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The Pentecostal Mission

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Revision as of 05:20, 11 January 2018 by 117.218.236.198 (talk) (→Pastor Alwin De Alwis)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) This article is about The Pentecostal Mission/New Testament Church (NTC)(20th century). For the century Pentecostal Mission holiness denomination, see Pentecostal Mission.

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 Pastor Paul (Ramankutty). 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 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 based on spiritual urge.

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.

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. TPM/NTC teaches and encourages "divine healing" rather than mainstream medicine. The full-time workers in the church will generally believe this to the point of DEATH by not going to hospitals or doctors. They believe this is their "home calling". They will even go so far as to employ grifters to pull the wool over the eyes of their "flock". Believing that their rules and regulations prevent the believer from being trapped in the world, they avoid wearing makeup or jewelry and are opposed to any kind of prosperity (unless it benefits the "faith home" directly, so as to lead a "simple life", and discourage watching television, video games, movies. and any other entertainment though to be "of the world". They preach and teach separation from the world in order to prepare for the second coming of Christ.

Church services are held at minimum 3 times a week(Wednesday Bible Study, Saturday Tarry Meeting, and Sunday Service) in most areas.

On Sunday, the church holds Sunday School, where parents teach other assigned children about the Bible and church doctrines. There are weekly tests, a midterm, and a final exam based on the curriculum taught each week.

Criticisms and controversies

  • Followers of other christian denominations argue that TPM teaches Only TPM ministers form part of the 144,000 that will spend eternity near Christ on Mount Zion. But TPM only teaches the doctrine of bible from the revelation 14:1-5, (14 Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion,and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder.The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. 3 And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they remained virgins.They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among mankind and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. 5 No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless.

) The one who will be in this standard will be there in Zion. This is the teaching of TPM.

  • Other Chistian denomination argues that TPM bans members from attending other denominations and the church refuses contact with all other Pentecostal churches and has a whole range of extremely radical and church dividing exclusive doctrines. But TPM never ban it. TPM advice the members to do so if they can. Because the doctrines in other Pentecostal denomination is different from TPM.

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 Pennsylvania, United States (July) and Toronto, Ontario, 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.

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.

See also

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. "Basic Doctrines of Christ". PENTECOST VOICE. 28 October 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  5. Bergunder, Michael (6 June 2008). The South Indian Pentecostal Movement in the Twentieth Century. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 978-0-8028-2734-0.
  6. Anderson, Allan; Tang, Edmond (1 January 2005). Asian and Pentecostal: The Charismatic Face of Christianity in Asia. OCMS. ISBN 978-1-870345-43-9.
  7. Bergunder, Michael. The South Indian Pentecostal Movement in the Twentieth Century. William B Eerdmans Publishing Co. pp. 42, 43. ISBN 0-8028-2734-9.
  8. Bergunder, Michael. The South Indian Pentecostal Movement in the Twentieth Century. William B Eerdmans Publishing Co. p. 64. ISBN 0-8028-2734-9.
  9. www.site5.com. "Church Contacts in Sri Lanka | WORD WILL SAVE". wordwillsave.com. Retrieved 28 December 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. "Universal Pentecostal Church, Brixton (Greater London)". Find a Church. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
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