Missionaries of the World

Dr T H Somervell, (1890–1975), a Surgeon, Mountaineer, Painter and Medical Missionary who was a member of two expeditions to Mount Everest in 1922 and 1924, was born on April 16, 1890 in Kendal, Westmorland, England. He spent nearly 40 years working as a missionary doctor in India. He was awarded an Olympic Gold Medal by Pierre de Coubertin for his achievements in mountaineering (Alpinism) in 1924. He played a vital role in introducing modern medicine to South India as the leading light of Neyyoor Hospital, South Travancore Medical Mission, set up by London Missionary Society (LMS) in a remote village near Nagarcoil in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. Name: Theodore Howard Somervell Born : April 16, 1890 in Kendal, England Married : Margaret, D/o.Sir James Hope Simpson Missionary Work : South Travancore Mission Died : January 23, 1975 in Ambleside Early Life of Theodore Howard Somervell Theodore Howard Somervell born on April 16, 1890 in Kendal, Westmorland, England, the eldes...

Kulandei Francis, Former Indian Priest, who left priesthood to devote himself to social work, was one of six Ramon Magsaysay awardees for 2012. He is being recognised for "his visionary zeal, his profound faith in community energies, and his sustained programmes in pursuing the holistic economic empowerment of thousands of women and their families in rural India," said a statement from the Magsaysay Foundation.

Saint Alphonsa Muttathupadathu, (1910–1946) a Syro-Malabar Catholic Franciscan Religious nun, the First Woman Saint of India, was declared a Servant of God by Pope John Paul II on July 09, 1985. She is the first woman and second person of Indian origin canonized as a Saint by the Catholic Church and the first canonized Saint of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, and an Eastern Catholic Church of the Saint Thomas Christian community. She was locally known as Alphonsa Amma. Name: Alphonsa Muttathupadathu Born : August 19, 1910 Kottayam, Kerala, India Baptized: August 27, 1910 St.Mary's Church Missionary Work : Bharananganam, Kerala, India Died : July 28, 1946 Bharananganam, Kerala, India Early life of Anna Muttathupadathu Anna Muttathupadathu was born on August 19, 1910 at Arpookara in Kudamalloor near Kottayam District, Kerala, India. She was the fourth child of Cherian Joseph and Mary Muttathupadathu. Her parents nicknamed her Annakkutty (little Anna). Anna's mo...

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay and President of CBCI greeted new President, Pranab Mukherjee on his election as the 13th President of the country. Mr.Pranab Mukherjee, 76, was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India, Sarosh Homi Kapadia at a ceremony in the historic Central Hall of Parliament yesterday (25.07.2012). Among those at the swearing-in ceremony was Vice President of India Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and a host of dignitaries.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Paisley Philip Tartaglia has been appointed as the new Archbishop of Glasgow. He takes over from Archbishop Mario Conti, 78, who served in the position for 10 years. He has been a leading opponent of proposals to legalise same-sex marriage in Scotland. Archbishop-designate Tartaglia was ordained in 1975 and become a bishop in 2005. Archbishop Mario Conti welcomed the appointment of Bishop Tartaglia as his successor. Following his appointment by Pope Benedict, Archbishop-designate Tartaglia said: "I am conscious of the historic place of the Archdiocese of Glasgow in the history of Christianity in Scotland and of its importance for the Catholic community in particular".

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), World Council of Churches (WCC), Pax Christi International and Caritas have issued a statement calling upon Government leaders to reach agreement on arms after shooting rampage at a cinema in Aurora, Colorado. A four-week conference got underway earlier in the month on the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty. The treaty would regulate the international arms trade and clamp down on the transfer of weapons to criminal and terrorist groups.

Churches in Aurora and across Colorado have been holding prayer services and vigils since a gunman shot 12 people dead in a cinema last week, but pastors are offering spiritual counsel too. In addition to a two-hour open time of prayer in its chapel Friday evening, church leaders of Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch announced that this coming Sunday's message to be given by Lee Strobel has been changed due to the tragedy.

Prayer vigils are being held for victims of a shooting rampage at a cinema in Aurora, Colorado. A masked gunman killed 12 people and injured dozens more when he opened fire on crowds of people during a midnight showing of the new "Batman" film at the Century 16 theatre. Suspect James Eagan Holmes, 24, has been taken into custody by police. Reuters reports that 30 people remained in hospital on Friday evening, 11 in a critical condition. The shooting has shocked the nation. United States flag was flying at half-mast over the White House in Washington on Friday.

