What is the Brother Manuel Ministries (BMM), whose actions at the Khar Gymkhana caused the club to suspend Jemimah Rodrigues, a cricket player whose father had held religious services there?
The evangelist organization was started thirty years ago by Manuel Mergulhao, a native of Bandra. The organization's offices are located on Bandra's Waroda Road. 'To gain souls via the healing gospel of Jesus Christ' is its objective, and its website promotes this goal. According to the group's website, 40% of the city's 12.5 million residents live in poverty, despite recent economic progress, and the need for resurrection is urgent.
" Use every modern means available to us to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world" is one of its tenets.
These religious ministries' views are founded on a basic interpretation of the bible and a belief in just Jesus Christ, in addition to the fact that they are not associated with mainstream churches. They sing the gospels and dance throughout their services. According to members of regular churches who have separated themselves from these groups, people are drawn to this unofficial style of worship. These churches are viewed as a departure from the Catholic Church by its members.
"The praise and worship sessions of these underground churches, as I refer to them, are attracting non-Christians to join them. Conversions and other issues are harming the Catholic Church's reputation in India. Therefore, it is necessary to inform people about the actions they conduct in the name of the Lord," media strategist David Vaz stated.
The organization doesn't promote healing as one of its offerings. The maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil, and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013 permits the prosecution of such accusations. Testimonials of persons who have attended the sessions and reported relief from severe bouts of COVID-19, pain, gynecological disorders, frozen shoulders, financial difficulties, and substance addiction may be found on BMM's websites.
They have a 'Retreat House' in Rajavli, Vasai, and are looking for donations to build a prayer hall, according to their website. According to reports, the cricketer's father, Ivan Rodrigues, has coordinated the group's more than 30 meetings at the Khar Gymkhana since 2023. Before the activities moved to Khar Gymkhana, regular gatherings were held at Bandra Reclamation's Rangsharda Hall. They also provide Christian holy site excursions in Israel.
We were informed that the number was for scheduling a prayer when this publication contacted the organization. The organization sent us a statement regarding the Khar Gymkhana scandal, but we never heard back. Regarding the scandal, the Rodrigues family has remained silent. According to the Khar Gymkhana, the club was unaware of the type of meetings that the BMM was hosting. According to the club, religious activities on the property are forbidden under its statutes. "We didn't go inside for the meetings. How can we know what was going on inside, then? We are not a watchdog; we are just a sporting club. "As soon as we learned about it, we took action," the club's president, vivek Devnani, stated.
According to the BMM, it began with 50 members and today serves thousands with the "divine purpose" of opening a little store a yard from hell to win back lost souls for the Lord. Claims of healing illnesses through prayers and supernatural power may be subject to provisions of the 2013 law, according to Nandkishore Takashilkar of the maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, a group of rationalists. "Illnesses cannot be healed by prayer. "I can challenge these groups to cure a patient who has a serious illness or disability," Takashilkar added.
The evangelist organization was started thirty years ago by Manuel Mergulhao, a native of Bandra. The organization's offices are located on Bandra's Waroda Road. 'To gain souls via the healing gospel of Jesus Christ' is its objective, and its website promotes this goal. According to the group's website, 40% of the city's 12.5 million residents live in poverty, despite recent economic progress, and the need for resurrection is urgent.
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