Praise the Lord. It is a great privilege to pen a few words about our beloved late Superintending Pastor John Vasu. The inception of M.P.A. Ministry was in a pathetic economic background. But a jealous feeling for Christ with sincere love and affection towards one another with humility among them was quite conspicuous at that time.
We were living in the third house from our church at Royapettah. One particular incident I would like to point out at this juncture. My only sister late Bakthakumari and myself in our early childhood used to collect fig fruits from our church compound near the main gate every day early morning at 5 a.m. before others could get up. One fine morning some how Pastor John Vasu saw us stealing the fruits and called us to come upstairs with what we had in our hands. We both went to him with tears and trembling hands. But to our great surprise he hugged and kissed us, saying My children everyday you do this job regularly. Because this will be our breakfast in future. He had special care and love towards both of us, because we had lost our father when I was 3 years old. My grand mother late Mrs. Thayaramma since that day took special interest on both the Pastors by feeding the children of God with breakfast. Even now when I visit Royapettah Church, I cannot forget that very old incident.
My grand father late Pastor Mannasiah who came from an Orthodox Hindu background was saved by God’s grace through the founder and co-founder of M.P.A. Mission. Later he was pastoring a branch of M.P.A. Mission at Cheyyar till his old age.
Once when my Grand father was doing street preaching at Kolakaranpet Bus stand, he met one Brahmin and took him to Pastor John Vasu to guide him for salvation. By God’s grace later he became the founder of Indian Christian Assembly Mission at Polur. He was late Pastor S.B. Daniel (Polur). Thus numerous persons got saved through Pastor John Vasu by God’s grace and became Pastors in different parts of India.
Pastor John Vasu was very much concerned about his flock. When my mother late Dr. Balammal became a young widow, and when she was running a nursing Home in Andhra Pradesh at Mudinepalli, Pastor John Vasu used to visit her regularly once or twice in a month in the midst of difficulties, with full of burden and a compassionate heart for that one soul, without seeing the distance. You can imagine his responsibility and love towards his sheep.
In those days they had a small bullock cart for their transportation. Even now I remember Pastor John Vasu riding the bullock cart with turban on his head.
God bestowed healing gift on Pastor John Vasu and people were miraculously healed by his prayers. So in those days, who ever fell sick they rarely went for medical aid because they received Divine healing from God by the prayer of our Pastor. In my childhood once I had Tummy problem and I did not pass stools for 9 days. My stomach looked like a full term pregnancy and both lower limbs were swollen. Pastor came home and prayed for me and before he could leave our house by God’s grace I got instant healing. Praise be to God.
Mrs. Vasantha kumari Pushpanathan
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Tribute by Pastor J.E.Appathurai - M.P.A Church Kelleys
I was born and brought up in a Christian home where we went to CSI Church in the district of Kanyakumari. Still I never knew anything about Jesus or His word. I had lot of friends. All of us were atheists who never believed in life after death.
All of a sudden I became very sick and the doctors gave up hope on me. One fine day, as I was lying on my bed, my eyes were closing and I knew for sure I was going to die. That time I had this feeling of going somewhere else. I was quite sure that, that was not the end of my life. Immediately, I waved out to one of my friends and told him, “our life does not end here. I feel that my spirit is going to go to some other place. So there is definitely a God there. You all find Him.”
That moment my mother knelt beside my bed and cried unto God saying, “He is not my son. Whether he lives or dies, he belongs to You. I commit him into your hands.” At the utterance of those words, I who was bed ridden for three months got up and walked. Jesus Christ miraculously healed me. After this incident, my mom kept telling me that I was not her son but Jesus’ and insisted that I should join a Bible College. In August 1960 I joined a Bible College run by Madras Pentecostal Assembly situated at Royapettah, Chennai. Pastor John Vasu was the Principal of the Bible College and Superintending Pastor of M.P.A. Mission.
