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Tarnikal, India
Jesus coming again to India


I.P. Asheervadam has served in the India MB Conference for 10 years. He is currently a lecturer at the MB Centenary Bible College and is general secretary of the Historical Commission of the MB Church of India.

“Jesus is coming again to our village,” said Bala Mysaiah, a 55-year-old labourer in Tarnikal, India.

Bala was not talking about the Second Coming of Christ but said these words out of joy on hearing about the renewal of worship in his village after a 30-year absence.

When he said these words, he was drunk, but he was speaking facts that recollect history.

“Yes, I drink,” he said. “Do you know why? Since the death of our pastor 32 years ago, there has been nobody to teach us, and we went astray. Now we are once again very happy that Jesus God (Yesu Devudu) is returning to our village.”

Similar words have been heard from older Christians and their grown children, and some of the village elders who also wish to have a church in the village.

Tarnikal is a small village of about 1,000 people, located in Andhra Pradesh State, India. I. Aaron, my grandfather, was the first evangelist to the village in the late 1940s, and later became pastor there until his death in 1968.

After his training, Aaron was first posted in the village of Konapuram. For five years, he travelled on horseback to evangelize among the five nearby villages. Since he had a grade seven education and biblical training, he was effective in his work. He encouraged many youth in those villages to pursue an education. In addition to sharing the gospel, he taught many to read and write. S.N. Philip and others, once in the lowest strata of society, testify that they are now in good positions because of the work of Aaron.

Though Tarnikal was a small village, it was a favourite mission for North Americans. Herman Warkentin is said to have baptized about 45 people who received the gospel through Aaron. During Aaron’s ministry, the village enjoyed regular worship, with 50-70 people attending. North American missionaries celebrated Christmas and Easter in Tarnikal in the evenings after morning services in nearby Kalwakurthy. Villagers remember those times as glorious days.

Aaron’s five sons and two daughters left the village to pursue education and jobs, and raise families. After the death of their father, they seldom revisited the village. This brought a halt to regular worship until its renewal in January 2000.

The motivation to revive the ministry in Tarnikal came during the International Committee of Mennonite Brethren (ICOMB) meetings last summer in Buhler, Kan. At the welcome ceremony arranged by the Historical Commission in Fresno, Calif., I said, “I am third-generation Christian. Both my grandfathers served as pastors.”

Returning to India, I shared my vision to restart the ministry in Tarnikal with a group of students in Shamshabad looking for a mission opportunity.

In November 1999, S.N. Philip and I visited Tarnikal. Here we met Mariamma, an 86-year-old woman whose ambition for the past 31 years was to revive worship and build a church in the village. Her late husband Peter had also shared this vision with her.

On Jan. 16, 2000, the village held its first worship service in over 30 years. The service took place at the site where Aaron’s house once stood and where he had died. In attendance were 40 people, including two of Aaron’s sons, I.A. Prabhudas and I.A. Devantha Rao, as well his grandchildren, relatives, friends and two executive members of the Field Association. Students from Shamshabad not only attended but also contributed to the offering to cover expenses.

One person brought a 60-year-old Bible that had been given to his brother by Aaron about 40 years ago. The Bible had markings and notes by Aaron. Aaron’s sons shed tears when they saw the Bible. The man with the Bible said that since he can’t read, he keeps the Bible under his pillow at night.

The first collection was 385 Rupees (about $9). Some of the poor villagers who attended gave generously. After the service, some of the attendees lined up to receive special prayers for themselves and their children. Many of the villagers were overwhelmed at seeing the family members of Aaron and pleaded for a church with regular worship services.

During the service, Devaiah, the 30-year-old son of Mariamma, accepted a call to full-time ministry. He will be attending Shamshabad Bible College next year. In his concluding comments, field treasurer P.Z. Wilson asserted that with the inaugural worship service in Tarnikal, the revival that has begun will spread across the entire region.

The seed of the gospel that fell in Tarnikal 60 years earlier was not in vain. Aaron’s family tree has grown to about 70 people. Many of them are Christian witnesses where they have settled. Some have served in various capacities in churches and on councils of the India MB Conference. One of Aaron’s great-grandsons, Davidson, is currently completing a bachelor of theology degree at Shamshabad Bible College. S.N. Philip, who played a significant role in the birth of the MB church in Bombay, and pastor Abraham, chair of the Kalwakurthy Field Association, are some of Aaron’s fruits.

 – I.P. Asheervadam

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Last modified May 5, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
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