The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) yesterday made history by appointing the first female Anglican bishop on the continent. On 18 July 2012 an Elective Assembly meeting in Mbabane elected the Rev.Ellinah Wamukoya as fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Swaziland. Rev.Ellinah Wamukoya (61) will be the first female Anglican Bishop in Africa and the continent's second female bishop of a mainline church – in 2008 the Rt. Rev.Joaquina Nhanala was elected the Methodist bishop of Mozambique.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) says it is gravely concerned about the health of Pastor Benham Irani, who reportedly lost consciousness three days ago. In a media update, CSW says that although Pastor Irani has now regained consciousness, his health is said to be declining steadily as a result of the harsh treatment he has endured in Karaj's Ghezel Hesar Prison, where he is serving a five-year sentence.

The Presbyterian Church of Wales has called for Government action on payday lenders. It wants the United Kingdom Government to ensure payday lenders such as Wonga are strictly regulated. The loans are taken out by people who need a cash injection to tide them over until the end of the month but they often come with extremely high interest rates. It's concerned that the poor state of the UK economy is driving more people to take out payday loans. It also said that some banks and lenders are acting "inscrupulously" by refusing to lend to individuals and small businesses at reasonable rates. It also criticised the use of emotive adverts encouraging people to take out loans at certain times, such as Christmas.

The Bible Society is readying thousands of copies of the Bible for distribution among participants at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Olympic Village Religious Services Centre will be handing out 3,000 copies of commemorative English language Scriptures. Another 1,000 copies of Bibles and New Testaments will be available in other languages through partnerships with national Bible Societies around the world.

Visitors to the 2012 Olympics will be able to escape one of the busiest periods the capital has ever seen by exploring its rich Christian heritage. The Diocese of London has published a guide to walking tours of the city's places of tranquility, prayer and historic interest. All over London, churches will open their doors to visitors throughout the Games. Available both as a free download and as a full colour booklet available free of charge from participating churches; 'Faith Walks' comprise six trails starting out from Olympic venues.

Churches across the United Kingdom are being called to pray and ring their bells on the first day of the Olympics. LOCOG is asking people to ring bells for three minutes and is encouraging "any bell, anyone, anytime". More Than Gold, the group spearheading church outreach during the 2012 Games, is asking churches everywhere to ring their bells and pray "for GOD's Kingdom to come and for a turning to come in our nations".

The head of the Catholic Church in Scotland has called upon the Scottish Government to hold a referendum on same-sex marriage. Cardinal Keith O'Brien, The head of the Catholic Church in Scotland said it was a matter of "intense public interest" after a Government Consultation on legalising gay marriage attracted 80,000 responses. When the consultation was launched last year, the Scottish Government said that it "tends towards the view" that same-sex marriage should be introduced. Assurances have been given that faith groups will not be compelled to solemnise the ceremonies. Leaders in the Catholic Church North and South of the border have been vocal in their condemnation of the proposals.

The Yorkshire Regiment were welcomed back home today with a special service of thanksgiving at York Minster. The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, led the service and gave a blessing for the regiment, which has returned from operations in Afghanistan.Soldiers from the regiment have marked their homecoming with parades in Harrogate, Beverley, Bridlington, Bradford, Leeds, York and Hull over the week. The 120 soldiers marched through the Yorkshire towns to the music of the Band of the King's Division.

The Bishop of Jarrow has blessed a chalice and paten made especially for a local church by schoolchildren in Sunderland. The items were crafted by pupils at Springwell Dene School, which provides education for children with behavioural difficulties and backs onto St Mary and St Peter Church, in Springwell.Assistant Curate the Rev Fr Peter Garvie said: "They have come up with a beautifully crafted chalice and paten. They have put so much love and energy into it. They know it is something important for the life of the church."

Christians in Egypt can expect a better future after years of being second-class citizens, according to the acting head of the country's Coptic Catholic Church. Bishop Kyrillos William, administrator of the Coptic Catholic Patriarchate of Alexandria expressed his hopes for Egypt's Christians following the election of former Muslim Brotherhood member, Mohammed Morsi. "The future will not be worse than what we have had before," said the bishop.

