Our history
From a village church in 1933 to a family of churches across India.
What we are about
Our yearning is the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry and the edifying of the body of Christ: that the born-again are edified, equipped and perfected in the image of their Creator.
We are engaged in evangelism, church planting, charitable deeds, counselling, teaching, and whatever else is needed to spread the Gospel and expand the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Our primary aim is to work together with the born-again, baptized and Spirit-filled people of God everywhere, to get ready a Holy Nation for the Holy God.
“That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”
The story so far
1933
Pastor J. Johnrose of Eathavilai starts a ministry in Kadamalaikuntu village, Kanyakumari District, and names it Full Gospel Pentecostal Church. It branches out to the Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Coimbatore districts of Tamil Nadu, to Kerala and to Malaysia. A team of evangelists, the Self Denial ministry, and Sunday Schools begin.
1977
Pastor J. Johnrose enters his rest. Pastor N. Thomas, BA BT, of Palliady, an ordained pastor and church worker of FGPC Kattathurai, takes charge. The ministry grows into many more districts of Tamil Nadu.
1985
The former Dharmapuri district is adopted and ministries begin there.
1990
Missionary work begins in Uttar Pradesh and spreads to many other states. Work in Nepal also begins.
Growing in order
Boards are set up for Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Youth, the Self Denial ministry, Ministers Training, the Retreat Centre, Charitable Institutions, Literature, Audio & Video, Missionary work and Public Relations. Churches are organised into Centres, Regions and the Head Office for effective administration. Workers’ meetings, weekly prayer for pastors, and annual three-day fasting prayers in South and North India begin. An FGPC Diary and Calendar are published every year. Local churches keep membership, accounts and visitors’ registers, the original land documents are held at the Head Office, and the Head Office gets paid staff.
Land for the work
Ten acres at Rajapudur in Tirunelveli District become the retreat centre Carmel Nagar, and one acre at Harkansgadi near Lucknow becomes the FGPC Ashram. Regular ministers’ training courses begin: C Min for men and C C Min for women.
2002
Pastor N. Thomas enters his rest on 16 March. Pastor I. Vinil Sathish, AME, of Nagercoil, an ordained pastor of FGPC Kadamalaikuntu and its Centre pastor, takes charge on 17 March.