ARCHBISHOP VARGHESE L.MATHAI AT SEVENTY

NEW WORLD ONLINE PUBLICATION WISH BISHOP DR.VARGHESE L.MATHAI MANY HAPPY RETURNS ON HIS SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAY!! MAY LORD GOD ALMIGHTY SHOWER HIS BLESSINGS UPON HIM , HIS FAMILY AND ALL THE PARISHIONERS.


Dr. Varghese & Mrs. Sarah Mathai With Grand Daughter Chloe Jaya @ the 70th Celebration !.

ARCHBISHOP VARGHESE L. MATHAI AT SEVENTY !
The Reverend Dr. Varghese L. Mathai, the first Indian Pentecostal Charismatic Archbishop in the United States, is basking in joyful gratitude to the Lord God Almighty for His love and grace that sustaind and blessed him in the last 7 decades of his life on earth. His 70th Birthday (on September 1st ) has been celebrated in events held at home and church, the most memorable being the one at his local church--the New Wine Ministries in Cooper City Florida--with many prayers, singing, worship-dance and thanksgiving.

Pastor Mario Bramnick gave a glowing tribute to his accomplishments in the fields of
missions and Christian education, especially in his leadership in the operation of the
International Institute of Church Management (IICM), Florida Inc. He said, "On account of his many years of service in the Kingdom of God and being the seniormost member of the leadership of this fellowship, Dr. Mathai is indeed the patriarch of this church." It was followed by a fellowship lunch provided by the church members and a beautiful cake cutting ceremony. Dr. Mathai has profusely thanked the enthusiastic crowd of brothers and sisters of the church.

Dr. Varghese Mathai is the eldest son of Oriental scholar, author, educator and poet,
Evangelist Lahayil Mathai of Pandalam in the East Indian State of Kerala, and Mrs.
Saramma Mathai who was also a Bible School graduate and greatly talented in sewing and music. Both father and mother belonged to Christian families whose ancestors started the Reformation in the Kerala Christian Church in the 19th century. In these families were a number of bishops, pastors, evangelists, clergy men and community leaders of note.

Of his five siblings, Rev. Ipe Mathai is the founder and president of Mathai Outreach Ministries, and Sister Susan John a many-times award-winning song-writer and singer.

Varghese Mathai's spiritual quests began at the age of 11 when he had an encounter
with the living Lord & Saviour at a revival meeting in the local Saint Thomas
(Marthomite) church at Pandalam, Kerala. Every aspect of his life thereafter revolved
around this born-again experience and in pursuit of further spiritual truths which led
him to Baptism by Immersion in 1961 and Baptism of the Holy Spirit in 1962.

A College graduate in English Literature and Accounting, Varghese Mathai continued his Biblical and Theological education in the Christian Writing Institute in Nasik, India; American Bible Institute in Kansas City, Kansas; in the Berean University in Springfield, Missouri; International Seminary in Orlando, Florida from which he received his formal ordination and a Doctor of Letters Degree in 1984, a Master's in Theology in 1994. In 1995, he earned his Doctor of Theology degree with high honors from the Trinity Evangelical Seminary of Florida in Naples. He has also obtained a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies, a Doctor of Laws, and a Doctor Religious Education.

An ardent believer in evangelism and missions, Dr. Mathai has founded the Gospel Light Mission -- a Prayer, Care and Literature ministry -- in 1977 in New York and continues as its President. He is also an Executive Elder in the Morris Cerullo World Evangelism, and a Charter Member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, American Christian Writers, among other things. As partner in a number of ministries in India and in the U.S., Dr. Mathai has travelled extensively in India, Middle-East, England, Portugal; North, Central and South America--including Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Brazil. As a result of these pioneering efforts God has helped the formation of over 150 churches and fellowships in about a dozen nations.

Dr. Mathai is also a well-known writer and publisher. He has published over 200
articles in different languages. His book A Multi-Lingual Glossary of Bible Facts (Veda Pusthak Loka Parichay) is in English, Hindi and Malayalam put together. His other published books are The New World Order In Biblical Perspective, and The New Heavens and The New Earth--all well researchd-for and out-of-the- ordinary. He has been also the president of the South Florida Chapter of the Kerala Pentecostal Writers Forum, and sponsor of the Indian Christian Writers Roundtable. He received several awards. In 1995, he gained the rare recognition of becoming a member of the "International WHO'S WHO of Professionals, followed by a membership in the Madison Who's Who. In recognition of his social and political involvement, Dr. Mathai was awarded the Congressional Award of Merit in 2004.

Professionally speaking, Varghese Mathai worked with the America Epress Company until 10 years ago when he took an early retirement to devote full time in Mission work. He was also a Professor of Theology in the Grace Christian College of South Florida. He was occasionally publishing a newsletter by the name Gospel Eskatos -- the End-Time Gospel.

Dr. Varghese Mathai was ordained a Bishop of the IICM ( International Institute of
Church Management) in 2006. He had already been an International Director for Education & Missions of IICM, as well as the Dean of the IICM International Bible College & Seminary under IICM Florida Inc. IICM has branches, franchises, partners, students and supporters in over 100 nations -- with headquarters in Plymouth, PA, New York, Florida and Chennai, India. In May 2008, he was consecrated as an Archbishop by Patriarch John Williams, Founder and President of IICM, at the IICM Plymouth Cathedral in Pennsylvania.

Bishop Mathai believes in unity in the Spirit of all Christians, and in helping and
co-operating with people of all churches and denominations for the common good of humanity. He believes in community and political participation of Christians to
bring about change and ethical rejuvenation in all levels of Government. As Christians, he believes, it's our duty to pray and intercede for all people, especially for those who are in authority, as mandated by the Bible ( I Timothy 2:1-4 ). As regards the the Reformation that was started in the Indian Church in the past centuries, he believes, it was only a beginning and that it should not halt on the way, but go on until it reaches the love and doctrinal purity of the original Church, working towards the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth.

Dr. Mathai lives in the Davie-Cooper City area of South Florida with his wife Sarah
Lil Mathai. The eldest of their two daughters, Jenette Mathai is married to Dennis Carlson and is an Attorney in Fort Lauderdale. The youngest -- Joyette Mathai is a Missionary- Cum-Social Worker. He has a beautiful grand child - Chloe Jaya Carlson. All in the family are active in different fields of Christian endeavor. Dr. Mathai is also a Senior Minister of their local church New Wine Ministries, as well as founding member of the Broward Pastors Network and the Conservative Christian Coalition. He edits and publishes an Internet newsletter called Bishop's Notes -- BIEN !
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Wishing You A Happy New Year And God's Abundant Blessings!
Yours in Him,
Varghese L. Mathai