In that Bible College, the qualification for a student was that he should be saved, baptised, called for the ministry. Whereas I used to watch cinema, smoke cigarettes and mock at other godly students. The way they prayed and worshipped the Lord was very funny to me. One day I went and told Pastor Vasu, “I don’t understand anything, that’s happening here. So I want to get back home”. He immediately answered and said, “The Lord is with you. You are His child. Just wait patiently.
Anyway, I determined to get back home. I didn’t attend the Sunday Morning Service. I went to Marina Beach that evening and decided to leave the next day to my native place. Suddenly I lost the peace and slowly strolled into the church and sat at the last row for the evening service.
Pastor Vasu was preaching where there were only four women and I was the only man sitting in that place. He gave an altar call for those who wanted to commit their life to Jesus. As I was sitting there, I felt a man next to me who kept telling me to go. Unable to resist, I walked to the front and knelt before Pastor John Vasu. He laid his hands on me and made a special prayer asking God to keep me till the end. It was after that incident I started feeling how great a sinner I was. I realised that all the sins I had committed did not leave me. It was in me only.
On the 4th February 1961, at around 7.45 p.m. I repented of all my sins. I called out for the first time, “Lord” in my life and I was filled with a great peace. And I heard a voice saying, “My son, Do not fear; your sins are forgiven”. I heard this statement twice and asked Him, “Who are you?” He answered and said, “I am Jesus of Nazareth who died for for you on the cross.”
My life got totally transformed. I stopped smoking, cinemas that used to amuse me became a dislike to me. Instead of eating in the college mess, I used to eat in hotels. I stopped that too. I wrote letters asking for forgiveness to all the people I have hurt and done things against.
The next morning I told Pastor Vasu all that happened to me. He explained to me that it was nothing but the experience of Salvation and that I am God’s own son. He also taught me lot of truth from the word of God. Then the Lord spoke to me again. He asked me, “Who will go for me? Whom shall I send?” I spoke about this also to Pastor John Vasu. He helped me to commit my life for ministry and prayed for me.
Ever since God started to use me mightily. I have conducted crusades where the Spirit of God used to fall on the people. Thousands of people have been healed and have committed their lives to Christ. Till date, I am doing His work being a Pastor in one of the branches of M.P.A. Mission.
I am what I am by the grace of God. I will continue to serve the one who picked me up from the miry clay till my last breath and spread the good news.
All of a sudden I became very sick and the doctors gave up hope on me. One fine day, as I was lying on my bed, my eyes were closing and I knew for sure I was going to die. That time I had this feeling of going somewhere else. I was quite sure that, that was not the end of my life. Immediately, I waved out to one of my friends and told him, “our life does not end here. I feel that my spirit is going to go to some other place. So there is definitely a God there. You all find Him.”
That moment my mother knelt beside my bed and cried unto God saying, “He is not my son. Whether he lives or dies, he belongs to You. I commit him into your hands.” At the utterance of those words, I who was bed ridden for three months got up and walked. Jesus Christ miraculously healed me. After this incident, my mom kept telling me that I was not her son but Jesus’ and insisted that I should join a Bible College. In August 1960 I joined a Bible College run by Madras Pentecostal Assembly situated at Royapettah, Chennai. Pastor John Vasu was the Principal of the Bible College and Superintending Pastor of M.P.A. Mission.
In that Bible College, the qualification for a student was that he should be saved, baptised, called for the ministry. Whereas I used to watch cinema, smoke cigarettes and mock at other godly students. The way they prayed and worshipped the Lord was very funny to me. One day I went and told Pastor Vasu, “I don’t understand anything, that’s happening here. So I want to get back home”. He immediately answered and said, “The Lord is with you. You are His child. Just wait patiently.
Anyway, I determined to get back home. I didn’t attend the Sunday Morning Service. I went to Marina Beach that evening and decided to leave the next day to my native place. Suddenly I lost the peace and slowly strolled into the church and sat at the last row for the evening service.
