Greetings from Rev.Owen Roberts - President, Synod of Pentecostal Churches

I am delighted to send my greetings on the occasion of the Birth Centenary of Pastor John Vasu and the Platinum Jubilee of the Madras Pentecostal Assembly.


I praise God for the ministry of Pastor John Vasu whom the Lord used to bring unity among the Pentecostal churches in Chennai. Through his leadership the first fellowship of Pentecostal Pastors was formed in the 1950's.


At this time when the Lord has graciously enabled us to form the Synod of Pentecostal Churches , we remember all the pioneers of the Pentecostal movement in India who had laid the foundation for the formation of pentecostal fellowships in our country.


As the President of the Synod of Pentecostal Churches , I thank God for Pastor John Vasu , the first President of the Pentecostal Fellowship Madras and the All India Pentecostal Fellowship. The unity efforts that they initiated is still continuing to bear fruit as the Lord is uniting our hearts to work together for the Kingdom of God in these last days.


I thank God for His faithfulness to the Madras Pentecostal Assembly for the past 75 years and I pray that God's blessing should continue to rest upon their ministry.


I also pray for Pastor Stanley Vasu that the Lord should guide him with His wisdom and use him to fulfill His purpose. God bless you



Rev.Owen Roberts
President - Synod of Pentecostal Churches
President - Good Samaritan Fellowship

Tribute by Rev.P.S.Chelladurai - Founder , Apostolic Fellowship of India

Dear Pastor Stanley Vasu,


Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let me congratulate the MPA Church on the occasion of your 75th anniversary celebrations. May God bless, prosper and make you a blessing to many more in the years to come, for His glory.


I am especially pleased to write a few words on this occasion about the life and ministry of the Late Rev. John Vasu since you are also celebrating his 100th birth anniversary along with the Platinum Jubilee of the MPA.


Rev. John Vasu was a pioneer of the pentecostal movement along with Pastor. Jacob of MPA. I had the privilage of knowing him closely over the years. He had a loving personality. He always encouraged young pastors in the ministry. He loved the people and was held in high esteem by the people.


The Government honored him by giving him the honorary post of Magistrate with magisterial powers to try petty cases. He was thus held in high esteem by the people of all communities in those days.


He loved me and honored me as a young minister. He invited me often to come and preach at his church during the sunday services. I particularly remember one thing that happened during that time. One sunday, after the service was over, he asked me to stay on for the baptism service.


I thought he just wanted me to be there for the baptism for some reason. But suddenly he asked me to give baptism that day. I told him that as a young minister, I had never given baptism to anyone before. He said that I should do it and declared that it was God's time for me to start doing it. Then I told him that I had not brought any clothes with me. He said "don't worry about that, because I will give you my clothes to wear".


Because of his encouragement I agreed to do the baptism on that day. Since I was a young minister those days, I had always told the Lord that unless a senior pastor asked me to baptize I would not start baptizing people. Therefore, I consider what took place there as a very special moment in my life. After that I regularly started giving baptism in the place where I was already conducting sunday services.


Pastor John Vasu made a mark as a Pastor and as a christian leader during his life time. He was a great man.


May God continue to lead and guide and bless the ministry which was pioneered by him.

With best wishes,

In Him,


(Rev. P. S. Chelladurai)

Tribute by Bhagavathar Vedanayaga Sastriar

Greetings from Rev.Marcus Egger - Inter-mission, Germany

Dear Sister Ruth Vasu,
Dear Pastor Stanley Vasu,

at the occasion of the Birth Centenary of Pastor John Vasu and the Platinum Jubilee of the Madras Pentecostal Assembly I am sending on behalf of Inter-Mission Germany our special greetings, our best wishes and warm congratulations. The fact that you are able to celebrate this Jubilee is a clear evidence of the overflowing grace and unbreakable faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is also a strong encouragement for His strong and caring hands upon the ministry of MPA also in the future!

Madras Pentecostal Assembly has been one of the very early partners of Inter-Mission in India and this partnership has now lasted for more than 40 years. It was especially in the area of Homes for children and and the support for Gospel Workers that Inter-Mission has been able to strengthen and encourage the ministry of MPA and to enable them to lift up hopeless and needy children and change the lives of a great number of children and adults through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is only by the Grace of God that this support could be extended till today.

