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Prof.M.Y.Yohannan Prof. M.Y.Yohannan was born in a middle class agricultural family in Kadayiruppu, Kolenchery, Kerala. A man drenched in tears, who faced five deaths. Three of his brothers died before his birth. He lost his father at the infant age of one and his surviving brother when he was two years old. He could not continue his education after passing out from the tenth standard as he was forced to take up the responsibility of managing his family affairs and working in the farm desolate and desperate. His life blossomed at the age of seventeen when he surrendered his entire life to Jesus Christ, the LORD, and received born again experience while attending a Gospel meeting at his local church. When a man gets the born again experience, his deeds and words are changed. But the transformation of the inner-man, thoughts, attitudes, the old nature, etc. is the genuine sign of a true Christian. Prof. Yohannan started his career as a teacher in the school where he had studied. During his nine-year tenure in the school, he took his graduation and post graduation, as a private student, in arts with first ranks from the Kerala University. Later, he took B Ed degree also with University rank. In 1964, he joined St. Peter's College and continued there for the next thirty-three years. He was appointed Principal of the same college in 1995 and retired after two years. Even as a young teacher, he was an active member of a voluntary gospel missionary group in Kerala. Many well reputed and respected clergy as well as laymen sincerely participated in the activities of this Voluntary Missionary Society, which in Malayalam, was known as "Swamedhaya Suvisesha Sangham". As a result of its earnest effort on evangelisation, a large number of people received spiritual enlightment in the Jacobite/Orthodox and other churches. In 1973, a great spiritual revival swept over Kerala. Prof. Yohannan was in the forefront of this movement, inspired by the following divine words: "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." -2 Chronicles 7:14 "Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God." -Matthew 5:8 "Without holiness, no one will see the LORD." -Hebrews 12:14 By the latter half of the nineties, since the spiritual activities of Prof. Yohannan covered a wider spectrum, the fellowship was registered as an inter-denominational religious and charitable trust under the Charitable Societies Act, in the name and style of 'Christian Revival Fellowship (CRF)' with Prof. Yohannan as the founder President and its registered office at Kolenchery, Kerala. Thus as a humble endeavour of like-hearted people, who had committed their life to the service of Jesus Christ, with out any distinction on cast, creed, denomination or religion, the CRF was established. This fellowship of believers aims at proclaiming the Gospel - the good news that Jesus died and rose again for the whole world thus revealing his unlimited love for the mankind. Prof. Yohannan made it a point that CRF shall not be an organ, whether official or unofficial, of any church or religion. The basic ideology behind his view is: 'be faithful to one's own church and respect other churches and religions'. Religious conversion is not in his agenda. He strongly does believe that 'It's the soul that needs change, not the religion; It is the inner-man (heart) that needs change, not the church'. He strongly advocates the transformation of the total personality and not that of the religion, community or denominations. The salient objects of Prof. Yohannan while establishing the fellowship are:
The day-to-day business of the fellowship, according to Prof. Yohannan, is being met by the wholehearted offerings and donations by well-wishers and general public. He does not expect any form of financial assistance like subscription from fellowship members, grant or subsidy from any organisation whether national or international. The salient features of Prof. Yohannan's ministry can be classified as given below: Gospel meetings: Conducting Gospel meetings at various places at convenient time. All general public irrespective of church, denomination or religion are welcomed to these meetings. On all Mondays (6:00 pm to 8:00 pm), second-Saturdays (9:00 am to 2:00 pm), Sundays succeeding second-Saturdays and third-Sundays (12:30 pm to 5:00 pm), such meetings are held in the Prayer Hall adjacent to Prof. M.Y. Yohannan's residence at Kadayiruppu, Kolenchery. Special meetings for target groups that come under a specific age limits are also held. Prof. Yohannan preached the Gospel throughout Kerala and many big cities in India. Later, he visited the United States of America several times in connection with the LORD'S service. He also visited Great Britain and some of the Gulf countries in the Middle East and addressed several conventions. In 1997, Prof. Yohannan commenced the 'Amruthadhara' Radio Ministry on all Tuesday evenings. It is because of the wholehearted encouragement of the listeners, a second programme, meant for the Gulf countries, was started on all Friday nights. In October 2001, another programme on