Thomson K. Mathew, D.Min., Ed.D.
Dr. Mathew is professor of Pastoral Care
and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Graduate School of
Theology and Missions at Oral Roberts University. He graduated
from Kerala University in 1971 and came to the US in 1972. He
received the Master of Divinity (1975) and Master of Sacred
Theology (1977) degrees from Yale University. He holds two
doctorates - a Doctor of Ministry degree from Oral Roberts University
(1986) and a Doctor of Education degree from Oklahoma State
University (1992). Following his ordination in 1976, he pastored a
church in Connecticut for five years. He joined the Oral Roberts
Ministry in 1981 as a chaplain at the City of Faith Medical Center of
Tulsa. He has served on the faculty of Oral Roberts University for
several years. He is a fellow of the College of Chaplains and a
clinical member of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education.
He has received several awards, including the Indian Pentecostal
Writers' Award (1994) and ORU Outstanding Faculty Award (1995).
Mathew and his wife, Molly, have two daughters.
Articles by this Author
American Keralite Churches Must Hire Theology Graduates of US Schools
- By Thomson K. Mathew, D.Min., Ed.D.
- Published 01/21/2009
- Indian Christian
-
Rating:
When I graduated from Yale University Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut in 1975, there were no Indian Pentecostal churches in the state of Connecticut to ordain me or to hire me. People like me who remained in America after their education sought ordination and ministry positions in American churches. Things have drastically changed since then. Today there are hundreds of Keralite Pentecostal churches and tens of thousands of believers across America. Most of these churches are pastored by ministers born, raised and, in most cases, trained in India. As the American churches are raising a second generation of Keralite believers, these pastors are working hard to meet the changing needs of their congregations.
Ministering to Young People of Indian Origin
- By Thomson K. Mathew, D.Min., Ed.D.
- Published 01/7/2009
- Youth
- Unrated
MINISTERING TO YOUNG PEOPLE anywhere is a challenging task. It is even
more so among immigrant Indians in the United States. Individuals who
have attempted to minister to Indian Christian youth in the US will all
agree that traditional youth ministry methods practiced in India will
not be most effective; only a contextual understanding of their unique
needs and issues and special grace of the Lord can enable an effective
ministry.