The fact that late Pastor Prabhudoss Vasu has been greatly committed to the work and ministry of Inter-Mission Industrial Development Association has in the past developed strong ties between Inter-Mission and MPA. I still cherish the friendship and support of this Man of God who has been a source of great encouragement for Inter-Mission especially in the early years.

It is our desire that the ministry of Madras Pentecostal Assembly in the days to come will continue in great strength and more then every deeply rooted in the Word of God so that our Lord Jesus Christ will be truly represented trough MPA in Madras, Tamil Nadu, India and - God willing - to the end of the earth.

In Christ,
Markus Egger
Inter-Mission Germany

Tribute by Rev.Dr.Selvaraj Rajiah - Paris ,France

IMPACT BEYOND THE GRAVE - THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF PASTOR JOHN VASU


Rev.John Vasu was one of the pioneers of the Pentecostal movement in South India. He had a great impact on the Pentecostal movement. He also travelled to different parts of the world and ministered the word of God. His life and ministry continued to make a great impact even after his death.


In addition to his spiritual work , Pastor John Vasu was deeply involved in social and charitable activity , starting one of the first orphanages in India run by a pentecostal ministry. These orphan homes helped children from really poor and desperate background. He also served as the correspondent of the P.A.M School which was one of the oldest Pentecostal schools in India.


My father Pastor T.J.Rajiah and my grandfather Mr.Thambiah Joseph had served the Lord in MPA. My mother Mrs. Gnanasoundari Rajiah had worked as a teacher in the P.A.M school.


My youngest brother Israel Jebaraj married Pamela , the daughter of Pastor Prabhudoss Vasu. When I met Pastor Prabhudoss Vasu regarding the marriage proposal for my brother Israel with his daughter , he happily agreed to the proposal . Today Israel and Pamela and their children Joanna and Joshua are serving the Lord in India and around the world as leaders of Sharon Ministries.


I was a member of the MPA youth group and also served as a sunday school teacher in MPA. I went from MPA to overseas for my education and on my return I was ministering in MPA branch churches conducting revival meetings and crusades for nearly two years.


The Lord took me to Europe and I started a bible school and a church and mission work in Paris in 1989 . Today the church is one of the largest charismatic churches in France. I travel and minister in different countries and the students who studied in our bible schools are serving the Lord in various parts of the world and I would like to state that it all began in MPA.


I send my greetings on this occasion and I thank the Lord for all that has been accomplished through the MPA ministries for the past 75 years and all the lives that have been touched and impacted through this ministry.


I pray that the ministry would grow to greater heights than ever before to reach the unreached with the gospel of Jesus Christ and that the Lord would prosper the ministry more and more.


I pray for God to anoint Pastor Stanley Vasu and give him greater wisdom and grace to expand the borders of the ministry even more than his grandfather and his father

May God bless you all.




Rev.Dr.Selvaraj Rajiah

Tribute by Dr. Y.David Williams - Capstone Global Outreach

It is with exquisite joy I send Shalom Greetings and commendations to Madras Pentecostal Assembly for their 75th anniversary of platinum Jubilee celebration! and the Birth Centenary of Pastor John Vasu. How I rejoice over the Vision and Mission of the founding fathers namely, Pastor Jacob, Pastor John Vasu, which was continued by Pastor G.N. Chockalingam, Pastor Prabudoss Vasu whom God has used over the years to establish Madras Pentecostal Assembly. Now the Lord has Chosen His servant, Dr. Stanley Vasu to become the President and Superintending Pastor to carry out the Mission of MPA.

As I look back over the years when I was a young boy of five years of age, PAM School at Pallavaram run by MPA groomed me with rudimentary principles of the word of God in a Godly environment through the Holy Spirit filled teachers. Their commitment to education and discipline prepared me to say yes to the call of God upon my life at the age of 10. The elementary education I received from Madras Pentecostal Assembly School equipped me for the ministry to which God has called me as my Sister and I travelled from Tambaram to Pallavaram with my Mother Mrs. Esther Williams, who was the Headmistress of the PAM School, Pallavaram at that time.

Even though I moved on to other Schools for my higher Secondary education, my parents involved our family in many of the Christian Ministries of the Madras Pentecostal Assembly. I vividly remember participating in a Bible Knowledge contest headed by Evangelist John Kumeravel through MPA monthly publication titled “Balm of Gilead”. The Evangelist offered Rs 15.00 as the first prize for anyone who can reference maximum number of Scriptures on “Praise”. I took the challenge and won the First Prize. The Bible knowledge contest again challenged me to read and search the scriptures diligently. Madras Pentecostal Assembly again was an instrumental in preparing me to be a bold witness for the Lord as I studied the Word of God through their Correspondence Course titled “Eternal Life”. Indeed I became a graduate of basic doctrines of the Bible through MPA.

