Mundupoikayil Cherian Cherian

Mundupoikayil Kothakeri Cherian (M.C. Cherian) was born to late Mrs. & Mr. Mariyamma & Ittycheria Cherian at Manganam, Kottayam,, India. Mundupoikayil Kothakeri is a branch of the large family tree Kanjirathara..

Mr. Cherian has 3 brothers and 2 sisters, and he was the oldest. He was called “VELLICHAYAN” by everyone. Born and brought up in a Christian Jacobite family, he was pious to his religious rituals even in his early age. Mr. Cherian started his family life with Mariyamma on May 9, 1952. The Lord has blessed them with 7 children. (4 boys & 3 girls).

The early days of his life was with great difficulties. His father passed away at his early age and thus it became his responsibilty to take care of his mother and siblings. With his hard work he married away his sisters, and took care of his younger siblings. His dear wife also went to be with the Lord on June 13, 1972 after 20 years of happy family life and leaving 7 children in his care. His days of struggle became harder and harder. In later days, two of his sons (Babychen and Babu) preceded him in death. In any of these occasions he never questioned God and His will.

It was in those days he started to seek God with his broken contrite heart. Along with these difficulties satan was buffeting him with physical illness also. The Lord heard his prayers and he got the miraculous healing, this was his turning point to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and surrendered his life in full obedience to the word of God. He then took the believers baptism and joined into the Pentecostal faith and started worshipping God in spirit and truth. The Lord started to move into his life step by step and day by day, he started to see His gracious hand of blessings. His oldest son late Mr. M.C. Cherian, Jr. came to this country in 1981 and Appachen joined him in 1989. He worked at Marriot hotel for 12 years. Prior to his immigration to this blessed country, Mr. Cherian was an active member of the IPC Philadelphia, Kottayam and IPC Bethel Kaithamattom, Kottayam.

Here in U.S., Mr. Cherian was an active member of IPC Hebron, OKC for the past 20 years. To the Hebron family, he is known as our dear “APPACHEN”. He was a prayer warrior, active in evangelism and a living testimony to everyone. He has touched every one’s heart with his loving dealings. To his grandchildren he is their “BIG APPACHI”.

As in Ecclesiastes 7:8 his later days of life was greatly blessed as Jospeh in the Holy Bible. He got the privelage of seeing even his great-grandchildren and been dearly loved by his children. As Genesis 50:23 says “And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.” His departure to glory was so peaceful. Without any physical struggle he went to the Beulah land to be with the Lord.

He is survived by 3 siblings Mr. M.I. Kurian, Mr. M.C. Jacob, Mrs. Mariyamma Moses and his 5 children Rev & Mrs. Kurian and Molamma Cherian (Mumbai), Mr. & Mrs. Zachariah and Biji Cherian (USA), daughters Mrs. & Mr. Alyamma and Abraham Mathew (Kerala), Mrs. & Mr. Alice and John Joseph (USA), Mrs. & Mr. Susan and Babu Jacob (USA), daughter- in-laws Mrs. Susan Cherian (Kerala), Mrs. Sallykutty George (Kerala). He also has 14 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. His favorite songs are “Saalem rajan varunnoru dhonikal desamengum muzhangidunnu” and “paricha dhukhathal porattom agilum.” His favorite scripture is 1 John 3:1-2 “Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not because it knew Him not. Beloved now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

We, his family and friends, miss our dear Appachen. We have the great assurance of seeing him soon in Heaven.