Pastor Vasu was preaching where there were only four women and I was the only man sitting in that place. He gave an altar call for those who wanted to commit their life to Jesus. As I was sitting there, I felt a man next to me who kept telling me to go. Unable to resist, I walked to the front and knelt before Pastor John Vasu. He laid his hands on me and made a special prayer asking God to keep me till the end. It was after that incident I started feeling how great a sinner I was. I realised that all the sins I had committed did not leave me. It was in me only.
On the 4th February 1961, at around 7.45 p.m. I repented of all my sins. I called out for the first time, “Lord” in my life and I was filled with a great peace. And I heard a voice saying, “My son, Do not fear; your sins are forgiven”. I heard this statement twice and asked Him, “Who are you?” He answered and said, “I am Jesus of Nazareth who died for for you on the cross.”
My life got totally transformed. I stopped smoking, cinemas that used to amuse me became a dislike to me. Instead of eating in the college mess, I used to eat in hotels. I stopped that too. I wrote letters asking for forgiveness to all the people I have hurt and done things against.
The next morning I told Pastor Vasu all that happened to me. He explained to me that it was nothing but the experience of Salvation and that I am God’s own son. He also taught me lot of truth from the word of God. Then the Lord spoke to me again. He asked me, “Who will go for me? Whom shall I send?” I spoke about this also to Pastor John Vasu. He helped me to commit my life for ministry and prayed for me.
Ever since God started to use me mightily. I have conducted crusades where the Spirit of God used to fall on the people. Thousands of people have been healed and have committed their lives to Christ. Till date, I am doing His work being a Pastor in one of the branches of M.P.A. Mission.
I am what I am by the grace of God. I will continue to serve the one who picked me up from the miry clay till my last breath and spread the good news.
Tribute by Rev.Dr.Freddie Macden , U.S.A
It was in 1953 that I had my first chance to meet Dr John Vasu, a great saint and an apostle for our times. He was the main speaker for a convention in Calicut, where I was visiting along with my parents. Later on we as a family had more opportunities to get acquainted and be in fellowship with him and the Madras Pentecostal Assembly.
In 1955,as per the definite calling of God into His ministry,I resigned my job and joined the M.P.A Bible School upon the invitation from Dr John Vasu. As a student I had the advantage of being taught by both Pastor and Mrs Kirubai Vasu. He was a mighty man of the Word. Once during a message about Moses, the cane used by one of the elderly Pastor became 'Moses' rod' and the back-drop screen, the rock! I was blessed to be able to listen to the powerful expounding of the Word preached in English and translated by Kirubai aunty. Not only was he a profound speaker with a good command of English, he was also an author of many powerful messages in the periodical "The Balm Of Gilead".
In 1956 November some of us students were asked to accompany him to Polur for special meetings. I had the privilege to be his translator. Being trained under him paved the way for my future ministry. I value his discipline and his insight to discern the type of calling each of us had.
On April 22nd of 1957 I had the great honor to be ordained by Pastor John Vasu at M.P.A and to be commissioned to new work in Kadaperi,Tambaram along with late Rev Bhasker Dawson. Later I was asked to take up the charge of Pallavaram,Chrompet churches.
I also remember the day he came to dedicate the new ministry my parents started in a village near Thiruvallur.Shortly after that he left for Europe for extended ministry.On his return in Jan 1962 a great gathering of the believers welcomed him. There was a spirit of rejoicing in the air and anticipation of the great things yet to take place in the ensuing years.
No one would have imagined that the life of this stalwart would be cut short. Few months after his return he fell ill. Hearing this I went to see him. Mrs Vasu was sitting by his bed.He suddenly started to speak in tongues and as his spirit left his earthly body ,his head slid from the pillow. To this day I count it as a great privilege and honour that I could be there to put his head back on the pillow.
