Good News Mission Cathedral
THE BEGINNING
In the year 1971 along with the Children's home ministry, a church Bible study was started. It was a house church with 30 members. In the beginning it was a Bible study group and there was no Sunday worship. On a particular Bible study, the Spirit of the Lord led Pr. Rajendran to lead people towards infilling of Holy Spirit. All the 30 of them received the anointing. They all turned up for the next Bible Study and this marked the beginning of the Church.
Meanwhile, a place was taken for rent and a thatched roof was put up for worship. A stranger set fire for the roof in the midnight, and the Spirit of God woke up Pr. Rajendran in the middle of the night. Therefore, they were able to put off the fire without causing heavy damage. Following this, both the sons of Pr. Rajendran were affected with skin disease, which was another great challenge in that Pioneering ministry. Following this, Pastor Amma had to undergo major surgery. But by the prayers of many and by his grace, Pr. Rajendran was able to overcome all the trials.
In the later days many hundreds were added in the church and the church began to grow. In the year 1988, as the Lord led Pr. Rajendran to move to the own land and build a church, a thatched roof church was built with 110ft. long and 35 ft. wide. In the year 1989 Bro. Ben visited the church and was instigated to help the church put up a concrete roof. By the gracious giving of the Church believers and the love offering received in the ministry at Belgium and Holland the present church was built with 120ft length and 40 ft. wide.
As the church building was permanently built and the ministry began to grow, various other ministries were also done by the church. They are Gospel meetings through Love meal, Radio ministry, Video Ministry, Magazine Ministry, Special camps for Old Aged people Family camp, Children Camp, North India Missions, Releasing Songs every year and Levite's camp
It is to be highlighted that, through the video ministry and convention, churches at Villathikulam, Kalidaikurichi, and Rediyarpuram were pioneered.
LEVITES CAMP
A Telegram was received by Apostle Saint M. Rajendran while he was preaching in a Crusade at Marthandam in the year 1979. The telegram quoted that Bro. Ben Hanegraff is about to be in India to make 16mm film of the daily lives of children in India. A seven days meeting was organized at various places along with children ministry. On a particular day while Bro. Ben was sharing to the Children, the Spirit of God led Pr. Rajendran to prophecy over Bro. Ben that the 'Lord is going to use Bro. Ben in India for the lost to be saved'. Bro. Ben also confirmed the message and a great crusade was organized in the year 1980. As Bro. Ben was preparing to minister in the crusade, the Lord spoke that there is a great ministry among the Pastors in India.
This led to the 'Deeper Life in Christ' seminar conducted at first at Palay bus stand grounds. Following this the seminar moved to Railway Feeder road where 323 pastors were in attendance. The travel expenses were given for the pastors.
But in the year 1984 Bro. Ben had to start his own Victory Mission, and informed that the travel expenses could not be given. So Pr. Rajendran sent a circular stating that the Seminar could not be conducted since the travel expenses could not be provided. But the response letter from all the pastors were very positive. They stated that, they would bear their travel expenses and insisted to organize the seminar. This was a great mark for greater ministry which blossomed into Levites camp where 3500 Pastors gathered every year. Delegates from South Africa, Kenya, England, USA, Singapore, Malaysia, Denmark, Srilanka Tanzania, Swaziland were in attendance. Several Levites camp were also conducted in the countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Swaziland, Singapore and Malaysia.
The Lord used Levites Camp to unite Church leaders, Christian Organization Leaders and many Roman Catholic Priests were touched. The Levites camp served as the backbone for Fellowship of Pastors and revival in Churches. Years later, this Levites camp was organized in different places rather than gathering a large crowd at one place. In recent years the Levites camp has been conducted in all the Districts of Tamilnadu and in the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra.
CRUSADES - TAMILNADU GOSPEL TEAM
As 1Cor 9:16 says, 'For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel'. Apostle Saint M. Rajendran conducted Crusades all over Tamilnadu, to revive Tamilnadu churches from 1975 to 1982. The first Crusade was organized at Nazereth, Tirunelveli District. As the arrangements were made, there was not even a single person turned up for the meeting ground until 8:00pm. Pr. Rajendran asked his team members to kneel and pray in the ground. Within 10 minutes of time, people began to come and the ground was filled with people.
The first crusade was successful. That night, there was no place to stay. Knowing this, a doctor from that place offered his clinic for them to stay. Crusades started with this humble beginning marked the history of lakhs and lakhs of people turning their lives to Christ. In specific, his crusades had a great impact in the Kanyakumari District, where people accepted Christ and joined as members in all the churches in Kanyakumari. The churches were blessed. The crusades were conducted with the help and moral support of many other organisation leaders. Until the end of his life, he strove hard to preach the gospel at any cost. Glory to God!
POWER YOUTH CAMP
Act 2:17 And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams: The Power Youth camp is another great ministry by Apostle Saint M. Rajendran, which was conducted every year. The vision to reach Young people grew stronger as Pastor Sampath Raja, the eldest son of Pr. Rajendran completed his Theological studies. The vision Tamilnadu come together for spirit-filled worship and sermons. Youth Camp began. Young people from all over Tamilnadu come together for a spirit-filled worship and sermons. They get revived by the spiritual impact. At the end of every youth camp, a call was given for those who offer their lives for ministry. Many began to give their lives for ministry. Therefore, the need to offer ministerial training to those who committed their lives to ministry gave birth to the vision of starting up a Bible College.
