Ernakulam is a city that boasts of a diverse population, consisting of migrants from various linguistic, caste, and religious backgrounds. The city’s rich cultural tapestry has made it a unique hub of coexistence, where people from all walks of life come together to live, work and worship. Our church, Ernakulam North Assemblies of God Church was able to be a beacon and refuge for those that were seeking Christ in the city and beyond. We are reminded of the words of Jesus in John 13:34 35, ” A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

”The church, which was originally known as Pachalam AG Church, was born out of years of prayer and hard work. It all began in 1972 when Brother Silaskutty, a devout Christian who was living in the town, started the first prayer meeting at his house. The initial gatherings were small, but they soon gained momentum as more and more people began to attend. In February, a anointed team from Punalur Bethel Bible College, led by Pastor V. J. Thomaskutty, came to the town for ministry. The team stayed at Brother Silaskutty’s home and spent a month preaching and teaching the word of God. It was during this time that the seeds of the church were sown, and the vision for a continued ministry in the town had blossomed. With the support of Pastor M. S. Mathai, the HMC director at the time, the church began to take shape. They rented a house in Pachalam and started a small fellowship with just one or two families. As the congregation grew, so did the need for a larger space to worship. Through God’s grace and provision, the church was able to purchase a piece of land near the North Railway Station. With the help of the congregation’s hard work and financial contributions, a beautiful building was constructed, and the church was renamed Ernakulam North Assemblies of God Church. Over the years, the Lord has continued to bless the Ernakulam Town AG Church and expand its ministry. Today, the church accommodates a strong community of over 400 Spirit-filled believers, who are dedicated to worshiping the Lord and living out the teachings of Christ in their daily lives. One of the key features of the church is its strong leadership. Over the years, the church has been led by 16 pastors, each of whom brought their unique vision, commitment, and knowledge of the Word to the congregation but all have to the best of their ability remained faithful to the teachings of Jesus and his apostles. Through their Spirit-filled ministry, they have helped to guide the church through both times of growth and times of challenge. The church was able to witness both young and old, male and female regardless of their caste, colour, creed or religion coming forward and surrendering their lives to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In all the activities of the Church since the initial days even up to this very day the hand of God was with us in all our ventures. Another key feature of the Ernakulam Town AG Church is the strong sense of community that exists among its members. The believers in the church are known for their love and care for one another, as well as their willingness to serve and help those in need. This sense of discipline and mutual support has helped to create a close-knit and vibrant community that is a testament to the power of Christ’s love “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45. Finally, our church is well-trained and equipped to carry out its mission of spreading the Gospel and serving the community. Through a variety of programs and initiatives, the church provides its members with the tools and resources they need to deepen their faith and live out their calling as followers of Christ. Whether through worship services, Bible studies, or community outreach projects, the Ernakulam Town AG Church is committed to serving the needs of its members and the wider community in Cochin. Since then, the church has continued to grow and serve the community, providing a spiritual home for people from all walks of life. We are grateful to God for our history and the legacy of faith that has been passed down to us by our founding fathers. We look forward to the future with hope and anticipation, knowing that God has great plans in store for us as we continue to serve Him and his people in both Ernakulam and beyond until the day of the second coming Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Word of God – The Bible is composed of 66 books, divided into the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament contains 39 books, while the New Testament contains 27 books. The books of the Old Testament are arranged into four main sections: the Law (or Pentateuch), the Historical Books, the Wisdom Books, and the Prophets whereas the books of the New Testament are arranged into four main sections as well: the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation. We believe that the Bible is the inspired and authoritative word of God which is flawless and can be used for a variety of purposes. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16 – 17 NIV

The Triune Nature of God – We believe that there is only one living God who is spirit and manifests in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. This belief is often referred to as the doctrine of the Trinity. It is a unique and unparalleled nature of our God, but for the sake of understanding, we can look at how water, being one in substance, is able to exist simultaneously in various states such as liquid, gaseous, and solid. “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30, NIV) “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14, NIV) “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (1 John 5:7, KJV)

The Holy Communion – For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:23 – 26 NIV

Faith in Our Lord and Savior – We believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God and came to earth to save humanity from sin and eternal damnation. The Scriptures testify, and we believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of all humanity, and was raised from the dead on the third day. Through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are forgiven of their sins and promised eternal life in heaven.

• “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
• “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” – John 14:6
• “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” – 1 John 4:10
•  “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit – It is a crucial part of our faith to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. This experience occurs after accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity and is given to us by God to guide, comfort, and empower us in our daily lives and in our service to God. The Holy Spirit dwells in a believer and helps him/her to pursue the matters of God and be more like Christ Jesus. One of the primary signs of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the gift of speaking in tongues, as seen in Acts 2:4, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” However, there are several other gifts of the Holy Spirit as well, such as prophesy, healing, miraculous powers, and others, as listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a trans formative experience that empowers believers to live a life of faith and service to God. It is a gift freely given by God to all who seek it, as stated in Luke 11:13, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

The Body of Christ – As believers, we believe that the Church is the body of Christ and he is the head of the Church. The Church is not just a physical building or an organization, but a living and vibrant community of people who are united in their faith in Jesus Christ. It is a group of people who have been called out of the world to follow Jesus and become part of His body. We believe that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church, and that we as believers are calledto submit to His authority and follow His example of love, compassion, and selflessness. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to live out our faith and serve others in love, just as Jesus did. As members of the Church, we are called to worship God and proclaim the Gospel to the world. We are also called to disciple believers, helping them to grow in their faith and become mature followers of Jesus thereby we ought to serve others in love, showing them the same grace and mercy that we have received from God. Ultimately, the Church is called to be a witness to the world, shining a light in the darkness and pointing people to Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. Members of the Church have different gifts from the spirit and all are equally important. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 1 Corinthians 12:27 – 28 NIV

Baptism by Water – We believe that water baptism is absolutely necessary for one to grow spiritually and to honour the word of God. There are numerous verses in the Bible that point towards baptism by water, even Jesus himself was baptized by John the Baptist, and during Jesus’ earthly life, there were instances where his disciples were baptizing others. Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than Joh — although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. John 4:1 – 2 NIV In the book of Acts also there are numerous instances of water baptism and later the baptism of the Holy Spirit as well.

