M A Varughese

{|align="right"
|{{Infobox person
| image = Mavarughese.jpg
| name = Rev Dr. M A Varughese
| caption = Preacher, Evangelist, Publisher
| birth_date = {{birth date|1946|11|4}}

}}

'''Rev Dr. M A Varughese''', is an [[Evangelism|evangelist]], revival & motivational speaker, [[publisher]], Founder President of Bethel Gospel Team and [[Senior Pastor]] of [http://www.bethelagindia.org Bethel Assemblies of God Church], in [[Bangalore]], [[Karnataka]], [[India]].

==Early life==
M A Varughese was born and brought up in an orthodox [[Christian]] (Marthoma) family. His parents brought him up in the fear of God and traditional Christian walk. At the age of 12, he accepted [[Jesus]] as his [[Saviour]]. [[Image:1MAVALV.jpg|thumb|right|200px| Rev. Dr. M A Varughese & Sr. Aleyamma Varghese]] He decided to accept water baptism. He faced tremendous persecution from family, community and the society for embracing Pentecostal faith. He was sent out of home and had to work for food. His education was stalled in primary school at the age of 12. From this young age he had a thirst within him to serve the Lord and has been in the ministry of Lord Jesus Christ from 1956. Street evangelism and literature distribution were the areas of ministry that he could involve during those days. From the age of 15, he had been bearing witness to co-students, neighbors and friends.

In 1965 after his basic educations he left [[Kerala]] for a secular Job. He joined the [[Indian Air Force]] and served at various places in India. Along with the occupation in the central Government services it was his choice to study the engineering subjects with priority in the spiritual activities. Wherever he was posted, he involved and participated in the nearest Full [[Gospel]] [[church (building)|Church]] in spiritual ministry.

In 1971, he got married to a believer, Aleyamma. After marriage both were involved in the ministry. In 1975, Rev Varughese was selected by the Government of India for pursuing higher studies on Microwave and Digital Technology and was sent to WJ, Maryland, USA.

==Early Church==
M A Varughese had been simultaneously working in the armed forces and serving God from the very beginning. In the year 1983, he was transferred to Bangalore, India. In Bangalore, the Central District of the South India Assemblies of God gave him the responsibility to assist the Pastor of Bethel AG Church. Later in 1984 M A Varughese was appointed as the pastor-in-charge of Bethel AG Church with a total of 22 members.
[[Image:Ganaganar1.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Bethel AG Church Ganganagar, Bangalore]]

===Bethel AG Church Bangalore, Ganganagar===
M A Varughese and Aleyamma started working as the Pastor of the Church along with the secular Job. The Church started to grow in number. As the membership increased beyond 250, and could not be contained in the small building, a new Church was formed AbOUT 10 km away. The Central District of the South India Assemblies of God approved it as a Church. Many new Churches were formed. Today there are over 20 such Churches in Bangalore.

During 1991 on a clear call from the Lord, Rev. M A Varughese resigned from the secular Job, from the post of a Junior Research [[Scientist]] at a [[Research]] and Development Organization of the Government of India. He then ministered in the Church on a full time basis..

==Church Growth==
God enabled M A Varughese to build up a large multi-level building with four floors to seat a total of about 2000 people. When the membership further increased, the church purchased a plot of land measuring {{convert|3.5|acre|m2}} at a prime venue [[Hebbal]] on the Ring Road / [[Bangalore Airport|New Bangalore International Airport]] intersection. Currently there are two temporary structures that can accommodate over 3000 members each. Today Bethel AG Church is the Largest [[Malayalam]] speaking [[Pentecostal]] Church around the Globe. Through the years, the work of God in Bangalore city has been unfolding beyond human plans at Bethel. Seven linguistic services (Malayalam, English, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu & French) cater to the spiritual needs of the many ethnic groups in this METRO CITY.
[[Image:hebbal church.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Bethel AG Church, Ring Road, Hebbal, Bangalore]]

===Temporary Structures at Hebbal===
People belonging to various communities and nationalities come together, breaking all barriers of caste, creed and social standings, to worship the almighty God, in Spirit and in Truth. Many ministers travel around the nation and across the globe under the apostolic umbrella of Bethel, spreading the gospel. They carry the revival fire imparted at Bethel to The Body of Christ in various parts of the world. Powerful prayer backing of the church is an invaluable asset and a blessing from God to them.
Bethel AG Church has over 10,000 Communicant members in the main Church and over 20 Churches around Bangalore as our sister Churches. Apart from the local ministry, many ministers from Bethel AG Church also travel to conduct [[crusades]], seminars, etc.

==Personal life==
Rev. Dr. M A Varughese is blessed with two sons. Rev. Abraham Varghese and Rev. Johnson V. They too work along with him. Both of them are [[ordination|ordained ministers]] of the Assemblies of God. Rev. Varghese & Mrs. Aleyamma has four Grand children. Dr. Varughese worked with The INDIAN Air Force for 18 Years. His work was in the Radio/Telecommunication Wing (January 1966 – January 1984). He also worked as scientific staff at the R&D department for 5 years. Rev. Dr. M A Varughese has traveled and ministered in over 30 nations.
[[Image:1FamilyMAV.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Rev Dr.M.A.Varughese and Family]]

===Educational Qualifications===

Diploma in
* [[Aeronautical engineering|Aeronautical-technology]]
* [[Mechanical Engineering]]
* [[Electronics]]
* [[Radio]] & [[Telecommunication|Tele -communications]]
* [[Computer Engineering]]

===Doctorate===
* Doctor of Ministry from the International Graduate School of Ministry (Washington State Higher Education Board, USA: 2006)

===Present Ministry Involvements===
Today he serves the Lord;

* As a Senior Pastor
* As an Evangelist conducting Crusades and [[Healing]] Services
* Conducting Seminars and imparting his vision of Church growth and [[Holy]] life to other Ministers of the Gospel
* As a revival and motivational speaker.
* Providing [[apostolic]] coverage to numerous ministers& ministries
* Publishing Audio/Video Cassettes, CDs and books
* As Founder President of Bethel Gospel Team

==Works==
(Books in Malayalam)
* NaaluYaamangal (The Four Watches)
* NadathiyaVidhangalOrthaal (Autobiography)
* Anugrahavum Shapavum (Blessing & Curse)
* Athmayudhathiloode Sabhavallarcha (Church Growth through Spiritual warfare; the research work was the dissertation for the doctorate)

==External links==
{{Commons category|M A Varughese}}
{{wikiquote}}
*[http://www.bethelagindia.org/aboutus.php About Bethel AG Church Bangalore]
*[http://www.bethelagindia.org/online.php Resources]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRQALp5g3P8 Be Blessed]
*[http://www.godworks.tv/v3/index.php/pastor.html Bethel AG Church International Worship Center]
*[http://www.bethelta.org/aboutus.html Bethel AG Tamil Aaradhanai]

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| DATE OF BIRTH = 1946-11-04
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[[Category:Christian revivalists]]
[[Category:Assemblies of God clergy]]
[[Category:Indian Pentecostals]]
[[Category:Pentecostal theologians]]
[[Category:Assemblies of God people]]
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]