Professional Dissertations DMin

Date of Award

2000

Document Type

Project Report

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry

College

Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary

Program

Doctor of Ministry DMin

First Advisor

Gordon E. Christo

Second Advisor

Werner K. Yyhmeister

Third Advisor

Nancy J. Vyhmeister

Abstract

Problem

The St. Thomas Christians in Kerala claim their spiritual heritage from Thomas the apostle. Yet they are not generally aware of a number of scriptural teachings including the seventh-day Sabbath, which Thomas and their forefathers observed. For the last one hundred years there has been no developed Seventh-day Adventist strategy to proclaim the full biblical message, which was their heritage, to this people group.

Findings

The St. Thomas Christians of Kerala, India, believe that Thomas the apostle took Christianity to India. Their very existence bears witness to it. Thomas is reported to have arrived in Kerala in A.D. 52. He preached among the settled Jews and Hindus and established churches. The St. Thomas Christians practiced a simple faith as taught by the apostle. They had two sacraments, baptism and Lord's Supper, and they worshiped only on Saturday at least until the fourth century. They followed the Syriac liturgy. Until the sixteenth century they had ties with East Syrian (Persian) churches. They continued their Sabbath observance throughout this period.

In the sixteenth century the St. Thomas Christians came into contact with the Roman Catholics. The subsequent establishment of the Inquisition and the Latinization program led to the Synod of Diamper (1599) and later to the Humbled Cross Oath in 1653. After the St. Thomas Christians came under Roman Catholicism, the church began to fracture.

Using as a bridge the history and ancient doctrines of the St. Thomas Christians, especially the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, a strategy was developed to evangelize nominal St. Thomas Christians in Kerala. It includes a preevangelism program for two months with various awareness programs, Bible study, and the organization of succeeding events. This is to be followed by an evangelistic crusade for 21 days, emphasizing the faith and practices of St. Thomas Christians. The final step will be the formation of a church and postbaptismal care, which include spiritual growth programs, a life development institute, cell group ministry, and erecting a church building for the congregation.

Subject Area

Seventh-day Adventists--India--Kerala; Saint Thomas Christians; Kerala (India)--Church history; Evangelistic work--Seventh-day Adventists--India--Kerala

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.32597/dmin/693

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