Here's My Story...

Hi! My name is Alex. [my full name is a mouthful 'Puthenpurackal Alexander George']

The region my parents come from in India are known by their ... House Name, then the name, then whose son you are. But in England my house name became my first name; my name became my second name; and my dad's name became my surname.

My parents are from Kerala, but I was born and raised in Madras [now Chennai]. Can understand both regional languages i.e. Malayalam and Tamil; but can't speak fluently in either. Indian English became my first language.

As a 6 year old I heard a presentation of the Gospel to which I made an immediate response. My family wasn't particularly religious. But we did go to church most Sundays.

At the age of 13, I had the shock of my life when at a random medical check, I was diagnosed of having a skin condition caused by Bacterium Bacillus Leprae [initial stage of leprosy].

Fear and anguish of the possibility of being disfigured & becoming a social outcasts tormented me. I 'm and always will be grateful to God and for this timely medical help. And in 3 years time I was given a clean bill of health. This news as you can imagine came as a great relief.

Since then, I've always felt, I've been given a second chance to live and saw life as 'A Mission' with a mandate from God.

My brother Mathai and I, had started holding weekly meetings ... where we took turns to share with friends and neighbours about the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Which under the watchful eye of our mentor Pastor Basker Dawson [he was brilliant Bible teacher] grew into a church [Cornerstone House Of Prayer, Chennai].

In the meantime ... I graduated from Madras Christian College with a degree in English with Christian Doctrine as my ancillary and also did Discipleship Training Programme with Youth With A Mission [YWAM].

It was during these years, I strongly sensed that God was calling to me serve Him.

It was quite a daunting step for me to take ... as I was at that time working as a salesman selling 'software education programmes' for schools in Southern India.

In 1991, I finally knew the time had come for me to take this bold step of making Christian ministry as my main vocation.

In 1992, God made it possible for me to travel and I served as an itinerant minister. And it was in my travels I met Clare in Bristol. We got married in 1993.

I worked with Christ's Family Church in Brixton as assistant pastor and with the South London Bible College [SLBC] as a visiting lecturer and carried on as an itinerant minister.

In 1995 Clare & I became proud parents of Philip. Having a young family meant certain changes and things

had to be re-organised to be more effective.

In 1997, with the help of Mike, Tom and Jon, we set up a trust [The Final Commission] to continue the on-going work.

It was in the same year Clare and I, were invited to work with Cornerstone Ministries, Cotham, where I continue to serve to date as an assistant minister, working with children, teens and running 'Alpha Courses'.

In 1999 Clare & I were blessed with another handsome son Matthew.

I continue as a trustee of 'The Final Commission' and travel to Chennai, India and raise awareness and support in the United Kingdom.

Despite being busy and I've enjoyed ... I continue to presenting 'thought for the day' for Radio Bristol'; help run a toddler group with Clare for the Elmgrove Centre; serve as a Force Chaplain for the Avon & Somerset Constabulary and do some itinerant speaking!!!