Thursday, July 10, 2014
Monday, July 7, 2014
PASTOR JOHN VASU - A MAN OF GOD
THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF PASTOR JOHN VASU
Pastor John Vasu was a legendary Pentecostal Pastor and a Visionary Leader. He was one of pioneering Pentecostal leaders in India recognised both nationally and internationally in his generation.
Pastor John Vasu was born 100 years ago on September 2nd 1909 as the eldest son in an orthodox Hindu family. He became a follower of Jesus christ at the age of 16. He received a call to ministry through a supernatural experience in which he fell into a trance and was taken to heaven.
He obeyed the heavenly vision and entered into full time ministry at the age of nineteen. He destroyed his educational certificates lest he be tempted to seek secular employment in any desperate situation. He travelled for a period as an itinerant evangelist in various parts of Tamilnadu and Srilanka.
He then joined with Pastor B.Jacob to found the Madras Pentecostal Assembly and later served as its Superintending Pastor. He married Miss.Kirubai Conrad on 6.6.1941 and they had two children Pastor Prabhudoss Vasu and Mrs.Sheila Alwin.
Mrs. Kirubai Vasu was a highly qualified lady having completed B.A Lt and working as a Mathematics teacher. She resigned her job and joined wholeheartedly with her husband in the ministry, interpreting his messages and assisting him in every way she could.
Pastor John Vasu published one of the first Pentecostal magazines in India in English and Tamil in 1938 called the Balm of Gilead. He also started one of the first Pentecostal Bible Colleges in India in 1950 called the Madras Bible Institute.
He also laboured much to promote unity among Pastors and churches and formed the first fellowship for the Pentecostal Pastors which has continued to bear great fruit even today as is seen in the growth of Pentecostal Pastors fellowships throughout India.
He served as the FIRST President of the All India Pentecostal Fellowship from 1957 until his homecall in 1962. He served as the FIRST President of the Pentecostal Fellowship, Madras from 1956 until his homecall.
He was the FIRST representative of India in the World Pentecostal Conference Committee from 1949 until his homecall.
He was also the chairman of the historic T.L.Osborn crusade in Madurai in 1961.
He was great mentor of young leaders and encouraged them in the ministry and many of them have become outstanding Christian Leaders today.
Pastor John Vasu was an outstanding preacher of the word of God and was considered a Prince of Preachers in India in his time.
He travelled widely around the world in three Global Missionary tours between 1949 and 1962 in his preaching ministry and was a great blessing everywhere he went.
In one meeting , a pastor saw the cloven tongues resting on the people and in another meeting two children had visions of Jesus. He exalted Christ and expounded the Scriptures, charged by the power of Holy Ghost that by the very presence of God which filled the place , sinners and backsliders were drawn to the feet of Jesus and saints were richly blessed.
Pastor John Vasu cared deeply for poor and needy and laboured much for the welfare of the orphans and the widows. He took much efforts to establish schools for the education of the deprived and the downtrodden people of society.
He was a man of deep love and humility , soft spoken and a man of few words. He was a celebrated resident of Chennai well respected by the society .He was appointed as a honorary magistrate by the Government.
He went to be with the Lord after an untiring ministry of 33 years. To the end of his earthly pilgrimage , he was toiling hard in His vineyard, wishing to die in harness. It pleased the Lord to fulfill His servant's desire on 7th July 1962.
His family has continued to serve the Lord even to the third and fourth generation. His son Pastor Prabhudoss Vasu was also a great Pentecostal leader serving the Lord for 33 years until his heavenly homecall .
His grandson Pastor Stanley Vasu is currently leading the Madras Pentecostal Assembly.
7 Christlike Qualities of Pastor John Vasu: By Pastor Stanley Vasu
From the testimonies that I have heard and read about Pastor John Vasu , I would like to highlight some aspects of his life and ministry which have challenged me deeply . I trust that others too would find it inspiring and worth emulating.
CHRISTLIKE QUALITIES OF PASTOR JOHN VASU
1. HIS FAITH
He had a deep faith in Christ which he demonstrated by forsaking his religion and his family and all familiar surroundings and setting out to serve God like Abraham not knowing where he was going. The Lord honoured his faith and obedience and blessed him.
Hebrews 11:8 , Isaiah 51:2 ,Mark 10: 28-30, Matthew 10:32-42 , James 2:14-26
2. HIS FATHERLY LOVE
He had a fatherly love towards people. He was an outstanding preacher himself yet he often invited younger ministers to speak and thus encouraged their ministry. As Apostle Paul said ' Even though you have ten thousand instructors , you do not have many fathers'. Many young ministers during his days have testified that Pastor John Vasu took a fatherly concern towards them and encouraged the development and fulfillment of their calling and ministry.
1 Corinthians 4:15
3. HIS FRUIT
He bore fruit in his life and ministry that has lasted long after his sojourn on the earth. The ministry that he did, the churches that he planted , the young people he had encouraged and mentored are still bearing fruit and even their descendants are serving the Lord and accomplishing great things for the Kingdom of God. This shows that his labours were not in vain but are continuing to bear fruit even today. He was careful not to waste his time and efforts chasing popularity or position or serving God with ulterior motives . He had served God with sincerity and truth so that his ministry had lasting fruit. Even in his personal life he had demonstrated the fruit of the Spirit such as love , joy , peace, meekness etc.