Having been blessed and equipped by Madras Pentecostal Assembly School, Christian Publication and Correspondence Courses I consider myself, a genuine “Product of MPA” as God has brought me to the place of Christian Leadership in the United States of America to plant and oversee several thousands of Churches in 24 countries, raise hundreds of orphans, train thousands of Pastors, Evangelists, Missionaries and Laity through our University Program.

On this momentous occasion, I remember Pastor Prabhudoss Vasu , a great man of God, with whom I had wonderful times of fellowship whenever I ministered at the MPA church in Royapettah. I had the privilege to spend some time with him for the last time shortly before he went to be with the Lord.

As Madras Pentecostal Assembly commemorates its 75th year platinum Jubilee and the Birth Centenary of Pastor John Vasu, It is with deep appreciation I praise God for MPA and its Mission in India. May the Lord continue to pour out His Blessings upon Madras Pentecostal Assembly and its new leader, Pastor Stanley Vasu and his family, his Mother Mrs. Anusuya Vasu, his Sister Pamela Israel, Her Husband, Rev. Dr. Israel Jebaraj, Brother Ernest Vasu, as well as the associate Pastors, Evangelists, Branch Churches, Schools and Socially concerned Projects in a special way with His fresh anointing and that like never before!. May the Lord continue to cause Madras Pentecostal Assembly to be the beacon over the city of Chennai and the nation of India for His honor and purposes!

Sincerely,
Dr. Y. David Williams
International President and Overseer
Capstone Global Outreach, Inc. USA.

Tribute by Dr.Paul Appasamy - Vice-Chancellor , Karunya University

I have great pleasure in recalling the contributions of Pastor John Vasu on the occasion of his birth centenary, as well as the celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of the Madras Pentecostal Assembly. My family came to know Pastor John Vasu around 1958, after my mother, aunt and uncle received the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the annual meeting of the Pentecostal Fellowship at what is now known as Periyar Thidal. Dr.B.G. Drake, Jr. was the visiting American Evangelist.


Following this experience, my mother started attending the M.P.A church in Royapettah and continued to do so till her death in 1995. She served as secretary of the MPA Mission until the end despite failing health and eyesight. My uncle, Mr.E.D. Savarirayan served as a board member till his death last year at the age of 95. Our family had the opportunity, therefore, for close interaction with all three generations of the Vasu family.


Pastor John Vasu, the co-founder of the MPA mission was unlike the typical Pentecostal Pastor! He was very soft spoken and used measured words to great effect. There was always a smile on his face and he remained unruffled whatever the situation. His gracious presence changed the atmosphere of any service or meeting. He was an exceptionally good speaker who could keep the congregation spell-bound listening to every word. I still recall a sermon he gave in an evening service on Wisdom described in Proverbs 9. It is unfortunate that the technology of that time was inadequate to record his sermons for future generations.


During his tenure as Superintendent Pastor, Pastor John Vasu not only built up the branch churches of the Mission but also created the basic infrastructure that has continued nearly 50 years later.


Apart from developing the MPA Mission, Pastor John Vasu’s unquestionable leadership brought together the very diverse Pentecostal churches under one umbrella- the All India Pentecostal Fellowship. He was also well respected in World Pentecostal circles, and he was invited to speak in many countries. One of his last acts was to attend the World Pentecostal Conference in Jerusalem in 1961. He passed away the next year at the relatively young age of 53.


His wife Mrs. Kirubai Vasu had good administrative skills , who helped Pastor Vasu in many areas including women’s ministries. His only son Pastor Prabhudoss Vasu took over the mantle of the MPA Mission in 1971, after a brief period when Pastor G.N. Chockalingam was in charge. Unfortunately he also passed away at a young age, and it has become the responsibility of his son Pastor Stanley Vasu to lead the MPA Mission.


The MPA Mission which Pastor John Vasu co-founded in 1934 with Pastor Jacob now has a very good base and has expanded in many different areas. The vision and commitment of Pastor John Vasu will continue to serve as a beacon for future generations to follow and emulate.