Mennonite Christian Service Fellowship of India
Mennonite Christian Service Fellowship of India (MCSFI) is a service and fellowship organization of the six Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in India. It was organized at the two-day consultation at the Lee Memorial Centre, Calcutta, 12 February 1963. This consultation was called together by Orie O. Miller together with the Mennonite Central Committee, India office. P. J. Malagar was the first director (1963-1981) of MCSFI; R. S. Lemuel was director after 1981.
In 1968 MCSFI was registered as a service society with the following objectives: (1) to encourage and promote Christian service in the Spirit of Christ in educational, social, medical, philanthropic and religious fields; (2) to assist all or any of the activities of such societies and other charities now existing or hereafter to exist in connection with the work of the society in caring for relief of orphans, aged, sick, helpless, and indigent persons, particularly in times of war, famine, and (3) to seek ways and means to strengthen the fellowship of Christian churches.
In line with these objectives MCSFI has worked incessantly relieving suffering from cyclone, flood, drought, or other natural calamities. It has engaged the services of no fewer than 100 volunteers at the Mana Camp (1964) and at the Devi Taluk in Coastal Andhra Pradesh (1974). Since 1963 it has arranged many retreats, youth conferences, and other meetings. It arranged for the first all-India Mennonite peace conference at Dhamtari (1966). This conference included representatives of other historic peace churches in India and representatives from the Fellowship of Reconciliation in India.
The constituency of MCSFI responded to appeals for funds and volunteers (two couples were sent) to Vietnam and Cambodia. In 1987 4,000 school kits were sent to Cambodia from the Dhamtari Christian Hospital.
See also Development Work; Relief Work.
| Author(s) | Pyarelal J Malagar |
|---|---|
| Date Published | 1987 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Malagar, Pyarelal J. "Mennonite Christian Service Fellowship of India." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1987. Web. 18 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Mennonite_Christian_Service_Fellowship_of_India&oldid=92731.
APA style
Malagar, Pyarelal J. (1987). Mennonite Christian Service Fellowship of India. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 18 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Mennonite_Christian_Service_Fellowship_of_India&oldid=92731.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 5, p. 564.. All rights reserved.
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