John 15:16 Galatians 5:22-23 Matthew 7:20
4. HIS FORGIVING NATURE
He had a very forgiving nature and many have testified that even in very provocative situations , he maintained his tender spirit refusing to give any place in his heart to resentment or bitterness. No doubt this quality was greatly beneficial in his leadership responsibilities and helped to maintain and harmony especially in the pastors fellowships that he led.
Ephesians 4:32
5. HIS FOREIGN MINISTRY
He travelled abroad in Europe and America and many have testified that his ministry there was a great blessing. He had made such a deep impact in the hearts of the people there that even today many have fond memories of his visits. In an era when many westerners had a condescending attitude towards Indians and Indian preachers , Pastor John Vasu commanded their respect by his stature and personal integrity and spiritual maturity. Many of the outstanding international christian leaders of his era were his personal friends.
Mark 16:15 Acts 1:8 Acts 11: 27-30
6. HIS FELLOWSHIP
He loved the fellowship of the people of God and fellow servants of God. He did not prefer to live and work in isolation but was burdened for the unity and harmony of all the churches. He wanted to do his best to remove divisions and misunderstandings and bitterness between the people of God and the servants of God. As a result he was chosen to provide leadership to the pastors fellowships.
John 17 :21 1 Corinthians 12:12 Matthew 5:9
7. HIS FINISH
He finished his race triumphantly keeping his faith till the end . He did not stray away from his calling and ministry or wander into strange doctrines . He stayed in the course given to him and completed the task that was given to him. He wanted to die in harness and labour till his last breath. He said that it is better to wear out than rust out. Even a few days before he passed away he travelled a long distance for the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of a church in a village.
Hebrews 13:7 2 Timothy 4:7 Hebrews 12:1-2 Psalm 37:37
CHRISTLIKE QUALITIES OF PASTOR JOHN VASU
1. HIS FAITH
He had a deep faith in Christ which he demonstrated by forsaking his religion and his family and all familiar surroundings and setting out to serve God like Abraham not knowing where he was going. The Lord honoured his faith and obedience and blessed him.
Hebrews 11:8 , Isaiah 51:2 ,Mark 10: 28-30, Matthew 10:32-42 , James 2:14-26
2. HIS FATHERLY LOVE
He had a fatherly love towards people. He was an outstanding preacher himself yet he often invited younger ministers to speak and thus encouraged their ministry. As Apostle Paul said ' Even though you have ten thousand instructors , you do not have many fathers'. Many young ministers during his days have testified that Pastor John Vasu took a fatherly concern towards them and encouraged the development and fulfillment of their calling and ministry.
1 Corinthians 4:15
3. HIS FRUIT
He bore fruit in his life and ministry that has lasted long after his sojourn on the earth. The ministry that he did, the churches that he planted , the young people he had encouraged and mentored are still bearing fruit and even their descendants are serving the Lord and accomplishing great things for the Kingdom of God. This shows that his labours were not in vain but are continuing to bear fruit even today. He was careful not to waste his time and efforts chasing popularity or position or serving God with ulterior motives . He had served God with sincerity and truth so that his ministry had lasting fruit. Even in his personal life he had demonstrated the fruit of the Spirit such as love , joy , peace, meekness etc.
John 15:16 Galatians 5:22-23 Matthew 7:20
4. HIS FORGIVING NATURE
He had a very forgiving nature and many have testified that even in very provocative situations , he maintained his tender spirit refusing to give any place in his heart to resentment or bitterness. No doubt this quality was greatly beneficial in his leadership responsibilities and helped to maintain and harmony especially in the pastors fellowships that he led.
Ephesians 4:32
5. HIS FOREIGN MINISTRY
He travelled abroad in Europe and America and many have testified that his ministry there was a great blessing. He had made such a deep impact in the hearts of the people there that even today many have fond memories of his visits. In an era when many westerners had a condescending attitude towards Indians and Indian preachers , Pastor John Vasu commanded their respect by his stature and personal integrity and spiritual maturity. Many of the outstanding international christian leaders of his era were his personal friends.
Mark 16:15 Acts 1:8 Acts 11: 27-30
6. HIS FELLOWSHIP
He loved the fellowship of the people of God and fellow servants of God. He did not prefer to live and work in isolation but was burdened for the unity and harmony of all the churches. He wanted to do his best to remove divisions and misunderstandings and bitterness between the people of God and the servants of God. As a result he was chosen to provide leadership to the pastors fellowships.
John 17 :21 1 Corinthians 12:12 Matthew 5:9
7. HIS FINISH
He finished his race triumphantly keeping his faith till the end . He did not stray away from his calling and ministry or wander into strange doctrines . He stayed in the course given to him and completed the task that was given to him. He wanted to die in harness and labour till his last breath. He said that it is better to wear out than rust out. Even a few days before he passed away he travelled a long distance for the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of a church in a village.
Hebrews 13:7 2 Timothy 4:7 Hebrews 12:1-2 Psalm 37:37
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