CSI Church, Kuwait

Christian work in Kuwait began in 1910 when the Arabian Medical Mission of the Reformed Church of America opened a clinic here. The clinic gave way first to a Men's Hospital, and then also one for women. The discovery of oil made this ministry unnecessary, and the hospitals were closed down in 1967. By then the church was well established, and consisted of three language congregations: Arabic, English and Malayalam. These constitute the National Evangelical Church in Kuwait.

The possibility of the C.S.I. members in Kuwait to assemble as a separate group for worship and prayer, was first proposed by (then) Rev. Michael John, when he visited Kuwait in April 1966. As a result, a few families started to meet regularly for worship and fellowship at the residence of Mr. V.S. Mathews. They got the opportunity to move to the American Mission Hospital Activity building, for worship on 12th February 1969.

When Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. M. M. John visited the young congregation in April 1970, he christened the group as St. Peter's C.S.I. congregation. In 1971, the congregation got permission to use the National Evangelical Church for regular worship services on Saturdays.On Saturday, 30th January 1971, the first worship service was conducted in the church. The service was attended by 36 members and the message was delivered by Mr. Joseph George. Thereafter, with the active participation and enthusiastic cooperation of the members, regular worship services were conducted on every Saturday at 7.45 p.m. Rev. Yousuf Abdul Noor of the Arab Congregation, pastors of the English language congregation, St. Paul's Church, Ahmadi and the Mar Thoma Parish and many other visiting Pastors helped us to conduct regular Holy Communion services using the C.S.I. Liturgy.

However, the need for a resident C.S.I. Pastor was greatly felt. A financial support survey was conducted among members and the total promised monthly support amounted to KD. 72.000 which was not very encouraging. A few families came forward and promised to meet the deficit. A General body meeting of the Congregation called on 27th October, 1973, unanimously decided to ask for a Pastor for full time ministry for the congregation. A request to this effect was sent to the Rt. Rev. Dr. M. M. John, Bishop of Madhya Kerala Diocese, to lend the services of a Pastor for the congregation for a period of three years. The Bishop kindly agreed to depute Rev. V.E. Mathai who arrived in Kuwait on the 28th of May, 1974 and took charge of the congregation and continued as Vicar till May 1977. During this period our church expanded in member ship and regular choir and Sunday school were formed Rev. K. Michael John took over as Pastor on the 21st May 1977.

The first confirmation service took place on the 28th of April, 1979 when 16 boys and 7 girls were confirmed by Bishop Rt. Rev. T.S. Joseph. Rev. Michael John's last regular service in our church was on the 3rd of May 1980. Four months later, our congregation was blessed by the arrival of Rev. Philip David who conducted his first service on 27th of September, 1980 and continued as Vicar till 28th of May, 1983. He was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Samuel. It was during Rev. Thomas Samuel's tenure that the new constitution for the congregation was formed and was approved by our General Body at a meeting held on the 26th of May, 1984. Rev. Thomas Samuel continued as vicar of our congregation till the 17th of May 1986. The next Vicar, Rev. Abraham Varkey arrived in Kuwait in 1986 and remained till 1989. Rev. Dr. K.K. Cherian, who arrived in 1989, served as Vicar till the invasion of Kuwait and then joined the K.U.T. Seminary in Trivandrum in 1991. After the liberation of Kuwait Rev. William Abraham took charge as the new vicar in May 1992 and continued his service till April 1995. On 31st, May 1995, Very Rev. T.I. George took over as the Vicar of our congregation and remained till 1998. Next Vicar was Rev. Abraham C. Prakash who served from 1998 to 2001. From 2001, Rev. Sam Samuel took charge as vicar and served till 2004. Our present Vicar, Rev. Jiji Joseph arrived Kuwait on 11th May, 2004 and his first service was on 14th May, 2004.