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The Pentecostal Mission

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The Pentecostal Mission (TPM) or New Testament Church (NTC) or Universal Pentecostal Church (UPC) or Ceylon Pentecostal Mission (CPM), is a pentecostal denomination which originated in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. In some countries, the church is known under different names. The international headquarters is now situated in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. This mission was founded in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1923 by Pastor Paul. It now has churches in over 65 countries.

History

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The church was founded by Ramankutty (a.k.a. Pastor Paul) along with Alwin R. de Alwis. Ramankutty 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. He later felt a strong calling from the Lord Jesus Christ for his life and began to preach and share the Christian gospel in various parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. It was through his service that the church was founded in 1923. Even after the death of Ramankutty , Over 95% of the members of this church is constituting people from the Indian Sub-Continent.

Church leadership

Main article: List of Chief Pastors of the Pentecostal Mission

The church is led by a Chief Pastor, who is usually appointed for life. In addition, there is a Deputy Chief Pastor and an Associate Deputy Chief Pastor. Leadership is passed down after death to the next in seniority.

These are the current office holders:

  • Stephen Natarajan (Chief Pastor): July 31, 2015 – present
  • Abraham Mathew (Deputy Chief Pastor): July 31, 2015 – present
  • G. Jayam (Associate Chief Pastor) : March 8, 2014 – present

In the United States most of the church work was pioneered by late Pastor Don M Spiers, who had previously worked closely with Oral Roberts. After the home call of Pastor Don and Pastor Michael Thomas, Pastor Gregory Wilson is heading the ministries in USA and in other Western and African countries. Sis Lisa Billow is the senior sister for the ministry in USA.

Pastor Wesley Peter who was the Chief Pastor of the church died on July 22, 2015. He is succeeded by Pastor Stephen Natarajan.

Doctrines and teachings

The doctrines of the church include: Trinity, New Birth (being born again), Water Baptism, Baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in unknown tongues, Separated life from mortal entertainments and sinful circumstances, Divine Healing, Entire Sanctification (of the Body, Soul and Spirit), Overcoming Life, Consecrated Ministry, Rapture, Great Tribulation, Resurrection, The Millennial Reign, The Great White Throne Judgement, and Eternity.

Followers do not wear jewelry so as to lead a simple life and encourage divine healing rather than depending on medicines. They discourage watching television or visiting cinemas. They preach and teach separation from the worldliness, to prepare themselves for the second coming of Jesus Christ. They give utmost importance to holiness in personal life.

This church believes in elitism and exclusivity of their Clergy. The Clergy in the Indian Sub-continent follows a pattern where they believe that they need to have a separate kitchen and special food than the normal believers. They also have instituted Pastor's Kitchen which serves premium food for the clergy in their conventions.

Criticisms and controversies

Pastor Alwin de Alwis

In 1962, Pastor Alwin de Alwis was excommunicated for sexual immorality. Alwin was probably responsible for the Ceylon Pentecostal Mission's formulation of special teachings that caused its split from other Pentecostal churches. Those teachings were propagated by a series of publications. Some of the current doctrines like celibacy of the clergy and doctrine of Zion were introduced by Alwin. The church has come under criticism for retaining and strictly following the heretical teachings introduced by Alwin.

Murder of Pastor Kanagaraj

In 2016, a pastor in Tuticorin was suspected to have murdered another pastor. There was widespread protest in Tuticorin with believers accusing the church of hiding the perpetrators. Over 50% of people have left the Church's membership because of the leadership's stand in this matter.

FROMTPM.COM

Former members have spoken out against unbiblical doctrines and practices of TPM. In 2016, a website, fromtpm.com was launched to provide a platform for speaking out against the doctrines and practices of TPM. Former pastors have highlighted the poor treatment of sisters within the mission. In addition to the controlling leadership within TPM, they have also banned posting any TPM related information online so as to shield them from criticism. Some have accused the church to be a cult.

