Sabu Thoppil John

Pastor Sabu T. John was born in Kottayam, Kerala, India on May 15, 1969. He was the fourth child to the late Mr. T.V. John and the late Mrs. Mary John, Thoppil House, Kanam, Vazhoor. His musical gifts and his passion for the Lord Jesus Christ led him to minister to a wide variety of individuals who he impacted in personal ways. He departed this earth on Saturday, November 14, 2020.

Sabu grew up in Kanam and was a fun-loving and charismatic individual. It was here he first displayed his talent for music. After finishing high school, he followed God’s call by dedicating his life to God and attended IFGM Bible School before returning to Kerala and receiving his Bachelors in Theology and Divinity from Faith Theological Seminary, Manakala. He continued his ministry in Bhopal where he worked in different roles but found a love for teaching at IFGM Bible School. He was a favorite of faculty and students alike that marveled at his quick wit and genuine joy, not to mention his famous singing voice. During this time, he also completed his Masters in Sociology. In 1993, he married Pretty Rajan, daughter of late Mr. Rajan Abraham and Mrs. Rachel Rajan, Moozhikkathiyel House, Edayaranmula. The two became inseparable from there on out, with Sabu hesitant to do anything without “his Pretty”. Together they ministered to a diverse group of people that ranged from small remote villages to national conferences. In 1994, they welcomed their daughter Shifa to join their ministry.

In 2001, Sabu and his family immigrated to the United States to be the associate pastor at Praise Tabernacle. He served in the roles of Youth Pastor and Malayalam Worship Pastor for 19 years. Despite the challenges of adjusting to a new home, he quickly made an impact on not only his church but Oklahoma City as a whole. He did this as a musician by forming Majesty’s Voice, which used song and other creative arts to minister to the community. And then, he served with his talents as a teacher becoming a favorite at Oklahoma School of Theology. Beyond just Oklahoma City, he served ministries small and large nationally with his skills in media, especially through professional sound services. Even in his vocation as a respiratory therapist, his calm demeanor, skill, and humor led him to excel while also ministering to everyone he met. In everything he did, he gave God glory and reflected the characteristics of Christ to all he met.

Sabu John lived his life as a testimony to the goodness of God in all circumstances, taking advantage of any and every opportunity to spread the gospel and hope only found in Christ. His life is an example of one lived in joy and his legacy will continue to inspire others to be bold and love Jesus. He’s survived by his wife Pretty, his daughter Shifa, son in law Ryan, as well as his siblings John Varghese (Lalu), John Benny, Elizabeth Mathew (Mini) and Thomas John (Kochumon) along with their spouses and children.

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