India?

You see in the south, we have a lot of preachers and leaders. People down south are   exposed to a lot of Spirit-filled teachings. However, in north India things are different. We lack good preachers and even those who are there don’t understand the socio-economic background. We need more good Bible teachers who can establish the church in the Word of God. There are no Christian TV channels and there is little access to quality Christian literature. We need more fulltime missionaries and Bible teachers from the south. People should come forward to start schools and hospitals. The need is so much. In IET, 98 percent of the missionaries are from the north. There are only 20 missionary families from the south. These days, nobody is willing to come to north India as missionaries. There are people coming forward as missionaries from Orissa. I welcome that, but we need more people from south India.

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