The Pentecostal Mission

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The Pentecostal Mission, formerly known as Ceylon Pentecostal Mission, is one of the largest indigenous pentecostal christian denominations in the world with a population of at least 6.7 million. [1] The international headquarters is situated in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The mission was founded in Colombo, Sri Lanka by a Hindu convert Ramankutty alias Pastor Paul in 1923. Over the years, the church spread to many parts of Sri Lanka and India and later to the Americas, Europe, Africa, Caribbean Islands, Middle East, South Asia, Australia and neighbouring islands.

On Monday, November 6, 2006, Pastor T.U Thomas died in India while serving as the Chief Pastor of the TPM ministry.

Pastor Wilson Joseph succeeded Pastor T.U. Thomas as the Chief Pastor and Pastors Wesley and Joy Fitch as Deputy/Associate Pastors.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Conversion of Pastor Paul

Paul was born in the year 1881 to Hindu parents in the district of Trichur in Kerala, a southern state in India. While in Sri Lanka, at the age of 18, he became a Christian and a follower of Jesus Christ. From then on Ramankutty dedicated himself to praying to and meditating on Jesus Christ without the knowledge of his parents.

Then in the year 1902, according to Ramankutty, at the age of twenty two, he had a personal spiritual encounter with Jesus. He no more was a hidden Christian but he openly confessed about his faith in Jesus and was baptized in the name of the Father, Son and of the Holy Ghost. At baptism he was given the name Paul.

[edit] Origin of Ceylon Pentecostal Mission

Later, according to Paul, he felt a strong call from the Lord for his life and began to preach and share the gospel in various parts of Kerala, Tamilnadu and Sri Lanka. In the initial stages he was helping Robert F. Cook, a foreign evangelist in interpreting the gospel in South Indian languages. Later, Paul felt that he had been called for a higher calling and so he obeyed the Lord in doing so according to the revelation that he received from God and founded the Ceylon Pentecostal Mission in 1923. He died in the year 1948.Paul Ramankutty served as the founder and chief pastor of this church.

[edit] Name Change and Expansion

In the year 1983,due to the LTTE movement in Sri Lanka, issues arose with the name "Ceylon Pentecostal Mission" and therefore had to be changed to The Pentecostal Mission (TPM). Today the church is known by different names in different countries, but all stand under the name of "The Pentecostal Mission". In the United States the church is known as "New Testament Church" and is head quartered in Newark, New Jersey. It has its annual convention in July at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. In the United Kingdom it is known as "Universal Pentecostal Church". In other parts of the world, the church is known by the following names:


  • Eglise de Pentecote Primitive – France
  • Grace New Covenant Pentecostal Church – Canada
  • New Covenant Pentecostal Church – Australia
  • New Testament Church – Nepal
  • New Testament Church – Fiji
  • Iglesia del Nueva Testamento – Mexico
  • New Testament Church - Kenya
  • Neue Testament Kirche – Germany
  • The Universal Pentecostal Church - Nigeria
  • New Testament Church - Middle East, HQ Dubai

[edit] Other Branches

[edit] Leadership and Ministry

The leadership of this church is very different from other churches. Three elders, namely the Chief Pastor, followed by one Assistant or Deputy Chief Pastor and one Associate Chief Pastor are in charge of this worldwide ministry. They ordain Center Pastors in charge of regional churches. Every regional center oversees several local assemblies. Another senior minister is ordained to oversee the work in the Americas and Europe. Candidates choosing to serve in the full time ministry are selected and ordained by laying on of hands by the Chief Pastors, said to be under the direction and anointing of the Holy Spirit. While most of the ministers are celibates, a few married couples answer the call to full time ministry too. In India and other Asian countries the ministers are easily identified by their white attire. In the western countries they adopted a formal western attire.

[edit] Present Leadership

  • Pastor F.Wilson Joseph (Chief Pastor)
  • Pastor Wesley Peter (Deputy Chief Pastor)
  • Pastor Joy Fitch (Associate Chief Pastor)
  • Pastor Michael Thomas (Senior Pastor, USA & Canada, etc.)


