Sunday, March 15, 2009

Dr. Johnson's Testimony

IGNORANCE
"How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation.?" (Hebrews2: 3)I was born in a nominal Christian family. In my childhood I used to attend Church and Sunday school in Mumbai, India. I was very good at Sunday school by God's Grace, but I never knew Jesus Christ personally nor that it was His grace by which I was doing well. Fear of the night times dominated my childhood and I still remember keeping the Bible under my pillow one night to fight my fear. God delivered me miraculously from this fear when I was 16 years old. I was good in my studies and had to go to another city to do my graduation in Medicine. My relationship with God was never intense and my Bible reading was a farce.


THIRST FOR CHRIST
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled."(Matthew 5:6)In the last year of my graduation i.e. in 1985, a pastor used to visit our hostel room and as he talked about Jesus often and prayed, a need to know Jesus sprang up within me. That was the work of the Holy Spirit of God. Till then my life was one of enjoying the pleasures of life though I did not go to any extremes. Still sin of any kind (thought, word or deed) was sin in front of God and as the Holy Spirit brought conviction in me regarding sin, righteousness and judgment, I confessed my sins to the Father in heaven and asked for forgiveness. He set me on the path to salvation by washing away all my sins and unrighteousness by the precious blood of his Son Jesus Christ. I began a new life. I still remember the great enthusiasm with which I used to read the Word of God those days. I completed my graduation and though not brilliant in my studies compared to others, I scored pretty well. When my colleagues asked me how?, I used to reply pointing to the sky, "Someone up there surely loves me."

LUKEWARM CHRISTIAN
"I know your deeds, you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead."(Revelation 3:1)I started working as a Junior Medical Officer after my graduation and as time passed, because of lack of proper worship and my slackness in reading the Word of God, my spiritual life took a backseat. Of course Jesus was my Savior, but there was no genuine relationship.

A CHANGE FOR THE GOOD
"He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord."(Proverbs 18:22)It was not until 2 years later and after my marriage, on the urging of my wife Veena that I started back on the path to doing some patch up work on my spiritual life again .We started our family worship and daily Bible reading mornings and evenings. But lack of proper worship and understanding of the Apostolic Doctrines and living them, left a huge void in our spiritual lives. In the early part of our married life, we passed through a lot of turbulence because of the devil's wicked schemes, but all through the MASTER BUILDER JESUS was at work in our lives leading and guiding us gently along. Meanwhile after working for 5 years since my graduation, God opened up a way for me to do my post graduation MD (General Medicine). Slowly and steadily, my relationship with my Savior grew. I became a voracious reader of the Word of God. I started listening to the Word of God expounded by prominent preachers.

AGAPE LOVE
"I have loved you with an everlasting love."(Jeremiah 31:3)God poured out His love on me. My post graduation (M.D.in General Medicine) were the toughest exams I have ever experienced. The internal examiner was a terror and there were 2 other external examiners too. Those were my earliest days of experience in fasting and praying. I used to fast on Sundays. My exams happened to be on a Sunday and I fasted. Of the 12 of us who appeared only 4 got through and I stood 2nd in the University. That was a great miracle done by God. God gave us our 1st child, Salome a couple of months after my passing the exam, after 3 years of marriage and a lot of prayers and fasting. Our second child Kezia was born 5 years later. They are a source of great blessing in our lives.

GIFTS
"When He ascended on high, He led the captives in His train and gave gifts to men."(Ephesians 4:8)Our search now was for a worship that could really invigorate our spiritual life. We were not yet baptized in water by immersion, but had received a measure of the filling of the Holy Spirit with gifts of the Word of Wisdom and the Word of Knowledge (the Lord Jesus granting us dreams and visions at night during sleep). We did not still speak in tongues but we had a great desire for the same.

A DOUBLE MIRACLE
"For anyone who speaks in a tongue, does not speak to men but to God."(1 Corinthians 14:2)One day as I traveled to my clinic on my bike in the afternoon, I was telling God:" O Dear Lord, I have been praying to you for this gift since so many years and you have still not given it to me!" and as soon as I finished saying that, out of my mouth flowed a most wonderful language that really thrilled me. When I reached home after my work, I told this great news to my wife and she too received the gift that evening itself as she prayed. A double miracle-that was what it was.

AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE
"We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death."(Romans 6:4)Through visions, God guided us to an interdenominational congregation where we worshipped for a while and were also water baptized by immersion.

FIRST SERMON, FIRST TRACT, FIRST BOOK
"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news."(Romans 10:15)I preached my first sermon on April 2, 1995 and the topic was John 15:7. By this time, God had already granted me grace to write a tract and my first book in English-"Jesus is coming soon" which was translated into Malayalam too.As our relationship with Jesus increased, He started fellowshipping with us more and more. We had to change to a Pentecostal congregation in 1995 itself under the Lord's guidance for want of more propriety and devotion in worship. I started preaching regularly now and soon Jesus led us into being His instruments to bring healing and deliverance to many. My 2nd book, "Ende Sanketam"(Malayalam) which means "My Refuge" was published in 1997 and it dealt with many visions and dreams that the Lord had given me.

Till date I have penned 5 books, 8 booklets and 12 tracts in English and Malayalam. On the World Wide Web I have several websites of which the main one is http://www.bless2009.com

Since the past 12 years, I am running a Christian Ministry in Kerala, South India, called "The Good Shepherd Ministries" of which I am Director. El Shaddai Fellowship is the church ministry of The Good Shepherd Ministriesin. We hold our worship services at Karuna Worship Centre, Eraviperoor, Kerala where I teach and preach. I have completed my PhD in Biblical Studies.

Our exciting faith-walk with the Lord Jesus Christ continues strongly till this day and by the grace of God will continue till the Lord's return, which I believe will occur during our times. God bless you.

Dr. Johnson Cherian MD. PhD.
Eraviperoor, Kerala, India.
johnson3570@gmail.com

Vision

It is my desire to take the Gospel to all parts of the world through every means possible. For the past 15 years I have been laboring for the same through all channels that the Lord has opened up for me.

It's a great joy for me to let the whole world know that Jesus is my Savior & the Savior of the world and that He is the only one who saves, heals, delivers and grants peace that passes all understanding.

In this endeavor of mine I have been preaching the "Good News of the Gospel" in India and abroad.The varied facets of my ministry caters to the needs of believers and unbelievers alike. I have been preaching and teaching the "Full Gospel" for the past 15 years.

Web Evangelism has extended the boundaries of my ministry by leaps and bounds. I am able to reach out to 1000's everyday through the World Wide Web.

I believe that this generation will surely witness the "Return" of Lord Jesus Christ and I would like to go full throttle in doing His work in these last days through all channels available.

I request your prayers and support for this End Time Ministry.

Dr. Johnson Cherian MD. PhD.
Eraviperoor, Kerala, India.
johnson3570@gmail.com

Beliefs

The Lord Jesus Christ
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God. We believe in His substitutionary death for all men, His resurrection, and His eventual return to judge the world.

Salvation
We believe all men are born with a sinful nature and that the work of the Cross was to redeem man from the power of sin. We believe that this salvation is available to all who will receive it.

The Holy Spirit
We believe in the existence of the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity and in His interaction with man. We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as manifested by the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit.

The Sacred Scripture
We believe in the scripture as the inspired Word of God and that it is the complete revelation of God's will for mankind. We believe in the absolute authority of the scripture to govern the affairs of men.

Stewardship
We believe that every man is the steward of his life and resources which ultimately belong to God. We believe that tithing is a measure of obedience to the scriptural principles of stewardship.

The Church
We believe in the Church as the eternal and universal Body of Christ consisting of all those who have accepted the work of the atonement. We believe in the need for a local assembly of believers for the purpose of evangelism and edification.

Prayer and Praise
We believe in the worship of the Lord through singing, clapping, and the lifting of hands. We believe in the authority of the believer to ask freely of the Lord for his needs.

