P. J. Thomas, Parackanal

Who was P. J. Thomas, Parackanal?

Rev. Parackanal Joseph Thomas was an Indian pastor.

Born to Pastor John and Saramma Ayyapilla as the second oldest among 5 boys and 4 girls. Pastor Thomas's father Ayyapilla Sar came from a Hindu Brahmin background, came to know the Lord through a native missionary who taught him John 3:16. He attended Seampore University and earned a Diploma in Theology. He became the principal of the IPC free School. Following his marriage to Aleyamma, he left for Australia for higher studies. He went to England from Australia and to the U.S, where he attended Wheaton College and got a Master's degree in Comparative Religion. He taught at Wheaton for a short time before returning to India in 1952. Before he went back to India, he was instrumental in bringing the then three senior Indian Pentecostal Church pastors, Pastor K.E. Abraham, K.C. Cherian, and P.M. Samuel to the U.S. He also traveled with Pastor K.E. Abraham and interpreted for him across the U.S.

Following his return to India, the late Pastor J. Varghese Persuaded him to settle down at Tiruvalla and arranged the purchase and move into the present Sharon property in March 1953. The fame of "Sharon" came with two revival meetings and the opening of the Bible College at Sharon compound. On Nov. 30, 1953 missionaries arrived who conducted 30 days of revival and healing ministry, the last week's attendance was over 100,000 a night. These meeting were conducted without any foreign money only from the free will offering of the people who attended. Hundreds turned to the Lord and were baptized. Many were healed of their illnesses. Rev. John E. Douglas and Rev R. W. Schambach who conducted their revival and healing compound at Sharon compound. With the completion of the Sharon Hall, Sharon Bible College was born in 1955 where several pastors have been trained.