[edit] Doctrines and teachings

The doctrines of the church include: Trinity, New Birth, Water Baptism, Baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in unknown tongues, Seperation, Divine Healing, Entire Sanctification (of the Body, Soul and Spirit), Overcoming Life, Consecrated Ministry, Perfection, Select Rapture, Tribulation and Great Tribulation, Resurrection, The Millenmial Reign, The Great White Throne Judgement, and Eternity.

[edit] Basic Doctrines

1. There is one God, eternally existent as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

2. The Bible is God's only inspired, written, Word to mankind - trustworthy, authoritative, and infallible.

3. The work of redemption by Jesus Christ - His virgin birth, atoning death, burial, and resurrection - is complete and prefect. Salvation (new birth) must be preceded by sincere repentence toward God and faith in Christ as risen Savior and Lord.

4. Water Baptism by immersion is mandatory for all who have been cleansed by the blood of Christ, and provides a further work of grace in the believer's life.

5. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in tongues, is the promise of the Father for all of His children. Only through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit can the believer live a life of true holiness and victory over the flesh, the world, and the devil.

6. Jesus Christ is coming back soon for a "glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle." Only those who are thus prepared, those who ardently love His appearing, will be caught up to reign with Him as His Bride.

7. There will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust - the one to eternal life, other to eternal damnation.

[edit] International Conventions

The International convention is held in Tamil Nadu every year and people from all over the world participate in this event. One of the largest pentecostal conventions in India takes place here every March/April, where a crowd of over 100,000 worshipers attend for a single meeting. All the people who come are freely fed three square meals a day and basic accommodations are provided free of cost for 5 days.

Every year in the month of November an International Youth Camp is held in the same place Irumbuliyur , Chennai, India. Young people converge in this place from different parts of the world.

[edit] Other Activities

The church has a Magazine ministry where magazines in several languages are printed and distributed to subscribers. The English magazine published from India is called Voice of Pentecost. Pilgrims Journal is another magazine which is published and printed in USA.

[edit] New Testament Christian Academy

In the year 2002 the church opened an academy known as "New Testament Christian Academy" in Sierra Leone where an experienced teacher and few church believers from the church school in Canada were sent to train teachers to set up the school. The school now has a staff of 13, teaching 57 children from grade K-4 to grade 6.The children from the Congo Cross and Wilberforce assemlies of this church attend the school. The church says "It is a great blessing from the Lord".

[edit] Tract Ministry

Tracts of different kinds and various life issues are also published and printed in Chennai , India where the headquarters is situated. These tracts address topics like Peace, questions about life and about healings.

[edit] Publications

Other than Voice of Pentecost and Pilgrims Journal there are also a lot of books being published by the church to let them know the truths and belief's of this church. The following are some of the publications:

  • Biography of Pastor Paul Ramankutty (also includes biographies of other Pastor's after Pastor Paul)
  • Divine healing
  • The Second Coming of Christ
  • Baptism of the Holy Spirit
  • Anointing of the Holy Spirit
  • God, Angels and Man
  • Repentance
  • Morning Manna (daily devotional)
  • The life of Joseph
  • The Sweetness of Psalms 23

[edit] List of Chief Pastors

Main article: Chief Pastors

List of Chief Pastors from Pastor Paul founder of TPM/CPM / NTC / UPC

  • Pastor Paul Ramankutty (Founder and Chief Pastor) 1923 - 1945
  • Pastor Alwin R. de Alwis 1945 -1962
  • Pastor Freddy Paul 1962 - 1973
  • Pastor A .C. Thomas 1973 - 1976
  • Pastor Jacob Ratnasingham 1976 - 1990
  • Pastor V. G. Samuel 1990 - 1991
  • Pastor H. Ernest Paul 1991 - 1994
  • Pastor C .K. Lazarus 1994 - 1999
  • Pastor P .M. Thomas 1999 - 2001
  • Pastor T.U.Thomas 2001 - 2006
  • Pastor F. Wilson Joseph (Present Chief Pastor)

List of all the chief pastor's and other pastors of TPM or NTC. Chief Pastors

[edit] Also See


[edit] References

  • Biography of Pastor Paul - TPM
  • Origins of the Pentecostal Mission in Sri Lanka - Somaratna, G.P.V.
   http://www.mergingcurrents.com/book.php?StartsWith=O&BookSKU=3459
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