As we read in John 5:35 "He was a burning and a shining light and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light." could be very well said of Dr N.G.John Vasu. May the Lord continue to equip and empower the progeny of late Dr John Vasu and the believers of Madras Pentecostal Assembly to carry the torch and fulfill his legacy in the will of God.
Blessings,
Rev.Freddie Macden
Tribute by Rev.Dr.Manuel Fernando
Dear Pastor Stanley Vasu,
Loving Greetings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus! Let me first of all send my congratulations and join you in glorifying the Lord for the 75th Anniversary of MPA ministry ! May the Lord bless you and anoint your ministry more than ever and use you mightily for His glory and extension of His kingdom.
It is my great privilege and honour to write a few lines in loving memory of your grandfather Pastor John Vasu whose BIRTH CENTENARY you are celebrating on September 2, 2009.
I was one of those youngmen of his generation to be greatly blessed by the acquintance of Pastor John Vasu. It was in the year 1953 I was first introduced to him when I attended a worship service in his church. In the following few years I came to observe him and his ministry to the Body of Christ.
He always impressed me so very deeply as a spiritual giant with great leadership qualities. As a President of the All India Pentecostal Fellowship of Madras, he contributed to the unity and fellowship of several churches. It was my privelege to be one of his interpreters in the Fellowship public gatherings in the city and was very much blessed by his messages from God's Word.
He was a great encourgement to me when I was preparing to enter into the fulltime ministry and gave me practical advice which were very helpful to me in my Bible college days at USA. I will never forget the day when I went to see him at his home at Royepettah before I left for my theologial training as he took time to pray and bless me. Pastor John Vasu was a very gracious ,humble and powerful servant God I ever met in my life.
To God be the glory and may his memory be blessed!.
By God's servant ,
Pastor Manuel Fernando, Christ for India, USA.
Tribute by Rev.Dr.Augustine Peters
Greetings in the matchless name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I thank the Lord from the bottom of my heart for enabling the Madras Pentecostal Assembly to complete 75 years of fruitful ministry for the Lord.
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.”
And so MPA ministries have received yet another year from His loving hands. Praise the Lord!
“Whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
The Lord has truly honored the humble beginning of this ministry and hath glorified it, which is now grown into a multifaceted ministry.
I praise God for the untiring and tremendous work MPA has been doing since 1934, through joyful and indeed tumultuous circumstances.
My prayer is that God’s power would manifest continuously in this ministry and that this power would help them to work with much fervor and zeal to attempt greater things for God, and achieve greater things in His vineyard.
“Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen and called the name of it EBENEZER, saying: Hitherto hath the Lord blessed us.”
I believe that He, who hitherto was faithful will continue to be so-because the ministry is HIS.
On this glorious occasion, as MPA reaches a milestone in the annals of church history, let us rejoice in the Lord for his wonderful acts of mercies in the ministries of MPA. So let us say together, “Lord, we thank you so much-GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS US”
My Memories of Pastor John Vasu
I have known Late Rev.John Vasu in the 1930’s during when I was a small boy. He was a great spiritual adviser to me when I was a teenager. I remember Late Rev.John Vasu and Late Rev.Jacob traveling in bullock cart preaching the gospel in remote areas. I had the privilege of traveling with them a couple of times.
Both of them were a great source of inspiration and encouragement to me spiritually. They spent time with me teaching the Word of God, praying together, and I was spiritually nourished in the Word of God.
I was deeply influenced and inspired by their work for the Lord. I was truly blessed through them. The influence and impact is so deep and remarkable that even after 7 decades the memories with them still remain afresh. I praise and thank God for servants of God like these who touched my life and have touched the lives of many through HIS word.
As Dr.Stanley Vasu continues the ministry left behind by his father and grandfather, may the Lord anoint him with the double portion of HIS spirit like Elisha. May the Lord bless him and make HIS face shine upon HIS servant and be with him in all his endeavors. May the Lord grant HIS grace and strength to fulfill the “GREAT COMMISSION”. HALLELUIAH!