GOOD NEWS MISSION BIBLE COLLEGE
The Bible College was started on 20th June 1992 for men at Perumalpuram and in 1995 for women. In the year 2002 the Bible College moved to the new land purchased with the help of World Wide Zending at Tharuvai where it is functioning now. The generosity of Bro. Bosveld and Sis Els Kluck helped to accommodate Bible College at the same premises where the Children's Home was functioning. At present, the enthusiastic efforts of Bro. Wim Vlak, Sis. Nelly Viak, Sis. Els and Bro. Sandy are of great help to continue this ministry.
Good News Mission Bible College has produced many theological students and has sent to many denominations. The vision is to equip young people to be Pastors of churches. Therefore, almost all of our alumni are in ministry serving as Pastors. Some of them are involved in teaching ministry in India, Malaysia, Korea and in many other places. The strength of Good News Mission Bible College is its Founder's emphasis on 'Pastoral Ministry-based Teachers'. Teaching God's word without Practical ministry would only improve Knowledge but Theological training must be 'Theory put into Practice is Pr.Rajendran's idea of theological training. Good News Mission Bible College was accredited by the Nations Association for Theological Accreditation.
Courses Offered:
Bachelor of Theology (B.Th) – 3 Years (Educational Qualification: +2 or diploma)
Diploma in Theology (Dip.Th) – 2 Years (Educational Qualification: SSLC)
Certificate in Theology (C.Th) – 1 Year
GOOD NEWS MISSION PASTORS AND BRANCH CHURCHES
In the year 1976, apart from the Church ministry at Palayamkottai, God led him to start a branch church at New Pettai with 3 families. At this point of time, Pr. Manoharan completed his theological education and took over this church. Until 1987, this ministry was supported by Inter-Mission and later it became self-sufficient.
Rajendran's Gospel meetings offered his life to Christ to do his ministry. So he was appointed as the Pastor. No one was willing to offer a home to conduct services. But there was a Hindu man who stretched out his help by offering a land on the main road of Kalidaikurichi and a thatched roof was put up. At present, after the death of Pr. Ganadurai, and according to his wish, Pr. Sam Raja is continuing this ministry, which is a great blessing.
In the year 1987, Pr. Rajendran began a small branch ministry at Vilathikulam, Tuticorin District in the house of Gurunathar Chettiar. This ministry was taken over by Pr. Selvaraj for some time. Then Pr. Anandraj, who was a student of J.J. orphanage, who has completed his theological studies and taken over the church. All these three churches were directly pioneered by the Apostle Saint M. Rajendran.
After this, the churches began to grow and many other churches in Athichaperi, Suthamalli, Matthicode, Kongarayakurichi Vannikonenthal, Nagercoil, Tuticorin, Thisayanvillai, Kurivikulam, Vathiyarvillai, Kattyanvillai, Veturinimadam, Coimbatore Virudhunagar, Vasudevanallur, Reddiyarpuram, Pavoorchatram, Salem, Namakkal, Chidambram. Alangulam, Poothapandi Thathankulam were also established.
The strong Vision of Apostle Saint M. Rajendran is to 'Increase Pastors-Increase Churches'. Often, he used to state that "Quantity in church is not important - Quality is more important. Though he was the President and Senior Pastor of Good News Mission, he himself took efforts to establish branch churches. Every month Pastors Meeting was conducted at GNM Cathedral, where the Apostle himself would speak for 2 hours and encourage with prophetic words of comfort and guidance. He would make the pastors feel God's anointing upon them. He used to often say that, when I die, it is enough for me to have 12 ministers of God who are like pearls. He always cherished the Quality Ministry.
COMPOSED 251 SONGS
According to the Gift of God to Apostle Saint M. Rajendran in composing songs, he has written 251 songs and is being sung in the Christian world. These songs were released every year in the form of cassettes and CDs. His songs are always Scripture-based and experience-based ones. Varieties of songs, according to the occasions, were written. They are songs to be sung in Wedding Ceremony, House Warming ceremony, Church Dedication, Betrothal Service, Gospel Meetings, Pastor's Camps, Christmas and New Year Service etc. His songs help us to fill in Spirit while singing and are helpful for deeper meditation. Once it was commented that 'Every lines of his songs is a Bible Study'.
Apostle Saint M. Rajendran, a Legend has left a Legacy that we all have to follow. He is now one among the clouds of witnesses that surround us. God has used him as a Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Apostle, and Teacher. At the well-lived life of Pr. M. Rajendran, the Good News Mission Cathedral believers have given him the name 'Saint' and started to call him Apostle Saint M. Rajendran. His life has been a great investment in the Pentecostal Ministry, and it leaves a responsibility to all of us who are inspired by his life to live a life full of God's power, carrying the task that is entrusted to us.