BETHEL BIBLE COLLEGE

Subject : Ecumenical Movements

Topic : NMS & IMS
Submitted to : Mr. Maongtoshi Walling
Submitted by : A. Abinesh Samlin
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National Missionary Society:

National Missionary Society of India was founded in the year 1905 in Serampore in West
Bengal on the Christmas Day, 25 December. A bird’s eye view of the profiles of the founders of
NMS reveals the wide spectrum of men with diverse backgrounds. They were from various parts
of India and the neighbouring countries. They were men of reputation and calibre. A brief outline
of the life of nine of the seventeen founders are here.

V S Azariah:

V S Azariah was the second child of Rev Thomas Vedanayagam. He grew up in a

village called Velalanvillai where once when he was a small boy, he offered his golden
bangles as a contribution for missions in Africa. He served for nearly twenty years near
Tiruchendur as a pastor. Rev Azariah was associated with young men in YMCA.
Sherwood Eddy of YMCA and K T Paul were his friends. They later founded National
Missionary Society of India in 1905 with some more friends in Serampore, Calcutta. The
founders decided to work with Indian men, money and methods. In 1909 he went as a
missionary to Dornakal and later became the Bishop ofDornakal diocese. He worked for
the church union and was instrumental in the formation of the Church of South India
(CSI). He worked for the upliftment of the depressed classes. So, he is remembered as the
Apostle of Unity and also as an Apostle of Outcastes.
 Sherwood Eddy:

Sherwood Eddy was born on January 19, 1871 in the United States. He finished
his engineering studies at Yale University. In an evangelical meeting which he attended;
he committed his life as a missionary to foreign lands. He came to India through YMCA
but had to live with financial support from his parents. On a particular occasion when
Bishop V S Azariah needed Rs 60,000 for his Dornakal diocese, he and his wife prayed
about it. They then wrote a letter to Sherwood Eddy asking for his help. He immediately
helped them with the needed money!

Indian Missionary Society:

Indian Missionary Society (IMS) was born through the vision of Bishop V.S.Azariah on
12th February 1903 at Palayamkottai, Thirunelvelli district, South India.

It was the period of British rule over India. In Palayamkottai also called as Oxford of
India, at the place where the centenary hall was proposed to be built to commemorate the
centenary celebration of Tirunelveli Diocese, a few prayer warriors were earnestly praying for
the salvation of India.

Mr.V.S. Azariah while working as a secretary of YMCA Chennai Visited Jafna in

Srilanka there he came to know that the Srilankan Church has sent missionaries to Thondi, in
Tamil Nadu. influenced by this, Azariah became zealous in his spirit & after his arrival to India
met the prayer warriors at Palayamkottai, & shared the need of a missionary organization to
evangelize India. Prayers got intensified. Eventually, On 12th February 1903 at “Chatthiram,”
where the Tirunelveli Diocesan press is located now, 8 priests & 20 laymen along with VS
Azariah formed INDIAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.