all Saturdays has been started. These programmes helped to preach the Gospel to un-reached and remote areas and segments of people, like in prisons, armed forces' barracks, hostels, etc. Prof. Yohannan utilized the potentiality of television, one of the most influential media today, to preach the Gospel. In 2000, the 'Amruthadhara' TV programme was started. These thirty-minute programmes are having very high viewer ship. Presently, Amruthadhara / Vachanasudha programmes are telecast on all Fridays (6:30 am IST), Saturdays (6:30 am IST) and Sundays (6:30 am IST) through the Asianet News, Soorya TV and Jeevan TV respectively. As requested by his ever-increasing listeners and dear friends, Prof. Yohannan had published his radio messages, Bible studies, analysis and commentaries in book form. As on Decemer 2009, he had published fifty seven books in Malayalam and English. Most of them are out-of-print and few more are getting ready for publishing. Prof. Yohannan is fully engaged in the activities of the CRF by addressing massive Gospel meetings, Bible classes, prayer meetings, counselling sessions, etc. He strongly believes that the need of the hour is 'the repentance of the repented'. His life motto is the Biblical verse- "Be holy as I am holy." -1 Peter 1:16 Prof. Yohannan gets whole-hearted support from his wife, Alice, a retired teacher, in his LORD's service. The Yohannans have three sons and a daughter, all married. The family is blessed with eight grandchildren. Main activities of the CRF in connection with Prof. Yohannan's Gospel ministry are as given below: Bible Classes: Detailed and devotional Bible Classes are held at Prof. C.M. Mathew's house, Kolenchery by Prof. M.Y.Yohannan on all Fridays from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.Women's Fellowship: Special meetings for women are held at Prof. M.Y. Yohannan's residence, Kadayiruppu, Kolenchery on all first Tuesdays of the month from 9:00 am to 12:45 pm. Similar meetings are also held in the Prayer Hall adjacent to Prof. M.Y. Yohannan's residence on second-Saturdays (3:00 pm to 4:30 pm) and at various other places also. Young Men's Fellowship: Such meetings, meant for youths of age between fifteen to thirty five years, are being held at Prof. C.M. Mathew's house, Kolenchery on all first and third Wednesdays from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm as well as in other regions also Children's Bible Class: Bible Classes intended for children are being held in the Prayer Hall adjacent to Prof. M.Y. Yohannan's residence on second-Saturdays (3:00pm to 4:30 pm). Annual Central Convention: This five-day programme is usually held at Kolenchery during the second week in May. Bible Classes, individual testimonies and short messages are held during the morning session and Gospel messages during evenings. Participants from various parts of the world attend this mammoth function. Region-wise annual conventions are also held. Radio Ministry: Gospel ministry through radio are being conducted by Prof. M.Y.Yohannan and other gifted speakers on every Tuesdays at 7:45 pm, SW 25M band and Saturdays at 7:30 pm (SW 25m band) and Gulf programme on all Fridays in SW 49 m band - Saudi, Kuwait 9:00 am, Oman, UAE 10:00 am . These programmes helped to preach the Gospel to un-reached and remote areas and segments of people, like in prisons, armed forces' barracks, hostels, etc. Television Ministry: The 'Amruthadhara' / 'Vachanasudha' TV programmes are telecast on all Fridays (6:30am), Saturdays (6:30 am) and Sundays (6:30 am) through the Asianet News, Soorya TV and Jeevan TV respectively. Publishing Ministry: As requested by his ever-increasing listeners and dear friends, Prof. Yohannan had published his radio messages, Bible studies, analysis and commentaries in book form. As on December 2009, he had published fifty seven books in Malayalam and English. Most of them are out-of-print and few more are getting ready for publishing. Amruthadhara News - a newsletter published periodically is printed and distributed free of cost. Amruthadhara Website: Information on activities of the fellowship is available through Internet from www.crfgospel.org. Audio and video messages, music and books can be downloaded from this site free of cost. Internet: Communication with the CRF is also possible through E-mail in the following addresses: info@crfgospel.org and profmyyohannan@crfgospel.org. Missionary work: Missionaries who have deep commitment for LORD'S work are specially selected and deputed at various places. Music ministry: Amruthadhara and Amruthadhara Junior Choir perform soul stirring divine music of the fellowship. Various activities of CRF are carried out in the state of Kerala, India and abroad through its regional units by a group of deeply committed servants of the LORD under the leadership of Prof. M.Y.Yohannan. CRF aims at helping people to have personal relationship with God and achieve eternal life through knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent. To achieve this, one should have the sanctification of the soul, without which, no man shall see the LORD. But we preach Christ crucified - 1 Corinthians 1:23. |