Animsec.com

Services

The Good Shepherd Church has been doing excellent Ministries in Madras City and within the Madras Diocese with extended services to the society. Among the diversified acts of services rendered by this Church, it is necessary to give special reference to the creche which was maintained wholly by this church more particularly by one of our member Mrs. Sasikala Samson. However a few years later, this Creche was shifted to a village nearby Chengalpattu.

Good Shepherd Church with the help of the congregants and off late with some individual sponsors has constructed and dedicated Churches in various villages in Tamil Nadu and within the limits of the Diocese of Madras. The Villages were the churches have been built and the dedication date is as follows:

Renovation, beginning with Centenary Celebrations-1999
During the period of Centenary Celebrations of the Good Shepherd Church, under the leadership of the then presbyter, Rev. U. B. P. Daniel Azariah, the entire interior ceiling of the Church was renovated. The flooring inclusive of the Chancel and Altar was laid with new white marble and the aisle with maroon granite tiles. The electrical wirings were concealed, all the pews and chairs were varnished. Re-laying the flooring of the church with white marble and granite tiles was the result of an outpouring of contribution by the congregants; when a plan was devised where congregants could contribute towards square feet of the floor as one-time payments or in installments. The exterior ceiling of the church and all walls of the church and parish hall were repaired and painted during tenure of Rev. Richard Ambrose Jabakumar. The main entrance gate (west) was demolished and reconstructed with granite finishing. Spikes were fixed on the compound wall around the church. A bore well was drilled and an overhead water tank built near the Sextant’s quarters. Rain water pits were dug at a few vantage spots inside the church campus. Thanks to the efforts, the church has copious amounts of water.

Renovation of Parish Hall and New Sexton/Staff Quarters:
Parish Hall ground floor has been fully renovated with new tiles on the ground and on the walls and was dedicated on 18-01-2009 by Rev. V.S. Vijayakumar, the old Sexton Quarters was demolished and new Church Staff Quarters was built and dedicated on 25-01-2009 by the Bishop of the Madras Diocese Rt. Rev. Dr. V. Devasahayam

Rain Water Harvesting and New Garden:
A beautiful Landscaped Garden with Rain Water Harvesting System facility on the northern area adjacent to Church was dedicated to the Glory of God by our Pastor Rev. B. Devaprasad on the Harvest Festival Day ie: 04-09-2011.

LED Board:
In keeping pace with the technology, our Church doesn’t lag behind. The Verses Display Board which was used with plastic letters was replaced by installing a new L.E.D. Board and it was dedicated to the Glory of God by our Pastor Rev. B. Devaprasad on the Harvest Festival Day ie: 04-09-2011 and the said Board (sponsored by Mr. D. A. John Gideon (Raja) family) has been upgraded during the year 2012.

Area Prayer Cells:
The Prayer Cell Area Leaders have been appointed and Prayer Cell Meetings have been revived after many years and Cottage Prayer Meetings are being organized from the year 2012.

A/C Guest Room, Open Air Dinning Hall and Kitchen:
The Air-conditioned hall with Guest Room, Open Air Dining Hall and Kitchen was dedicated by our Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. V. Devasahayam on the 111th Church Anniversary celebration day ie: on 24-01-2010. It is also worth to mention that the Parish Hall which was using a septic well for drainage purposes for all these years was replaced with a new Sewage connection.
The following major works have also been done after Rev. B. Devaprasad took charge as Presbyter-in-charge of Good Shepherd Church on 01-06-2009.
    • Church Parsonage has been extended by constructing an additional room.
    • Vast area lying unused for several years behind the Parsonage has been cleaned and is presently used for Car Parking.
    • The different sized rooms which was previously constructed and not effectively used by our Church in the first floor of the Parish Hall was demolished and made into a huge hall with tiles fixed on the ground and walls.
    • The first floor of the Parish Hall has been fully Air-conditioned.
    • A Guest room in the first floor of the Parish Hall has been constructed with tiles fixed on the ground and walls.
    • The Southern side of the Parish Hall was fully laid with cement and converted into a new Open Air Dining Hall.
    • At the south-western side a new Kitchen was also built.
    • Stage, Backdrop and Decorations have been provided in the Parish 1st Floor A.C. Hall.
    • Rain Water Harvesting has been done with erection of Huge Cylindrical Cement pipes to a depth of more than 10 feet around the Church campus.
    • Additional Two Wheeler Parking Area has been formed by reducing the Water Collection Pit area on the Eastern and Western side after making provision for Rain Water Harvesting beneath the said area.
    • A beautiful Landscaped Garden with Rain Water Harvesting System facility on the northern area adjacent to Church was done.
    • A new L.E.D. Versus Display Board was installed replacing the old plastic lettered board.
    • The entire Church including its interior and the outer walls, windows and frames have been painted afresh.
    • The entire compound wall (outer and inner) have been white washed afresh and bible verses on the outer wall have been letter painted.
    • A new Auditorium like structure (Truss) for the benefit of people sitting outside the Church and for using it for functions was constructed and lights and fans have been installed in it.
With the motivation, guidance and support by the Presbyters, the members of the past and present Pastorate Committee with the support of the congregants have rendered yeoman service for all the Church activities and Pastorate Committee in the last few years as mentioned above has done various construction and developmental works and has some more plans to do for the future.
In all these years, the Good Shepherd Church has grown on all strides and serves the Christian families in the heart of the City of Chennai. More than 600 families are worshipping in this Church and the services are in Tamil.
Though Good Shepherd is a small church built for the benefit of the local people, the purpose is well solved with its multiple services to the society in addition to catering the spiritual needs.
    5.
    Iruguvai
    August 29, 2010

