Pastor Cherian Mathew

Pastor Cherian Mathew was born on October 18, 1944 to Mr. C.J. Cherian and Mrs. Thankamma Cherian in Muttom, Kerala, India. His older sister is Kunjamma John, older brother K.C. John, and younger sister Susamma Ninan. He was raised in a traditional Jacobite family.

At the age of 23, he moved to New Delhi, India. On March 27, 1968 while at a convention of the late Pastor K.E. Abraham, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. With a new passion to serve the Lord, he attended classes at Pastor K.T. Thomas’ Bible School. While in New Delhi, he also met his future wife, Neithy Joseph, a nursing graduate.

In 1971, he moved to Toronto, Canada, and married Neithy at the Runnymede Baptist Church. Soon after, they were blessed with their oldest daughter Jasmine, followed two years later by daughter Jasilin, and the twins Janice and Jason one year later. He was a great husband and loving father.

He was passionate about education. He completed his Bachelors degree in Mathematics at the University of Toronto in 1982, and completed a Masters in Mathematics from York University in 1987. In addition, he completed a Bachelors in Education at Brock University in 1990. He taught at both the University of Toronto and York University. In addition to his many academic achievements, he also completed a Bachelors in Theology in 1977 from the Christian International Seminary. This began his lifelong ministry serving the Lord.

In 1985, the family left Canada and moved to Kerala, India for three years. During his time there he was ordained as a minister by the India Pentecostal Church. His passion was to evangelize throughout Kerala while serving as president of PYPA. In 1988 the family returned to Canada, and in 1991 immigrated to the United States. He taught at the high school, college and university levels for 22 years in Florida. He was a Professor of Mathematics at Keiser College, Palm Beach College, and recently retired from Broward College.

He ministered throughout South Florida for many years. He also supported many ministries in Kerala including Alleppy Bible College and various missions in Coimbatore, India.

He loved spending time with his grandchildren, teaching them to play chess, tennis, badminton and fishing. He enjoyed taking his grandkids to the park. He was a loving, faithful and devoted husband and recently celebrated 42 years of marriage. He was a great father and role model, instilling in his children the importance of education, family and living a Godly life.

He is survived by his wife Neithy, his children, Jasmine, Jasilin and Ajith, Janice and Saji, Jason and Smitha and by his grandchildren Zachariah, Jacob, Kaylyn, Evan, Selah, Caris and Rhema. He will be dearly missed by his family and many friends all over the world.

Although we are saddened by his sudden and unexpected departure, we take comfort in knowing that we will soon be reunited with him at the coming of our Lord. His favorite verse was Psalms 103:1-2 “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”