Statement of Beliefs
We generate this statement of beliefs not to exhaustively cover the myriad of theological topics that might be addressed in such an exercise, but simply to state the essential beliefs that underlie our mission and purpose.
God – There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus Christ – The Son, is the living Word (Logos) of God who has become flesh through miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. We affirm the full deity and humanity of Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, who lived a sinless life on earth as a man, surrendered His life on a cross, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. During His earthly ministry, Jesus taught, proclaimed, and demonstrated the kingdom of God.
Holy Spirit – The Third Person of the Godhead, the work of the Holy Spirit is to bring glory to Christ Jesus. The Spirit is active in convicting humans of sin and accomplishing God’s saving work in those who repent and believe. The Spirit enables the transformation of human lives and empowers believers for witness and service, distributing gifts according to God’s will.
The Bible – The Bible is the fundamental basis for our beliefs and is the fully inspired written Word of God as contained in the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments. It is the unique, authoritative, and inerrant (in the original manuscripts) standard for faith and life and contains all things necessary for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Humankind – Is created in the image of God, in all its diversity, for the purpose of being in relationship with God and exercising dominion over His creation. However, all humans are fallen beings and are under the power of sin and death. All, left to themselves, are unable to please God and be reconciled to Him. Thus, all humans are in desperate need of salvation. God sent His Son, Jesus, to provide a way for humankind (and all creation) to be restored to a right relationship with Him.
Salvation – Restoration to a right relationship with God and the eternal life that accompanies it is only possible through Jesus Christ. By prevenient grace, God has shown His great lovingkindness and initiates a restored relationship with all humankind. Salvation is not earned by human effort but is offered by God’s love, mercy, and grace. It is received by repentance and faith in Jesus. God desires that all humankind be restored to Him through His gift of salvation.
Church – The Church is the Body of Christ, the universal community of believers in Jesus. Jesus loves the Church and gave His life for it. Endowed with gifts by the Holy Spirit, it is the mission of the Church to glorify God, make disciples, witness His redemptive grace to the world, and prepare to meet Jesus upon His glorious return to the earth.
The kingdom of God – Restored at the first advent of Christ, the kingdom of God will be consummated at the return of Christ Jesus and will be characterized by victory over death, Satan, and all evil. Those who have died in Christ will be resurrected to eternal life with God. Until that time, we are called to follow Jesus and join Him in His kingdom work.
Calling/Final Words – Final words have great meaning. For believers in Christ Jesus, His final words call us to action. He has sent each believer into the world to share the good news of salvation, to make disciples, and to teach them according to the tenants of the Word of God. In obedience to that call, we each are to proclaim the gospel, make disciples, and share our love for God and our neighbors by doing and proclaiming God’s mercy and justice.
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Mathew is a Dentist by profession, worked at a Rural Mission hospital, The Duncan Hospital,a unit Emmanuel Hospital Association (EHA) from 1993 – 2013. Along with his wife Latha, a dentist too, he pioneered the dental work in EHA. Together they also developed the ComDentprogram that trains nurses and healthcare workers in primary dentistry
From 2013 to 2019 he was with the Evangelical Medical Fellowship of India (EMFI) heading its Missions Department. He oversaw its various Mission training programs and spearheaded a new initiative called the “Perspective of the Kingdom In Healthcare”. He has a passion for teaching, training and mentoring students and young graduates and has strengths of envisioning and strategic planning
Latha and Him have a 23 year-old daughter Rachel
Sunil serves as one of our Board members and is currently Professor andDepartment Head of Family Medicine at Christian Medical College, Vellore,India. He joined the COGI Board because of his strong commitment to serving God in the health field and his passion for discipleship andmentoring. He is married to Mary, an ENT surgeon, and has two daughters,Joanna and Erica.
Paul has been in healthcare mission for 45 yrs (27yrs in India). Paul trained & qualified in Healthcare Administration In the UK before going to India. He along with his wife Su (Nurse/Midwife/ Counsellor) worked with Emmanuel Hospital Association ()EHA for 13 yrs. Later they have been involved in teaching, Mentoring, leadership training amongst other things.They continued to have an interest in Global Christian Healthcare with a special focus on India. They have a son, daughter & 6 grandchildren living in the UK & Canada.
Dr. Manoj C Jacob serves on the COGI Board and is an Internist further trained in both Geriatric and Palliative Medicine. In 1991, he co-founded and is a past Director of AshaKiran Society and Hospital, an NGO serving the population of South Odisha, India. He is also a past General Secretary of the Evangelical Medical Fellowship of India (EMFI). Currently based in Kochi, Kerala, India, he and his wife, Manju, an Ophthalmologist, have 2 children… daughter Monica, a Clinical Psychologist and son Manonit pursuing medical studies in Coimbatore.
Chuck is a retired business executive having served in chief operating and chief financial roles for multi-national companies headquartered in the United States, Japan, and Hong Kong. In addition to his role as COGI Board Secretary/Treasurer, he has assisted in developing and editing many of our training modules. He and his wife of 40 years live near Boise, Idaho, USA and are broadly involved in their local church and spending time with their 3 children and 6 grandchildren.
Abe is a practicing pediatrician in Northern NJ. After completing medical education in India, Abe and his wife Ruby migrated to USA and has been practicing pediatrics for over 30 years. Other than having the privilege of being the Chairman of the Board of COGI, Abe is the President of US Chapter of Helping Hands for Hospitals an organization to support the needs of mission hospitals. Abe also have served many roles at the The Life Christian Church, West Orange, New Jersey over the past 27 years where he currently serve as a member of elder board (Pastor’s Advisory Council). Abe and Ruby live in East Brunswick, NJ and have two children Ashish and Vivek.
Dr Arun Kumar Gautham is currently working in a Chinchpada Hospital a mission Hospital in Maharastra. He has done his specialization in Anaesthesia. He is married to Alice who is a and they have 2 kids. He has been working in a village called chinchpada in tribal Maharashtra that mainly caters to health needs of Bhil tribal groups. He is a follower of Christ and believes in serving the poor is his calling .
Vineeth is a member of the COGI India Partner Team and currently works as an Assistant professor in General Medicine at Government Medical College Kozhikode, Kerala. His wife DrAnjana is a gynaecologist . They have 3 boys, Thejes, Jeevan and Jyoth.
Chacko is a member of the COGI India Partners Team where he oversees our media department and is a dentist by profession. God has used him to actively lead many student ministry movements at his college and hometown.
Currently living in Kerala with his family, he is committed to teach, train and equip students.
Molly is a member of the COGI India Partner Team and currently works as Consultant and Head of Dermatology, at Herbertpur Christian Hospital a unit of the EHA (Emmanuel Hospital Association) network. She is passionate for the Great Commission and has a heart to establish the Kingdom Of God in the uttermost parts of India and the World. Her Husband Dr. Viju is a Pediatric Surgeon and Medical Director where she works. Their elder daughter is in university and a their son and younger daughter are both in high school.