Munusamy Raju @ Stephens
In 1910 Mr.Munusamy Raju, an Orthodox Hindu was serving as a Hindu priest in Madras (Chennai) Triplicane Parthasarathy Temple. He had thrown out his entire practice and idolatry faith when he heard the Gospel and converted to Christianity. He committed his life to Christ and served HIM. He started HIS Ministry in his home town and continued in Pudukkottai.
He was called lovely by the civilians as a TRACT MISSIONARY!
His life companion was Lydia Paramjothy and has 7 Children named Devaprasad Stephens, Santhammal Johnson Edwards, Charles Manuel Stephens, Francis Stephens, Esther A.S Raj, Gnanam Stephens and Dawson Stephens.
As a highlight to the track, its a pleasure to mention here that Mr.Johnson Edwards had introduced the Church of Christ’s teaching in to Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh for the first time in the records in 1939 as per Mr.Shakespeare M Edwards’ letter. (Son of Mr.Johnson Edwards). Mr.Charles Manuel Stephens took that torch and continued in establishing the Truth.
Charles Manuel Stephens B.Th
Born on 16 Dec 1898 & Passed on 16 Apr 1980
S/o Mr.Munusamy Stephen Raju
In the year 1926, after completing Bachelor of Theology from Bangalore Bible College Mr.Charles M Stephens had began the Ministry in Pudukkottai region and conducted many prayer fellowship around as well as other surrounding districts.
He was well known in his commanding bilingual (Eng & Tamil) preaching and baptized few hundreds in to Christianity. He built this Church building and inaugurated by 25 Feb 1951. He has distributed thousands of tracts and did the ministry into nook and corner of the entire villages by BiCycle. He used to take lot of Medicines along with him while doing Ministry to reach out the poor where people wont come out for even at the dieing stage. He was also a Marriage Licensee for Christian Marriages.
His life companion was Jane Kemp and has 5 children named Stanley James, Stella Jeyaseela, Silwin Smith, Sheila Jeyamani and Silsbee Selvanayagam.
Dr.M Silsbee Selvanayagam M.Th, M.Com
Born on 25th July 1942 & Passed on 20 Dec 2019
S/o Charles Manuel Stephens
He came into full time ministry by leaving his Medicine Profession and all Social activities in 1983 succeeding his father, after given advice by Bro. Charle De palma.
Bro.Silsbee has traveled to Far East countries to share the Gospel and later on concentrated in developing the home Church. He has baptized hundreds of non-Christians and continuing HIS Ministry in this region at Pudukkottai Church of Christ.
When he left his Medical profession and undertook the Ministry on full time basis, he faced lot of monitorial challenges while none had extended any constant financial support for his survival but God shows HIS mercy.
He is an Honorary District Marriage Registrar of the Indian Government appointed by the Governor of Tamilnadu for the district of Pudukkottai. Also a Marriage Licensee for solemnizing Christian Marriages in Churches of Tamilnadu. A qualified Registered Medicine Doctor and a Master of Commerce graduate.
He started a Tamil monthly magazine called “DEVA SENAI” (The Host of God) and closed it after 25 years since lack of funds. He has translated many English tracts, books and lessons written by well known Preachers like Russell Bell, Jene Reno Rae, Alvin Jennings and Star Bible Publication’s some tracts and books etc.
He is a Convention Stage speaker and is being invited by Bible colleges and Preachers’ Lectureship Seminars and all Churches for taking Bible classes and sharing the Bible Teaching.
His Life companion is Dr.Vimala Rani (A Registered Medicine Practitioner) and has 2 children named Shiela Kemp Jennie and Stephens Eddy Joel
Stephens Eddy Joel, M.Th., Ph.D
Born on 27th June 1973
S/o Dr. M. Silsbee Selvanayagam
A Mechanical Diploma holder and a Management Graduate, left India in 1992 for work, working in Bahrain for 14 years, in Brunei for six years and in Oman for 10 years.
He holds Master’s degree in Theology and an honorary Doctorate for Bible Studies.
He has been working in construction companies in foreign countries since 1992. Worked as Purchasing Manager at the company, which employs more than 3,000 people.
In the Southern and Northern states of India, as well as in Bahrain, Brunei, and Oman, he has taken numerous Evangelistic, Biblical, and Contextual Bible classes interpreting the scriptures accurately.
He has also traveled to Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Qatar, Sharjah, Jerusalem, Jordan and Egypt.
By the grace of God, he is married to Sophia Jebarani and they have a son who has completed studies for a Chartered Accountant named Bendan Joel Silsbee.
After Serving as a Pulpit Minister at Pudukkottai Church of Christ, He established a congregation at Kaniyakulam on 24 April 2016 with a dedicated building and doing Ministry at Kaniyakulam Church of Christ, Nagercoil, Kaniyakumari District, Tamilnadu – 629003
Gospel works
a- Tracts work (every doorstep was placed with a tract in this whole city)
b- Evangelical work
c- Gospel meetings
d- House visits
e- Bible Studies at Individual Houses
f- Prayer cells
g- TV weekly program for Bible Book analysis at Pudukkottai District.
h- Daily Doses in Tamil & English being sent to thousands vide several WhatsApp groups.
i- Support to physically challenged, Epilepsy, Nervousness diseases
j- Children Education
k- College Student’s Education
l- Combining approximately 2,550 persons on date from various denominations, “Question & Biblical Answer” WhatsApp group is established to answer all their questions with pin-pointed Scriptural references. Many are corrected with the Scripture and baptized. This is a fruit-bearing ministry and reaches thousands easily. Group members shares the answers to other several groups which reaches more people within a minute. So, this group continuously expands day by day.
J- Preachers’ Training Session has been started from October 2021 and 6 Students are taking this 6 months crash course training effectively.
Rural Services (Closed in 1995 due to finance)
1- Health, Hygienic & Social Awareness
2- School Education
3- Medical Aid
4- Handy Crafts
5- Tailoring, Mat Weaving and Sewing Training to ladies
6- Home for the Children, Aged & Crèche units for the daily wagers’ children.
Kaniyakulam Church of Christ 
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