His parents were members of the Mar Thoma Church, working in tribal areas with no regular income, trusting to God to supply their needs.
[3] He started training as a male nurse/pharmacist at an American Presbyterian Mission Hospital about 800 miles from home, where a Presbyterian pastor inspired him and led him to commit his life to Jesus Christ as Saviour, the start of his personal Christian life.
[2] He graduated in 1955, but renounced the chance to continue his studies because he sensed God was calling him to ministry in India.
He travelled back to Mumbai in August 1955, and the following year he married Dorothy, a committed Christian, pharmacist and alumna of Calvary Bible School, Allahabad.
[citation needed] He became the First Vicar General of St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (STECI) and also acted as President of the Board of Management of Jubilee Memorial Bible College (JMBC) in Chennai.