Blessed Maria Theresa Chiramel Mankidiyan, the servant of GOD and founderss of the Congregation of Holy Family, known as Mother Maria Theresa Chiramel and she was a Syro-Malabarese Catholic Nun. She was declared venerable on June 28, 1999 and was beatified on April 9, 2000 by Pope John Paul II. She was the fifth person from India be beatified. She sacrificed herself for others, with a preferential love for the poorest of the poor and so practicing the evangelical virtue of charity in heroic degree.

The Association of African Evangelicals (AAE) has outlined its concerns in a letter to Thomas Boni Yay, President of Benin and the Chairman of the African Union (AU). The AAE urges members of the African Union to make maternal healthcare an urgent priority when they meet in Ethiopia next week. In particular, the members of African Union are reminded of their pledge 10 years ago to allocate at least 15% of their total annual budgets to the health sector.

At least 58 people, including two lawmakers, were killed after suspected Muslim herdsmen attacked Christian villages near the city of Jos in Central Nigeria over the weekend. More than 300 people were displaced in attacks on several villages near Jos in the Plateau State, which lies between the Muslim majority North and the predominantly Christian South, Nigerian Red Cross official Andronicus Adeyemo said late Sunday.

Church of England bishops are being asked to withdraw a controversial amendment to legislation on women bishops. The petition by the Women and the Church (WATCH) group wants the House of Bishops to withdraw Clause 5(1)(c) from the draft Measure and allow the General Synod to vote on the original draft legislation that was approved by 42 out of the 44 Church of England dioceses. Clause 5(1)(c) states that a male bishop or priest selected to provide alternative oversight to orthodox parishes must share their theological convictions in relation to the consecration or ordination of women.

The Council for World Mission (CWM) is a worldwide community of Christian Churches was established in 1977 in its present form. The CWM committed to sharing their resources of money, people, skills and insights globally, to carry out GOD's mission locally.Its member churches span six regions and encompass a membership of around 13 million people. From remote Pacific Island communities, poor rural villages to the sprawling cities and financial powerhouses of the world, CWM's churches both belong to their varying contexts and witness to God's work worldwide.

A report to the Methodist Conference has revealed that young members of the Methodist Church struggle with feelings of embarrassment about their Christian faith. It is holding its annual Conference in Plymouth this week.

Addressing the Methodist Conference in Plymouth at the weekend, General Secretary of the Methodist Church, Rev Dr Martyn Atkins set out his vision for a "discipleship movement shaped for mission" that would impact on all aspects of the Church. Dr Atkins presented his 2012 report to the annual Conference in which he encouraged Methodists to "keep faithful and carry on". “The crucial thing is not to permit our commitment to discipleship and mission to falter,” said Dr Atkins. “We are seeking, under God, to alter the default settings on the local church, circuit, district, and the whole wider Connexion."

At least 15 people were killed in a grenade attack on two churches in Northern Kenya on Sunday. Masked gunmen attacked the African Inland Church in Garissa and a Roman Catholic Church in the town situated near the border with Somalia. They then reportedly opened fire on worshippers as they attempted to flee the buildings.

Mormon missionaries are harnessing the power of Facebook to reach out to new members, conducting more than 1m online chats with prospective members in the past year. The Church is taking advantage of the global network Facebook offers as an alternative to its traditional pavement pounding practices of its door to door salesmen.

Weddings will now be able to take place at any time of the day or night in England and Wales after a change to regulations. Until now, couples could only register their marriages or civil partnerships between the hours of 08:00 and 18:00. The change has been brought in under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, although couples wanting to wed outside the traditional hours will still have to give 15 days’ notice.

Rev Philip Mounstephen has been appointed as the next leader of the Church Mission Society. The international chaplain takes up the post of CMS executive leader after five years as chaplain of St Michael's, a large multicultural church in the centre of Paris. The church community at St Michael's includes French, English and Tamil speaking congregations and more than 40 nationalities.

The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the Pilgrimage Route have become the latest World Heritage Sites. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization announced the additions on Friday, after the World Heritage Committee meeting in St Petersburg, Russia, voted 13-to-6 in favour. The church is venerated by Christians around the world as the site traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Christ. The site’s listing has angered Israel which sees it as part of efforts by Palestine to assert its claims to statehood.