PASTOR M S Joseph has been running the good race for 72 years now! At 91, he spends most of his time in prayer, fasts twice a week - on Fridays and Sundays - till evening, can eat any food without getting so much as a heartburn and is ready to walk the extra mile even now for Christ-sake! As a 20-year-old lad, he was called into evangelical ministry and has braved many odds in reaching out to the lost with the message of hope, love and salvation. The Christian Messenger met him recently for an exclusive interview. In the invigorating conversation, the senior pastor listed out the three things that one needs to get into God’s work. Excerpts:

You have completed 72 years of ministry. How were the initial days?

Oh, they were tough times. One found it hard to make both ends meet. Food and clothes were a problem for the first few years. But things, of course, improved by God’s grace. I remember there have been times when I had gone on empty stomach for two or three days at a stretch.

Have you undergone some theological training in some Bible colleges?

Yes. I studied in a Bible College run by the Church of God in Kerala. That was a three-year course. But the college administration told me two years were enough for me. I was 20 then. Two years later, Cook sayippu (American evangelist Cook) asked me to go to Tamil Nadu for outreach ministry. I have served in many villages of the State since then.

How many people would you have given baptism to since then?

Oh, that will be several. Hundreds, perhaps!

Tell us something about your prayer life and fasting…

Besides special occasions, I fast twice a day on Fridays and Sundays. I break fast usually by evenings. Right from the beginning, I had vowed to pray for at least three hours every day.

How many in your family have got into ministry like you?

I have five sons and all of them are into ministry. My two daughters are also married to evangelists. Even my grandchildren have got into ministry. But these days children of evangelists do not get into ministry. They look at their parents’ struggle and decide against it. They get into secular jobs. A few people advised me to send at least two of my sons to well-paying jobs. I politely said ‘no.’

In your opinion, how should evangelists conduct themselves?

First of all, they should be good witnesses to both believers and fellow workers. A few go astray. Evangelists should be very careful in keeping themselves clean and holy. Male workers should be blameless especially when it comes to women. They should be diligent in reading the Bible. Live a life that no one will have reason to blame.

Could you tell us how to be a good believer?

Be rooted to one church. Do not hop from one place to another. You should be regular in your attendance in the church. Be a good witness. Help your church in its Gospel outreach. One should take great care in reading the Bible regularly from the start.

How should those who are called to do God’s work conduct themselves?

It’s not advisable to get into ministry as soon as you are saved. It is important to be a disciple, attend a church regularly, a good fellow worker with your pastor or evangelist. One should learn to be quiet and patient. I was like that. This will be a great blessing to your ministry. There should be calling, anointing and witnessing. These three things are important.

What’s the one message that pastors and evangelists should be taking in their sermons in these last days?

Holiness. They should lead others in the path of holiness. Every believer should take care to be holy. That is most important in these times.

(Pastor M S Joseph can be reached at the IPC Church, 93, Gandhi Main Road, Oragadam, Ambattur, Chennai.)

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