It is with great sadness that we advise that Brother M. M. Immanuel, faithful servant of His Lord and Mission Manager for Yesuway Jeevan Mission at Guindy, Chennai, India and Advent Christian General Conference’s National Missionary in India, fell asleep in Jesus Christ on 18 April following hospitalisation with COVID-19 on 31 March.
Below is his obituary, published by Advent Christian General Conference in their E-News dated April 21, 2021.
” Mission Manager, Makizhnan Immanuel, Dies at 72 from COVID-19 ”
Indian Missionary and YJM Mission Manager
Makizhnan Immanuel was born September 24, 1948 into a Christian family. His father was a pastor in a Lutheran Church established by Danish missionaries and his mother worked as a teacher. His father was periodically transferred to different churches, and most of his younger years were spent in the hostels.
After finishing his Bachelor of Commerce (B. Com.) degree, Immanuel was employed in 1970 with the State Bank of India. This was a successful career of 31 years. During his employment, he was elected as an assistant general secretary, and later became the vice president of the Employees Union, which was a very powerful organization during that time.
In December, 1974, Immanuel married a pious and wonderful lady, Margaret Arputha Rani. It was his wife Rani who guided him into the relationship with Jesus that changed his lifestyle. In 2001, his company announced an attractive, voluntary retirement package. After much consideration, he decided to accept the offer. After years of dedication to his job, he decided to retire at 52 and spend time with his family.
Rani insisted that he should be busily engaged. During that time, they were attending an Assemblies of God church and Immanuel joined a house pastors’ course conducted by the church. A few months later, Rani found an advertisement in an English newspaper seeking a clerk position in a Christian organization. There was no mention of the name of the organization or place, only the phone number was available. Rani encouraged him to call. This call eventually led to Immanuel’s position with the American Advent Mission (AAM) through the administrative work of Earl and Martha Wright.
After a few years, some senior missionaries retired and he was asked to take the position of office manager at the AAM Compound. Rev. Jeeva Kiruban, the Indian missionary at that time left the Mission, and Immanuel was given the mission manager position with more responsibilities. In 2009, missionaries left the Indian field and from that time, in association with Field Leader Ernie Schache, based in New Zealand, Immanuel coordinated the Advent Christian ministry in India, including the transition to the new entity, Yesuway Jeevan Mission.
Later, the Department of International Missions commissioned Immanuel as an ACGC missionary. Immanuel faced many struggles with both of our Advent Christian conferences. Submitting annual returns with the Indian government was a horrific experience and dealing with the Indian banks was in his terms, “a nightmare.” His job required versatile knowledge and our Lord guided him well and protected him on many occasions.
Immanuel successfully implemented the Department of International Missions’ strategic decision to establish ministry partnerships with a number of worthy ministries. These have become known as our Yesuway Jeevan Mission ministry partners. Through Immanuel’s encouragement, assistance, and personal visits, the ministry partners have seen significant developments in their ministries. In addition, Immanuel worked closely with the pastors of the Fellowship of Blessed Hope Churches, the newer and smaller Advent Christian conference in India. He encouraged their ministries through practical help, cooperating on various projects, and many personal visits.
Immanuel was reported to have contracted COVID-19 near the end of March. He died from complications caused by the virus on April 18, 2021. The loss of Immanuel will be felt in the deepest of ways. Immanuel is preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Arputha Rani, and is survived by his two daughters and a son – Jennifer, Judy and Jerry, and four grandchildren.”