C.John, Goa / Mumbai

A tribute by Nelson Thomas Evangelist, Grace Brethren Assembly Malvani, Mumbai. Also read a tribute by the family.

Evangelist C John 84 years, who went to be with the Lord on May 14 2010 in Mumbai will be remembered very dearly by the members of Grace Brethren Assembly Malvani, Mumbai.
 
Around four years ago dear brother and his wife came to stay with his younger daughter Elizabeth in Mumbai for rest & treatment. Though he was weak in his body he attended our worship meeting regularly till the first week of April 2010.
 
His presence in the assembly was actually a challenge to many who neglect assembly activities for simple reasons. Even the neighbors used to wonder, why in such weak state he comes for meeting. On the last two weeks we found that he could not walk down from our first floor meeting room and we had to carry him on a chair to the road.
 
He always sang a song of praise during worship time and praised God appreciating the wonderful salvation God has provided for sinful man in the Lord Jesus Christ. He was well versed in English, Hindi Malayalam languages and he used all these three languages as our activities are mainly in Hindi language.
 
Though Uncle C. John never preached a sermon in our church, but his very presence was more than a preaching. When the believers will come to wish him, he will stand from his chair and shake hands with every one and very lovingly and joyfully respond to their queries.
 
One thing I have noticed very specifically in these four years that he never made a complaint about any thing or any body. He was always happy and satisfied.
 
Often I felt a fatherly care in Him. He was very much concerned about my ministries and even my material needs.
 
More than two years ago his wife Sister Kunjamma departed to glory. Now dear uncle too followed her.
 
We are happy that uncle’s three children Bro. George John (Sharjah), Sist.Pauline De Sa (Canada) and Sist. Elizebeth Goel (Mumbai), all of them with their families follow the footsteps of their parents and continue in fellowship with the people of God in their respective places.
 
May the Lord comfort them and help each one of us to complete our ministry while we are healthy and alive!

The following is a tribute published by the family on the day of funeral service,
included here as it helps us to get a full picture about the life of Uncle C. John.

A tribute: C. John Evangelist Goa ( 15 March 1926 - 14 May 2010)

C. John was born to godly Christian parents, who were actively engaged in the service of the Lord. Johnny, as he was affectionately called, accepted our Lord as personal saviour when a mere lad. Even as a young man his passion to share the Gospel with a lost world made him seek out opportunities to be mentored in His service. He joined the Armed forces in the Indian Military where his gift for mastering language was later utilized throughout his life in the Ministry.
 
His first attempts in evangelizing began when he was on annual leave and he was given opportunities to translate messages at Gospel meetings and conventions for many renowned pioneers and stalwarts of the growing Brethren Movement.
 
He met and married his soul mate, Kunjamma John, who proved to be a help meet for him and a constant companion who laboured with him throughout all the years of his ministry until she was called home in 2007.
 
During the years of secular service with the armed forces at various postings in different parts of the country, he worked tirelessly in expanding the Kingdom and was instrumental in establishing several home–based ministries and ensuing assemblies in different states.
 
After finally securing his resignation, his dreams came true when he moved to Goa, India to serve the Lord in a full time capacity. In 1970, commended y the Bangalore Brethren Assembly and accompanied by his eldest son, Jacob John, they traveled to Goa with just a suitcase in obedience to God’s calling.
 
For over the next 3 decades through many trials and tribulations, he along with his family, served his Master faithfully and led many individual and families to the saving knowledge of our Saviour, some of whom are represented here today.( for the funeral)
 
For about 25 years he also edited and published Good News Flashes, a monthly gospel and discipleship magazine, for distribution upon request which mainly targeted the unsaved people of God, India.
 
His passion for the unsaved, love for God’s people, his generosity and compassion for the needy, a broken heart and contrite spirit that sought God’s will in everything, will always be an inspiration to us. Whatever he did in life was not for the approval of man or self-glory, but out of pure love. He was a voracious reader, self educated and highly knowledgeable, always keeping himself up to date on all the current events worldwide.
 
He had his own share of ups and downs and challenges in life which he faced with a child like faith in God and His word and the support of his family. As often loved to remind us he wanted to be known as “faithful servant of God”…………

By his family

30/5/2010