S.D.A Malayalam Church, Virar, Mumbai is a group of Adventist believers from Kerala, settled in different part of Mumbai, struggling to keep holy Sabbath as we lack a prayer hall. Malayalam Church History
In the year 1973-74 few gospel seed were sown by PR.A.I.John and lay man MR.C.J.Simon in the heart of a group of young people who were desperately in search of spiritual guidance .This is the be
ginning and origin of the Mumbai S.D.A.Malayalam church. The first Malayalam Sabbath worship started in Simla house,Malabar hills .PR.Mammem Mathew was appointed as the first Malayalam church pastor.That time PR.Mammen Mathew was residing in the suburban city of Goregaon. Hence Malayalam church services were shifted to Goregaon in a rented place for the convenience of the church pastor and believers. Later he was appointed as the church pastor for English church in Mumbai central and section administration provided his accommodation at Mumbai central S.D.A quarters. He was also in charge of the Malayalam congregation in Goregaon .Section advised the church pastor to conduct the Malayalam service at Mumbai central English church after the morning worship of the English church. Thus again Malayalam church was forced to move to Mumbai central English church building .Sabbath services was conducted after 4 p.m. This church was organized on April 20 ,1979 ,after 5 years of establishing the church .Unfortunately lack of a prayer hall, time of worship services and distance to travel to attend the services affected the growth of the church .Attendance of the services decreased. The church experienced a spiritual coldness at this time. In the year 1985,PR.P.S.Johneykutty was appointed as the Malayalam church pastor. He has made a great effort to revive the church activities. By hard and dedicated work and by Holy spirit a spiritual revival has taken place .Few backsliders came back to the church. Tithe and offerings increased. Family prayer, fasting and prayer ,women ministries programme , etc was arranged to make members more active in the church. Silver jubilee was celebrated in the year of 1998.PR.P.V.Paulose from Division was the chief guest.(please see the photos in activities.) In spite of all enormous difficulties S.D.A. Malayalam church membership immensely grown over past 25years.Many well known professionals like chartered accountant doctors, engineers nurses, airhostess business people baptized and became members of the church. This was one of the best churches in the old Maharashtra section. Even though this church had grown since 1973 to 1998,there was no permanent place for Sabbath worship. Still worship was conducted after 4 p.m ,in the English church building after their services Today under the Mumbai metro section of S.D.A. around 25 churches are active in ministry including Tamil, telugu etc. Even though all these churches started after Malayalam church .All these language churches having own worship hall. Sadly to say Malayalam church has no permanent place for sabbath worship till today.AT PRESENT PASTOR’S OWN RESIDENCE IS USED FOR WORSHIP. Today we are at the cross road. Future of this church is under threat ,because there is no church building. THIS SHORT HISTORY OF S.D.A.MALAYALAM CHURCH IS AN APPEAL TO ALL OUR FRIENDS AND WELL WISHERS AROUND THE GLOBE TO HELP US TO HAVE A PERMANENT WORSHIP HALL TO WORSHIP OUR LORD ON HIS BLESSED SABBATH DAY.(more details are available in the pastors message)