Doctrinal Controversies

  • The church advises members to not take part in the Lord's table if they consume medicine.
  • Unmarried men and women who step down for ministry are made to live in the church. This has been the cause for many cases of sexual immorality.
  • Fellowship with other churches is discouraged.
  • Marriage is strictly within members of the church. Those who get married outside the church are excommunicated for a certain period.
  • The church has banned sharing church literature and recordings on the internet.

Church names

In other parts of the world, the church is known by the following names:

International conventions

Annual International Conventions are held at Kottarakara in Kerala, India (February) ; Irumbuliyur in Chennai, India (March); Kokkavila in Chilaw, Sri Lanka (December); and in Ohio, United States (July) and Toronto, Canada (July).

The International Convention in Chennai India takes place in the month of March, the Conventions in the United States and Canada in the month of July, and the International Convention of Sri Lanka in December. The European convention is held in London in the last week of August.

Other significant conventions include Malaysia (June), Singapore (June), Canada (July), Trinidad (July), ElSalvador (July), Germany (July), Switzerland (August), Sierra Leone (August), France (August), Papua New Guinea (September), Fiji (September), New Zealand (September), Australia (September), Nepal (October) and in Dubai – UAE (November).

International Youth Camp

Every year in the last week of November, an International Youth Camp is held at Irumbuliyur in Chennai, India. Each year over 40,000 youths from all over the world attend this meeting and receive blessing.These meeting are usually conducted for 4 days(Thursday to Sunday). It includes sessions like Singing & Worship, Group Activities, FAQs, Bible Studies, Testimonies and Sermons. All these sessions focus on the spiritual growth of youths.

Magazine ministry

Magazines in several languages are printed and distributed to subscribers. The English magazine published from India is called The Voice of Pentecost. Pilgrim's Journal is published and printed in USA. Other English magazines are: "Pentecostal Messenger" from Malaysia, "The Youth Herald" from Singapore, "Power Divine" from Sri Lanka and "Trumpet of the Lord" from the UK.

Malayalam magazine PENTECOST is one of the oldest Pentecostal magazines from Kerala. Hindi edition PENTECOST KI WANI published from New Delhi, PENTECOSTI-CHI VAANI from Mumbai and PENTECOST DA SNEHA from Dhariwal (Punjab) are also other landmark in the history of Church to spread the Gospel to northern part of India. Church Magazines are Being published in more than 40 Indian languages and many other foreign languages.

Tract ministry

Tracts of different kinds and various life issues (topics such as peace, salvation; questions about life and healings) are also published in different languages.

Publications

Many books are published in many languages by the church. The doctrines told on the books are of depth and helps believers to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ. The books tell in detail about Salvation, Water Baptism, Divine healing, Life of Separation and other truths and principles. The Church teaches that their Clergy are the Apostles. Therefore nobody can be caught up in Christ's coming if a person is not under their leadership which they say is "Apostolic Doctrine"

References

  1. "DoT | About". Doctrineoftruth.com. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  2. "Pentecost Voice: Late Pastor Paul'S Funeral Photo & Last Sermon". Voiceofpentecost.blogspot.com. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  3. "Oral Roberts". Futurliner.com. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  4. "PENTECOST VOICE: Basic Doctrines of Christ". Voiceofpentecost.blogspot.com. 28 October 2008. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  5. Michael., Bergunder, (1 January 2008). The South Indian Pentecostal movement in the twentieth century. William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co. ISBN 0802827349. OCLC 84838228.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. "Foul play suspected in death of Thoothukudi priest". dtNext.in. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  7. ""Mystery shrouds death of Pastor"". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  8. Richard Patricks (4 March 2017), TPM Tuticorin Kanagaraj Murder Protest (Part 1), retrieved 5 March 2017
  9. Richard Patricks (4 March 2017), TPM Tuticorin Kanagaraj Murder Protest (Part 2), retrieved 5 March 2017
  10. "Exposing the wolves - Torturing of Sisters - Removing the Mask". Removing the Mask. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  11. "Exposing the wolves – Torturing of Sisters-2 - Removing the Mask". Removing the Mask. 22 February 2017. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  12. "Mind-Control in TPM. Part - I - Removing the Mask". Removing the Mask. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  13. "Universal Pentecostal Church, Brixton (Greater London)". Find a Church. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
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