Evangelism
We believe that evangelism is the obligation of every follower of Jesus Christ. The Lord commands us to go out and make disciples of all the earth. We believe that each person is first responsible to evangelism in their own family as the Holy Spirit leads them and gives them the ability.

Water Baptism
We believe in the ordinance of water baptism by immersion in obedience to the Word of God. All those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior should be baptized in water as a public profession of their faith in Christ and to experience what the Bible calls the "circumcision of the Spirit."

The Priesthood of the Believer
We believe that every believer has a unique relationship to the Lord. As His children, every Christian has immediate access to the throne of Grace and the ability to manifest the power of the Lord Jesus Christ in ministry.

Healing and Deliverance
We believe in miraculous healing and deliverance in the life of each and evry believer as is endorsed by the Word of God.

Plan Of Salvation

No one is good enough."There is no one righteous, not even one;" - Romans 3:10

You are a sinner."For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." - Romans 3:23
God loves us, even though we are sinners."But God demonstrates His Love for us, in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8

The provision - God's Gift."For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9

There must be repentance of sin (turning away from sin). "Repent and believe the Good News!" - Mark 1:15

The required action - believe and confess."That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, YOU WILL BE SAVED. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." - Romans 10:9-10

The result - Salvation."Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord WILL BE SAVED." - Romans 10:13"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:12

If God has touched your heart and you have not yet repented of your sins, you can pray this prayer for accepting Jesus As Savior.

Dear Father in Heaven,

I confess that I am a sinner and that I will perish in my sins if I do not accept Jesus as my Saviour and Lord. Forgive me all my sins and unrighteousness and wash me with the blood of Jesus and make me a new person this day. I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is your son and that He died on the cross at Calvary for my sins and was resurrected and ascended to heaven and sits at your right hand with all authority given to Him by you. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and let Him guide me through your Word to live a life, holy and pleasing to you.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Aims & Objectives

The objects of the society are:

1) To establish in India and elsewhere schools, colleges, libraries, study circles, technical and research institutions etc., with the following purposes.
a) To encourage and promote the study of religion, arts and science.
b) To spread, propagate and encourage the study of truth, non-violence, love, international amity, good will and philanthropy.

2) To establish, maintain or grant aid to homes for aged, orphanage or other establishments for the relief and help to the poor, needy and destitute people, orphans, widows and aged persons.

3) To establish and develop institutions for the physically handicapped and disabled or mentally retarded persons and provide them education, food, clothing or other help.

4) To Print, publish, sell or distribute Christian or such other books, bulletins, periodicals, pamphlets or any other literary work and to set up or erect or establish and mange radio or television stations or any IT enabled stations or sites and produce and run TV or other serials, movies or such other modern activities and establish any other business activities necessary to attain this object without the motive of profit.

5) To glorify God, to preach, teach and bear witness to the person, work and teaching of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Bible and to minister to spiritual, emotional, physical, social, economic welfare and educational advancement of all classes of people in India and erect churches for worship and advance, encourage, promote gospel services and Literary and cultural activities and encourage leadership in the culture of the community.

6) Doing such other Charity without the main object of earning profit and coming under the purview of ‘Charitable Purpose’ under Indian Income Tax Act 1961 and any statutory notifications or amendments thereto, and the scope of the objects are not restricted as to any religion, community, caste, locality and (the charitable purpose) shall include relief of the poor, education, medical relief and the advancement of any other of general public utility.

El Shaddai Fellowship

El Shaddai Fellowship is the church ministry of The Good Shepherd Ministries. We have worship services at Karuna Worship Centre located at Kallumali Junction, Eraviperoor, Pathanamthitta Dist., Kerala.

Sunday Worship: 10 am- 1pm

Wednesday Bible Study: 7 pm- 8.30 pm

Friday Family Prayer: 7 pm- 8.30 pm

Join us for worship when you are in town.

Contact Us

E-mail Us: johnson3570@gmail.com

johnsonsharona@yahoo.com

Call Us: +91-9847169018

Write to us: The Good Shepherd Ministries, Palamoottil Buildings, Eraviperoor P.O.Pathanamthitta Dist., Kerala, India. PIN- 689542