Dr.Augustine.N. Peters
Emmanuel church, Virugambakkam.
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.”
And so MPA ministries have received yet another year from His loving hands. Praise the Lord!
“Whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
The Lord has truly honored the humble beginning of this ministry and hath glorified it, which is now grown into a multifaceted ministry.
I praise God for the untiring and tremendous work MPA has been doing since 1934, through joyful and indeed tumultuous circumstances.
My prayer is that God’s power would manifest continuously in this ministry and that this power would help them to work with much fervor and zeal to attempt greater things for God, and achieve greater things in His vineyard.
“Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen and called the name of it EBENEZER, saying: Hitherto hath the Lord blessed us.”
I believe that He, who hitherto was faithful will continue to be so-because the ministry is HIS.
On this glorious occasion, as MPA reaches a milestone in the annals of church history, let us rejoice in the Lord for his wonderful acts of mercies in the ministries of MPA. So let us say together, “Lord, we thank you so much-GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS US”
My Memories of Pastor John Vasu
I have known Late Rev.John Vasu in the 1930’s during when I was a small boy. He was a great spiritual adviser to me when I was a teenager. I remember Late Rev.John Vasu and Late Rev.Jacob traveling in bullock cart preaching the gospel in remote areas. I had the privilege of traveling with them a couple of times.
Both of them were a great source of inspiration and encouragement to me spiritually. They spent time with me teaching the Word of God, praying together, and I was spiritually nourished in the Word of God.
I was deeply influenced and inspired by their work for the Lord. I was truly blessed through them. The influence and impact is so deep and remarkable that even after 7 decades the memories with them still remain afresh. I praise and thank God for servants of God like these who touched my life and have touched the lives of many through HIS word.
As Dr.Stanley Vasu continues the ministry left behind by his father and grandfather, may the Lord anoint him with the double portion of HIS spirit like Elisha. May the Lord bless him and make HIS face shine upon HIS servant and be with him in all his endeavors. May the Lord grant HIS grace and strength to fulfill the “GREAT COMMISSION”. HALLELUIAH!
Dr.Augustine.N. Peters
Emmanuel church, Virugambakkam.
Tribute by Rev.Dr.Christopher David - nephew of Pastor John Vasu
Dear Dr. Stanley:
We rejoice along with you for the faithfulness of God in bringing the Vasu’s family thus far. Thank you for informing us about the Birth Centenary of Pastor John Vasu, and the Platinum Jubilee of the Madras Pentecostal Assembly.
My uncle John Vasu played a pivotal role in moulding my spiritual life which impacted my Christian life to make me what I am today. I always remember his simple lifestyle, powerful preaching and his consistent prayer life. He was bold to preach the word of God in the street corners of Madras and humble enough to be close to anyone who needed prayer, counsel and help.
Out of the eight siblings who were Hindus, only three were alive and Uncle John Vasu, loved his younger sisters - my mother Mrs. Jaya David and my aunt Mrs. Lilly Anbu Titus and made a commitment to take care of them. Uncle, though he was fully involved in building the MPA church and its branches, he had a personal touch with each one of his family members.
While my parents were pioneer missionaries in Yelagiri hills, in 1948-50, where there were no roads, Uncle Vasu and my Aunt Lilly climbed the hills which took one full day so they could come and meet us. While massaging him that night, I remember him telling me “It is easier to go to heaven than to come and see you all in this hills.”
During the time of his sicknesses, I always spent my holidays with him and accompanied him to many cities to serve him. We enjoyed gathering around his bed singing songs and listening to him explain from the Bible.
The legacy that Uncle John Vasu has left behind would be remembered by many generations and carried through in the midst of opposition to build the Kingdom of God. Praise be to the Lord for the life of my beloved Uncle John Vasu!
Rev. Dr. Christopher David
David’s Sling Seminars Secunderabad
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