Mission & Vision

STECI is Historically Based: An Enduring Legacy

The St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (STECI) proudly traces its roots back to the very foundation of Christianity in India, connecting us directly to the ministry of **Apostle Thomas**, one of the original Twelve disciples of Jesus Christ.

We affirm that Apostle Thomas, known as the Apostle of Christ to India, initiated Christian history on the subcontinent shortly after **AD 52**. This timeline is significant, occurring at approximately the same time that Apostle Paul was beginning his missionary work in Europe. The churches established along the Malabar Coast of Kerala and the strong traditions surrounding St. Thomas's martyrdom on the Coromandel Coast—specifically at St. Thomas Mount near Mylapore—provide compelling evidence for this apostolic origin. For nearly two millennia, the witness to Jesus Christ as Savior and God has been maintained on the Malabar Coast of South India. The STECI is a continuation of this enduring Christian existence.

The STECI is fundamentally related to these historical and traditional realities of India. In an ancient nation like ours, this unbroken historical link is not merely a detail; it is a vital part of our identity and heritage. This conviction is reflected in our very name. While we recognize that other valid ecclesiastical streams in Kerala may not emphasize a direct link to Apostle Thomas, we believe that holding onto this powerful historical foundation is good and valuable for our Church. It provides a unique, deep-rooted identity that we are committed to upholding.

STECI is Evangelical: Rooted in Scripture

The St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (STECI) is fundamentally **Evangelical**, stemming from a deep commitment to the authority of the **Holy Scriptures** and the liberating message of the Gospel. Our identity is rooted in the reformation and renewal movements that have historically swept both the global and Indian church.

For centuries, the Christian church in Malabar often became more bound by tradition than impregnated by the Scriptures. A significant turning point came with the arrival of the Church Missionary Society missionaries in Kerala nearly two hundred years ago, which led to the translation and distribution of the 66-book Bible in the Malayalam language.

Abraham Malpan, a key figure among Syrian Christians, championed this evangelical reformation in Kerala, much like John Wycliffe in the West. He was instrumental in liberating the evangelical message through the clear Word of God.

This revolutionary message had a special effect among existing Christians and eventually led to the formation of the Mar Thoma Church.

The evangelical, Biblically true, and related message became progressively clearer and refined until **1961**. It was in this year that our church fathers formally declared the existence and distinct identity of the STECI at a great gathering of 25,000 believers in Thiruvalla. This declaration formally placed our church in the biblical and world evangelical stream of the Church Catholic.

The STECI is thus related to and based on the whole Bible. This commitment aligns us with the reformed tradition in theology and doctrine—the same tradition that birthed the global Reformation through leaders like John Wycliffe and Martin Luther.

Our theological cleansing and doctrinal distinctiveness came through the proclamation of the Word of God and the exposition of the Scriptures, fueling our missionary impetus. The Evangelical Church (STECI) is therefore a group of believers who proclaim the whole counsel of God according to the Scriptures, taking the entire 66 books of the Bible as fundamentally necessary for our faith and mission.

STECI is for Church Planting

The St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (STECI) is fundamentally dedicated to the extension of the Church of Jesus Christ. Our core objectives place **Evangelizing**, **Disciple-Making**, and **Church Planting** in the primary position among our goals, a commitment shared by the wider stream of reformed churches and missions launched from vibrant, faithful congregations.

The dynamic of our Church life is patterned after the examples and teachings of the Lord Jesus and His Apostles. The individual Christian is called to holiness of life—to live as Jesus lived during His earthly ministry. This embodies the principle of Incarnation (the life of God in the world) manifested in every believer, ensuring that our outreach is rooted in authentic witness.

STECI is India-Comprehending: A National Vision

The St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (STECI) is defined by a missionary vision that encompasses the entire nation of **India**.

Historically, India was characterized by numerous splintered sections, groups, and languages. With the formation of the **Indian Republic in 1947**, a new, unified nation emerged—an India superseding its divergences and divisions.

In 1961, the STECI oriented itself to this new India. Our founding vision deliberately abandoned the focus on the tiny geographical sector of Kerala and its associated linguistic or caste divisions.

We became a Church envisaging and comprehending the whole of India, fully committed to taking in the vastness and millions of people of the nation into our mission of advance.

This national vision means that our missionary and church planting programmes must comprehend the entire country.

Language and Reach: Every language of India, including the statutory languages, becomes a language of the Evangelical Church. Furthermore, reaching out through the lingua franca, **English**, is essential to cover significant urban and educated sections of India.

Episcopal Structure: As an Episcopal Church, this requires a demanding yet necessary programme: establishing local parishes in all languages of India. This is a heroic and challenging plan, demanding commitment and dedication from all members.

Our founding fathers launched the STECI with this compelling vision in 1961, and it continues to guide and challenge us today. Though various forces may attempt to limit our aspirations, we are called to pursue the full compass of our claims and commitment. All our programs, activities, and plans are geared toward fulfilling this national scope.

Beyond India, our commitment is intrinsically linked to the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ, mandating the evangelization of the whole world. Our Declaration affirms this unfinished global task.

Fulfilling this comprehensive call and destiny requires that every individual member plays their part in advancing the Church according to God's purpose in Christ.