Welcome to Immanuel Mar Thoma Church of Houston
For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. - Romans 12:4-5.
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IMTC Community welcomes our Assistant Vicar Santhosh Achen, Teena Kochamma , Sandra and Shrey . Achen contact details and photo are below :
Address : 7407 Neuces Creek Drive,
Missouri City, TX 77459
Mobile : (832)-837-4721
E-mail : ASST.Vicar@immanuelmtc.org
Rev Dr. Eappen Varghese
Vicar
From the Vicar’s Desk
Going to college…
We are getting ready for a new academic year. Our children are ready for school and college. Some may be moving to apartments and hostels. They move away from their parents, siblings, and the church and enter a new world. The world of parents, siblings, Sunday School, and the church had some ethos and values. Some of them have been inculcated in our kids. Their worldview, perceptions, attitude, knowledge, and the like have been molded in a framework of Christian and Mar Thoma faith and ethos. Of course, they had other exposures too. But mostly their worldview is dominated by the ethos and values of the parents and the church.
Now, they are entering a new world, a world of freedom, individual choices, liberal politics, political correctness, and the like. They will come across cultural shock situations where their faith, ethos, morals, and practices will be challenged and looked upon
as outdated, irrelevant, corrupt, derogatory, discriminatory, and against political correctness. Everything that they believed and valued may be challenged. This will cause a severe crisis in the life of our kids, who are struggling to adjust to the new situation and adapt to the pressure of studies.
There will be other temptations of using liquor, and drugs and engaging in sex. If not yielding to these matters, you may be treated as an outcast. The parents and the children need to be
prepared to face this reality.
The situation may be confusing. There will be two ways of responding to it. Some may be upset and perplexed. Some may totally surrender to the new teachings and will become part of it. At this juncture, I would like to remind the following things:
1. When you face trouble, confusion, and doubt, openly say that you have a problem, and you need help. There is no vulnerability in confessing your need for help. The church is with you to help you always. Your Sunday school teachers, elder brothers and sisters, and the vicars are there for you to listen to you, guide you and answer your questions. Kindly reach out. Never hesitate to voice your problem, your question, or your doubt and seek help.
There is a forgiving God. Your church is a church that can stand with you in every situation.
2. Be connected to the parents. Talk to the parents regularly and be open to them. Parents need to be patient and give a listening ear to them. Instead of imposing anything, be kind and compassionate to the kids and to their situations. Never use the words of condemnation but have the courage to correct them. Parents need to create a good relationship and an openness to the kids and to their problems. When you are also troubled, never hesitate to take help. When children find it difficult to communicate with their parents, they must reach out for help to mend their relationship with their parents. A strong relationship with your immediate and extended family is a strength in your life.
3. Be strong in your faith. Have confidence in your faith and practices that you have learned in the Mar Thoma Church. Mar Thoma Church presents a Bible-based, balanced faith, which does not go to the extremes of Eastern or Western traditions. Too much Westernization or too much traditionalism is equally unbiblical. Be open to learning our own faith that is proposed by the Mar Thoma Church.
4. Hold on to the Biblical worldview. You may come to know about new thoughts, ways of life, beliefs, and attitudes. They are extremely liberal approaches to life and faith. The liberal approach to life challenges every other form of life and it is intolerant of faith, spiritual practices, and modest ways of life. They will confront and attack, insult and put down religious life and modesty as traditional, conservative, and vulnerable. Never be afraid of these thoughts. Never be ashamed of your faith, practices, and modesty. You are well in advance in culture and civilization. Have confidence and faith in yourself, in your parents, in your church, and in your faith.
5. Deepen your faith and knowledge in the scripture. Each time you are challenged, your faith and modesty being challenged, turn to the scripture and faith. Learn it more and deep. The church will help you to learn and understand your faith, church, tradition, and your cultural heritage and practices.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1: 9.
Amen
We are getting ready for a new academic year. Our children are ready for school and college. Some may be moving to apartments and hostels. They move away from their parents, siblings, and the church and enter a new world. The world of parents, siblings, Sunday School, and the church had some ethos and values. Some of them have been inculcated in our kids. Their worldview, perceptions, attitude, knowledge, and the like have been molded in a framework of Christian and Mar Thoma faith and ethos. Of course, they had other exposures too. But mostly their worldview is dominated by the ethos and values of the parents and the church.
Now, they are entering a new world, a world of freedom, individual choices, liberal politics, political correctness, and the like. They will come across cultural shock situations where their faith, ethos, morals, and practices will be challenged and looked upon
as outdated, irrelevant, corrupt, derogatory, discriminatory, and against political correctness. Everything that they believed and valued may be challenged. This will cause a severe crisis in the life of our kids, who are struggling to adjust to the new situation and adapt to the pressure of studies.
There will be other temptations of using liquor, and drugs and engaging in sex. If not yielding to these matters, you may be treated as an outcast. The parents and the children need to be
prepared to face this reality.
The situation may be confusing. There will be two ways of responding to it. Some may be upset and perplexed. Some may totally surrender to the new teachings and will become part of it. At this juncture, I would like to remind the following things:
1. When you face trouble, confusion, and doubt, openly say that you have a problem, and you need help. There is no vulnerability in confessing your need for help. The church is with you to help you always. Your Sunday school teachers, elder brothers and sisters, and the vicars are there for you to listen to you, guide you and answer your questions. Kindly reach out. Never hesitate to voice your problem, your question, or your doubt and seek help.
There is a forgiving God. Your church is a church that can stand with you in every situation.
2. Be connected to the parents. Talk to the parents regularly and be open to them. Parents need to be patient and give a listening ear to them. Instead of imposing anything, be kind and compassionate to the kids and to their situations. Never use the words of condemnation but have the courage to correct them. Parents need to create a good relationship and an openness to the kids and to their problems. When you are also troubled, never hesitate to take help. When children find it difficult to communicate with their parents, they must reach out for help to mend their relationship with their parents. A strong relationship with your immediate and extended family is a strength in your life.
3. Be strong in your faith. Have confidence in your faith and practices that you have learned in the Mar Thoma Church. Mar Thoma Church presents a Bible-based, balanced faith, which does not go to the extremes of Eastern or Western traditions. Too much Westernization or too much traditionalism is equally unbiblical. Be open to learning our own faith that is proposed by the Mar Thoma Church.
4. Hold on to the Biblical worldview. You may come to know about new thoughts, ways of life, beliefs, and attitudes. They are extremely liberal approaches to life and faith. The liberal approach to life challenges every other form of life and it is intolerant of faith, spiritual practices, and modest ways of life. They will confront and attack, insult and put down religious life and modesty as traditional, conservative, and vulnerable. Never be afraid of these thoughts. Never be ashamed of your faith, practices, and modesty. You are well in advance in culture and civilization. Have confidence and faith in yourself, in your parents, in your church, and in your faith.
5. Deepen your faith and knowledge in the scripture. Each time you are challenged, your faith and modesty being challenged, turn to the scripture and faith. Learn it more and deep. The church will help you to learn and understand your faith, church, tradition, and your cultural heritage and practices.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1: 9.
Amen