• As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of me being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. (Acts 8:36, 38 NIV)
• and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 3:21 NIV)
• “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. (Acts 10:47 – 48 NIV)
• Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19 NIV)
• “Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.'” (John 3:5, NIV)

Born Again Experience – We are convinced, in the light of the scriptures, that for a person to enter the kingdom of God, they must repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.’ (John 3:5 NIV) Those who have attained this rebirth are considered as a new creation in Christ. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Cor 5:17 NIV)

Resurrection – We believe there is resurrection for both the just and the unjust but those who repented and accepted Christ during their life time and lived in accordance with the word are justified by their faith in Jesus and will be counted as righteous therefore they will inherit eternal life “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile” (Romans 3:22 NIV). In contrast the wicked who rejected the son of man will be made subject to eternal condemnation and punishment. “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46). I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:50 – 54 NIV)

The Blood of The Lamb – We believe Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, as mentioned in John 1:29 KJV. We also believe that Jesus is the Servant King whom Isaiah the Prophet spoke about: ‘Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all’ (Isaiah 53:4-6 NIV). We believe that through the blood of Jesus, we have been reconciled to God, and due to his blood, we have redemption and healing. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Col 1:19-20 NIV).

End-time prophecies – We believe in the end-time prophecies that are contained in the Bible. Jesus Himself spoke about many end-time events, and the Book of Revelation provides a comprehensive account of the events that will unfold in the end days. Some major prophecies include the rise of the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4), the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21- 22), the return of Jesus Christ to Earth (Acts 1:11), the resurrection of the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:16), the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16), the binding of Satan for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:2-3), the reign of Christ on Earth for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6), the final judgment of all people (Revelation 20:12-15), the destruction of the world by fire (2 Peter 3:7), and the establishment of a new heaven and a new Earth (Revelation 21:1).

The Scriptures Inspired: We as a church believes that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. This means that the Bible is without error and contains everything that is necessary for a person to know and follow God.

• The One True God: We affirms that there is only one God, who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is known as the doctrine of the Trinity. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct persons, but they are all equally God.
• The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ: Our church teaches that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is fully God and fully man. This means that Jesus is not a created being, but is rather the eternal Son of God who took on human flesh to dwell among us.
• The Fall of Man: We believe that all human beings are born with a sinful nature because of the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This means that all people are separated from God and in need of salvation.
• The Salvation of Man: We reckon salvation as a gift of God’s grace and is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ. This means that salvation cannot be earned or deserved, but is freely given to those who trust in Jesus as their Savior and Lord
• The Ordinances of the Church: We recognize two ordinances that are to be observed by believers: water baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Water baptism is a public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ, and the Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for our sins.
• The Baptism in the Holy Spirit: The baptism in the Holy Spirit is a separate experience from salvation and is available to all believers. This experience empowers believers to be witnesses for Jesus Christ and to live a life of holiness.
• The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit: The initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit is speaking in other tongues. This means that when a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit, they may speak in a language that they have not learned as a sign of this experience.
• Sanctification: The sanctification is the ongoing process of being set apart for God’s purposes and becoming more like Jesus Christ. This means that believers are called to live a life of holiness and to grow in their relationship with God.
• The Church and Its Mission: Our church believes that the Church is the body of Christ and that its mission is to make disciples of all nations. This means that believers are called to share the gospel with others and to help them become followers of Jesus Christ.
• The Ministry: The Assemblies of God church recognizes that God has called and equipped individuals to serve in various roles of ministry within the Church. This means that there are many different gifts and callings within the body of Christ, and that each person has a unique role to play in fulfilling God’s purposes.
• Divine Healing: The Assemblies of God church teaches that divine healing is provided for in the atonement and is available to all believers. This means that God can and does heal people supernaturally, and that we should pray for healing and trust God’s power to work in our lives.
• The Blessed Hope: We look forward to the “blessed hope,” which is the personal, imminent, and pre-millennial second coming of Jesus Christ. This means that Jesus will return to the earth before the millennium (the thousand-year reign of Christ) to establish his kingdom and to reign as king over all the earth. The Assemblies of God church believes that this hope is a source of encouragement and motivation for believers to live a life of faithfulness and to share the gospel with others.
• The Second Coming of Christ: The Assemblies of God church believes in the literal, bodily return of Jesus Christ to the earth to judge the living and the dead. This means that Jesus will come again to establish his kingdom on earth and to bring about the ultimate triumph of God’s purposes.
• The Final Judgment: There will be a final judgment in which all people will be held accountable for their actions and will receive either eternal life or eternal punishment. This means that there will be a day of reckoning in which justice will be served and God’s righteousness will be vindicated.
• The New Heavens and the New Earth: The Assemblies of God church believes in the ultimate restoration of all things in the new heavens and the new earth. This means that God will create a new, perfect world in which there is no more sin, suffering, or death, and in which his people will live forever in his presence.