Good Shepherd Cottage:

Village Evangelism and Church Planting Mission:
Good Shepherd Church was also one of the sponsors of Houses built for Leprosy People in Pudur Village in Tamil Nadu and a Cottage named as “Good Shepherd Cottage” was built by our contribution. Similarly Good Shepherd Church has also contributed through the Madras Diocese for construction of Churches in few places and also lent regular financial support to the various activities of the Madras Diocese.

Social Welfare Schemes:

Similarly on the Church Anniversary day, Social Welfare Schemes are being implemented for the third year in succession (ie: 2011, 2012 & 2013). The Poor people from the various Village Churches, Widows, Disabled Children, Special Children and Transgenders will be called and they will be provided with some gifts for self employment and for carrying on their life in equality with other people in the society.

Educational Scholarships:

Every year, Educational Scholarships are being provided for the benefit of children of our Poor Church Members besides monthly aid for Poor Church Members. Every year, Rice and clothes are also being distributed for Village Poor People.

Fellowships at Work:

The Sunday school, Men Fellowship, Women Fellowship and Youth Fellowship are very active and regularly meet on the days prescribed for them. They conduct Bible study besides singing songs, praying and do all other spiritual works. The Women Fellowship organizes a Breakfast Sale on the last Sunday of every month and the Sale proceeds are used for supporting Missionaries.

Evangelism:

It is also important to mention that the “Evangelism Work” in villages has been revived by our present Presbyter Rev. B. Devaprasad and on the 3rd Sunday of every month, the Pastor along with the Pastorate Committee members and some dedicated Church members visit some villages and does evangelism work.In the last 25 years ie: from the year 1987 to 2012 totally 22 Village Churches have been constructed by our Church. Years Total Years Village Churches Constructed

 The Good Shepherd Church has contributed through the Madras Diocese for construction of churches in a few places. Some of the village churches the church has planted were sponsored by individuals.  In many cases the good news is preached for a sustained period of time and when enough souls have been won and the need for a place of worship arises churches are built. It is also worth to mention that Rev. R.M. Dravyam was the first Presbyter who started the initiative to construct churches in Village and it was followed by the Presbyters Rev. P. Rajarathinam, Rev.U. B. P. Daniel Azariah, Rev. D. Richard Ambrose Jebakumar, Rev. V. S. Vijayakumar and is continued by the present Presbyter Rev. B. Devaprasad. All the Village Churches which have been constructed by our Church has been named as “Good Shepherd Church”. In the last 25 years ie: from the year 1987 to 2012 totally 22 Village Churches have been constructed by our Church. Years Total Years Village Churches Constructed. In the last FIVE years alone ie: from 2008 to 2012, totally 15 Village Churches have been constructed by our Church.

Years Total Years Village Churches Constructed
1987 – 2012 25 22
1987 – 2007 22 7
2008 – 2012 20 15

 

Churches Built in last five years
2008
Number Village Dedicated On
1 Anaikattucherri October 27, 2008
2 Vathiyur October 27, 2008
3 Sothupakkam November 29, 2008
2009
4 V.N.Kandigai November 8, 2008
2010
5 Iruguvai August 29, 2010
6 Chivada August 29, 2010
7 Mukkarambakkam October 31, 2010
8 Murukambattua December 12, 2010

In the last five (5) years alone ie from 2008 to 2012, totally 15 Village Churches have been constructed by our Church. It is the third time in the history of Good Shepherd Church ie: during a single year (2008, 2010, 2011 & 2012) two or more Village Churches have been constructed by our Church 2008 Anaikattucherri – 27-10-2008 Vathiyur – 27-10-2008 Sothupakkam – 29-11-2008 2009 V. N. Kandigai – 08-11-2009 2010 Iruguvai – 29-08-2010 Chivada – 29-08-2010 Mukkarambakkam – 31-10-2010 Murukampattu – 12-12-2010 2011 Senjipanambakkam – 24-07-2011 Odhiyur -18-12-2011 2012 Kondamanellore -13-05-2012 Athiyanallur – 30-06-2012 Thatchakadu – 30-06-2012 Vellakondagaram -12-08-2012 Aarambakkam – 22-12-2012 2013 Manavedu(Church cum School) – 24-03-2013 Churches under Construction Panchetti Ponneri Pastorate Netteri Kandigai R. K. Pet Pastorate The Church Planting Programme still continues with the able guidance and leadership of our present Presbyter Rev. B. Devaprasad.