Kerala Brethren History

Rev. K.V. Simon

1872 Mathai, a CMS Evangelist from Thirunalveli came to Kerala with a novel message in 1872. Anthony Norris Groves, who was one of the founder leaders of Brethren Movement in England, was the first Brethren Missionary to arrive in India. John Arulappan was one of his disciples. Mathai who was a disciple of Arulappan spoke of the death of Jesus Christ, His second coming and millennium regime in his messages. This paved way for the commencement of Brethren movement in Kerala, the place being known as God's own country.

1875 Yusthos Joseph alias Vidwankutty, a tamil Brahmin and CMS priest, along with his fellow brethren started preaching gospel in Kerala. But one his fellow brethren had a 'revelation' that on completing 6 years from the year 1875 Jesus would come. This had become their subject of preaching from then. Being terribly mistaken in this matter, the movement of Vidwankutty had weakened. But his hymns and sermons helped to reach gospel among the Christians in Kerala.

1894 In December 1984, a well-known gospel preacher, Tamil David visited Kerala. He spoke of Assurance of Salvation very evidently in his messages. An eleven year old boy named KV Simon accepted the Lord during one of his meetings held at Puthencavu.

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Gospel for Asia (Athmiya Yathra)

Dr. K.P. Yohannan, founder and president of Gospel for Asia,

B.A. in Biblical Studies at Criswell Bible College in Dallas, Texas, and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Hindustan Bible College in Madras, India.

Born : 1950 Kerala India
Occupation: President of Gospel for Asia ( Athmiya Yathra)
Website : http://www.gfa.org/

The Ceylon Pentecostal Mission. ( T P M )

Pastor Paul FOUNDER (T P M)

According to historian, Somaratna , "The Ceylon Pentecostal Mission owes its origin to the ministry of Walter Clifford." The church was founded by Pastor Paul along with Pastor Alwin R. de Alwis. Pastor Paul was born to Hindu parents in the district of Trichur in Kerala, India. While in Sri Lanka, at the age of 18, he became a Christian. Later, he felt a strong call from the Lord for his life and began to preach and share the gospel in various parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. In the initial stages, he had worked with other evangelists. The CPM espoused an ascetic approach to spirituality.






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The Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC)

Pastor K.E. Abraham Founder Of ( IPC )

The Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC) is the largest indigenous Pentecostal movement in India, with its headquarters at Hebron, Kumbanad, Kerala, India. The movement was established in 1924 and registered on December 9, 1935 at Elluru, Andhra Pradesh, under the Government of India^[1]. K. C. John now serves as the general president, Baby Varghese serves as IPC general vice-president, and T. Valson Abraham as the general secretary. The organization has about 7,500 churches located in over 24 regions and states around the world. However, the state of Kerala, India has the greatest number of IPC churches: nearly 4,600 local
Churches.






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Sharon Fellowship

PASTOR P.J. THOMAS (FOUNDER OF SHARON FELLOWSHIP)

P. J. Thomas, a pastor in the IPC, received a degree from Wheaton College, in Illinois, USA. He returned to establish a new organization, named the Sharon Fellowship Church. Now it has more than 600 local churches India. T. G. Koshy is the successor of this organization. It has a strong emphasis on theological scholarship. It currently has the only Pentecostal accredited seminary (Faith Theological Seminary) that offers post-graduate degrees.






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