Robert F. Cook
Encyclopedia
Robert F. Cook served as the prime missionary
responsible for the establishment of the Pentecostal movement in India
. Though a number of missionaries came before him and though the Pentecostal experience took place in India independent of foreign missionary work, Cook was the one that first established works that began to spread into neighboring areas. He came to India
in October 1913. In 1914, he established a church in Thuvayoor, Kerala
. However, three years later, on August 31, 1917, his wife, Anna, died. The following year, he met and married Bertha Frank.
Until 1921, he was stationed in Bangalore
. However, in 1920, he became acquainted with Kalloor Chacko
, of Thrikkannamangal
, Kottarakara, and was convinced by him to relocate to Thrikkannamangal. In January, 1921, he headquartered his work in a rented home adjacent to Chacko's and began his work in Kerala. He registered his churches under the name, Malankara Full Gospel Church of God. By 1922, he released the works in Bangalore to fellow workers and permanently moved to Thrikkannamangal.
The work spread quickly from then on. Due to the need for training for the new local workers, he began a Home Bible Training School at his residence. As the work spread, there were many future leaders that joined hands with him. Among them was K.E. Abraham, the founder of the Indian Pentecostal Church of God
and Paul Ramunkutty founder of The Pentecostal Mission
. However, as time went by, there arose disagreements over doctrine and organizational structure. Though Cook came as an independent missionary, he later joined the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
. This, and other reasons, caused rifts between Cook and many of his workers. Not wishing to remain under foreign control, K.E. Abraham left with many of the Syrian Christians and founded the IPC. Cook parted company with Chacko also, over doctrinal issues. As a result, Cook relocated to Mulakuzha, Alleppey. He built the Bungalow on land that was partly donated and partly bought. The Bible Training Center was relocated to the Bungalow, also. Though most of the people that remained with him were converts from lower castes, the work continued to grow at a very fast rate among both these castes as well as among the Syrian Christians. By the time he returned to the U.S., the work had spread to the neighbouring states and had been registered in Tamil Nadu
with the Central Government under the Indian Societies Act.
As the work in India continued to grow, the leadership of the Church of God began to take more interest and send more support and workers. Cook, due to age and to challenges to his authority from both local workers and from the missionaries sent by Cleveland, turned over the work fully to Church of God control and returned to the U.S. His wife, daughter, Blossom, and sons, George and Robert, returned with him. Though the others have died, his sons still reside in the United States and are involved in their own ministries.
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
responsible for the establishment of the Pentecostal movement in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Though a number of missionaries came before him and though the Pentecostal experience took place in India independent of foreign missionary work, Cook was the one that first established works that began to spread into neighboring areas. He came to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in October 1913. In 1914, he established a church in Thuvayoor, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. However, three years later, on August 31, 1917, his wife, Anna, died. The following year, he met and married Bertha Frank.
Until 1921, he was stationed in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
. However, in 1920, he became acquainted with Kalloor Chacko
Kalloor Chacko
Kalloor Chacko is the fourth of seven sons born to Kalloor Koshy. Koshy is the patriarch of the Kalloor family in Thrikkannamangal, Kottarakara. His elder brother is the patriarch of the Thondel family...
, of Thrikkannamangal
Thrikkannamangal
Thrikkannamangal is a village in the taluk of Kottarakara in the Kollam District of Kerala, India. This town is named so because it was the direction that the Kings of old, standing in their palace, would face in the morning. The city of Kottarakara is named so because it served as a place for the...
, Kottarakara, and was convinced by him to relocate to Thrikkannamangal. In January, 1921, he headquartered his work in a rented home adjacent to Chacko's and began his work in Kerala. He registered his churches under the name, Malankara Full Gospel Church of God. By 1922, he released the works in Bangalore to fellow workers and permanently moved to Thrikkannamangal.
The work spread quickly from then on. Due to the need for training for the new local workers, he began a Home Bible Training School at his residence. As the work spread, there were many future leaders that joined hands with him. Among them was K.E. Abraham, the founder of the Indian Pentecostal Church of God
Indian Pentecostal Church of God
The Indian Pentecostal Church of God is the largest indigenous Pentecostal movement in India, with its headquarters at Hebron, Kumbanad, Kerala, India. The movement was established in 1924 and registered on 9 December 1935 at Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, under the Government of India.K. C...
and Paul Ramunkutty founder of The Pentecostal Mission
The Pentecostal Mission
The Pentecostal Mission or New Testament Church formerly known as Ceylon Pentecostal Mission , is a pentecostal denomination which originated in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. The international headquarters is now situated in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India...
. However, as time went by, there arose disagreements over doctrine and organizational structure. Though Cook came as an independent missionary, he later joined the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
The Church of God, with headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, is a Pentecostal Christian denomination. With over seven million members in over 170 countries, it is one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world...
. This, and other reasons, caused rifts between Cook and many of his workers. Not wishing to remain under foreign control, K.E. Abraham left with many of the Syrian Christians and founded the IPC. Cook parted company with Chacko also, over doctrinal issues. As a result, Cook relocated to Mulakuzha, Alleppey. He built the Bungalow on land that was partly donated and partly bought. The Bible Training Center was relocated to the Bungalow, also. Though most of the people that remained with him were converts from lower castes, the work continued to grow at a very fast rate among both these castes as well as among the Syrian Christians. By the time he returned to the U.S., the work had spread to the neighbouring states and had been registered in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
with the Central Government under the Indian Societies Act.
As the work in India continued to grow, the leadership of the Church of God began to take more interest and send more support and workers. Cook, due to age and to challenges to his authority from both local workers and from the missionaries sent by Cleveland, turned over the work fully to Church of God control and returned to the U.S. His wife, daughter, Blossom, and sons, George and Robert, returned with him. Though the others have died, his sons still reside in the United States and are involved in their own ministries.
Sources
- 37 Years of Glorious Service Robert F. Cook. Cleveland: Church of God Publishing, 1975.