The Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC) is the largest indigenous Pentecostal denomination in India. The Christian movement in India was pioneered by the disciple of Lord Jesus Christ, Thomas the Apostle, who traveled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, traveling as far as India. According to tradition, the Apostle reached Muziris, India in 52 AD and baptized several people. The origins of the Indian Pentecostal Church of God can be traced back to the Pentecostal movement in India to the early 20th century and the church has been growing ever since. The great revival of the twentieth century broke out in Central Travancore among the traditional Christian churches. As a result of the movement of the Holy Spirit, several congregations and prayer fellowships evolved under various independent leaderships in Malankara.
The chief architect and the founder of IPC was Pastor K.E.Abraham, a powerful orator and writer. Pastor K.E. Abraham received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in 1923. Apostle P. M. Samuel, Pastor T. G. Oommen, Pastor K.C.Cherian, Pastor P.T.Chacko, Pastor K.C.Oommen, Pastor P.T. Mathew and many others were also filled with the Holy Spirit in Nineteen Twenties. Gradually a fellowship was formed by these independent leaders and the first united Convention was held at Ranny in 1925 April. These fathers of faith, In 1935 registered ‘The Indian Pentecostal Church of God’ as a Religious Society at Eluru, Andhra Pradesh. The First President was Apostle P.M.Samuel. Presently, IPC has over 12000 congregations around the world. Administrative headquarters is at Hebron, Kumbanadu, Kerala, India.
The local churches belonging to this movement span the length and breadth of India as well as countries outside India in North America, Middle-East, Europe and Australia. The local churches under IPC are by origin, administration and its practices truly indigenous and are led by local ministers and leaders. The current executives are Pr. Dr. T. Valson Abraham (General President), Pr. Dr. Philip P Thomas (General Vice-President), Pr. Dr. Baby Varghese (General Secretary), Pr. Thomas George (General Joint Secretary- Pastor), Dr. Kachanathu Varkey Abraham (General Joint Secretary- Believers), Dr. John Joseph (General Treasurer).
The Statement of Faith articulates both an evangelical and Pentecostal doctrinal position with Wesleyan influences. The following is a summary of the Statement of Faith:
The Church believes that the Holy Bible consisting of sixty-six books including the Old and the New Testament, is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to Man, concerning the will of God in all things necessary to our faith, conduct and salvation, so that whatever is not contained therein is not to be enjoined as an article of faith.
The Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC) is the largest Pentecostal organization in India. Its headquarters is situated in Kumbanadu, in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. It has about eight thousand local churches spread over all states of India, besides the Middle East, America, Europe, Australia and Africa and so on.
The first half of the twentieth century was a period, in which the Malankara Christianity was being prepared to witness a major spiritual momentum, thanks to its noble Christian heritage, and with the advent of renewal movements such as the Mar Thoma, the Breatheren…
The India Pentecostal Church of God (IPC) is the largest Pentecostal denomination in India. First united Convention was held at Ranny in April, 1925.
The India Pentecostal Church of God was registered in 1935 as a Religious Society at Eluru, Andhra Pradesh and first President was Apostle P.M.Samuel.