Karunya

The Mission Arm of Melbourne Mar Thoma Parish

God, whose special concern is for those who are suffering, invites His people  to find Christ through solidarity with the least of our brothers and sisters. As a community called out to serve God, the Melbourne Mar Thoma Church responds to this invitation through the ministry of its mission arm named Karunya.

The stated purpose of Karunya is to serve God by serving the poor and the needy with love and compassion.

Karunya was started in October 1999 as an informal fellowship of those who considered mission as an important aspect of their church life and wanted to make difference to the lives of people. The Melbourne Mar Thoma Parish recognised  the interest and commitment of the members of this fellowship by accepting Karunya as the mission arm of the parish in 2000.

Ministry Objectives

The key objectives of the Karunya ministry are:

·        Provide leadership for mission activities of the community;

·        Initiate and support social justice projects;

·        Support evangelisation programs;

·        Facilitate study of contextual theology of mission;

·        Function as a link between Australian churches and mission organisations and  mission projects in underdeveloped communities; and

·        Network with other mission and community development organisations in Australia

Karunya Mission Study Group

As a church ministry, Karunya engages the church in its call to mission and evangelism, to reflect on the Scriptures in the context in which we live our lives.

Karunya mission study group currently meets once in three months. Apart from study and reflection, this group shares a time of prayer, specifically for mission work. All are welcome to join this study group.

 

Current Projects

Support of Families in Distress

Karunya, in collaboration with the Trivandrum-Quilon Diocese of the Mar Thoma Church initiated two projects in March 2001 to support families in distress. One of these projects is to support the families of the patients in the mental asylum in Trivandrum and the other is to support the families of the prisoners who are serving their term in the Central Jail in Trivandrum. In many cases the person in the asylum or the prison, was the breadwinner of the family.

Karunya is supporting 8 families (4 for each project). All educational expenses of the children from these families and additional cash requirements for buying the essential groceries are met by the project. The social worker is in regular contact with these families and in situations involving much emotional stress, the families are given free access to a qualified counsellor.

Hostel in Orissa for Tribal Girls

Karunya, in collaboration with ADORE, a missionary group engaged in holistic mission among the poor and underprivileged in India started a hostel in 2002, for nurturing and educating the tribal girls in the Rayagada district in  Orissa. TEAR Australia is partnering with Karunya in supporting this project. This hostel initially accepted 10 girls from tribal areas and they are educated in the nearby schools. Over the past few years, this establishment has grown to accommodate 55 girls with 2 resident wardens. Some of the inmates are studying in the colleges in Rayagada. A bible school for training women evangelists also operate from this facility.

Asha Kendra – School for children with special needs, Pallam, Kerala

In 2004, Karunya committed to provide the necessary fiances for operating Asha Kendra, a school for children who are mentally challenged from the disadvantaged sections in Pallam (Kottayam District), when this institution was about to be closed for lack of finances. This institution has since grown to meet the needs of a community and to provide vocational training for childeren with special needs.

Community Development - Pooyamkutty

Karunya started in June 2006, support for a community development project in Pooyamkutty area (approximately 50 KMs from Kothamangalam) in partnership with the Kottayam Diocese of the Mar Thoma Church. The initial scope of the work is to build few community toilet facilities and to start a Balavadi (educational and social development facility for primary school aged children)

Community Development – Gundanpalaya

Karunya started in 2007, support for a community development project in Gundanpalaya, a village in the Tumkur District of Karnataka, located about 70 KMs away from the city of Bangalore. in partnership with the Chennai-Bangalore Diocese of the Mar Thoma Church . In the initial stages the project will be concentrating on the 66 school going children The primary objective of this project would be to improve the educational standard of these children and help them to complete their school education up to standard 10 (school final certificate). The scope of the project during the initial stages (next 3 years) would be:

  • Conduct evening tuition classes to assist the children to stay and progress in the school education system;
  • Provide space and electric lighting for children  to sit and study;
  • Provide the children one full meal a day either in the morning or evening and ensure that they get nutritious food regularly;
  • Provide periodic medical check up and attend to the basic medical needs of the children;
  • Cater to the health of the mothers, particularly pregnant women

Sunday School Project - Dindigul-Amblikai Mission

The Sunday School of the Melbourne Mar Thoma parish is supporting the mission work among the school children in the Dindigul-Amblikai mission field in rural Tamil Nadu.  Karunya is providing the top up funding as well as the field co-ordination.

Gospel Work Among Tribals and Dalits in Northern India

Karunya, functions as the local contact of the mission venture involving evangelisation and social transformation, developed indigenously by  Mr. P. A. Cyrus, for the liberation of 600 million tribals and dalits India . Inspired by this vision presented by Mr. Cyrus on his visit in 2002, many in Australia have sponsored evangelists to work in the villages of the tribal belt in Northern India.. Karunya is coordinating the sponsorships to support this evangelisation work. Karunya also functions as the link between this gospel work and the Australian mission organisations desiring to be involved.

Assylum Seekers

Karunya collects groceries and financially support a local ministry among Asylum Seekers in Australia.

New Projects – In planning

Karunya is also currently in discussion with the Maharastra Mission of the Mar Thoma Church and is planning the initiation of a new community development project.

 

How can you participate?

·        Involvement in the ministry;

·        Prayer support;

·        Field visits;

·        Joining mission study group;

·        Financial contributions; and

·        Sponsorship of evangelists and projects.

 

Further Information

Contact: Rev K. M Mathew (President)

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