The Pentecostal Mission

The Pentecostal Mission (TPM) or New Testament Church (NTC) in the United States or Universal Pentecostal Church (UPC) in the United Kingdom is a Pentecostal denomination that was founded in Colombo, British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1923. The global headquarters is currently located in Irumbuliyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It currently has churches in more than 65 countries under different names, with over 1,500 faith homes (churches) worldwide. This church now has millions of members. It was previously known as the Ceylon Pentecostal Mission (CPM).^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

History

The church was founded by Pastor Paul Ramankutty, who 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. Later, he felt a strong call and began to preach and share the gospel in. In 1923 he founded the church with the name Ceylon Pentecostal Mission.

Later, due to the civil war in Sri Lanka, all Indian assignments which were called CPM (Ceylon Pentecostal Mission) were changed to TPM (The Pentecostal Mission). CPM headquarters is at Mattakkuliya in Colombo, Sri Lanka and TPM headquarters is at Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. But for all purposes TPM church is known as both CPM and TPM interchangeably in many parts of the World. ^[5]

School

The congregation in Sri Lanka operates a school for secular studies known as C.P.M Faith School in Wattala in Colombo. There is also Faith school known as Christian school in Yonkers, New York and in Newark, New Jersey. There is also one Christian school in Africa.

Church leadership

The church is led by a Chief Pastor (currently Pastor Abraham Mathew). In addition, there is a Deputy Chief Pastor (currently Pastor M.T. Thomas) and an Associate Deputy Chief Pastor (currently Pastor G. Jeyam).

In the United States, most of the church work was pioneered by the late Pastor Don M Spiers, who had previously worked closely with Oral Roberts.^[6] Pastor Gregg Wilson now heads the work in USA and countries around the USA. He is assisted by the sister-in-charge, Sister Lisa Billow.

Full-time ministers are expected to practice an ascetic lifestyle including celibacy, obedience to the elder pastors, and communal living (including disposal of private possessions) in faith homes.^{[clarification needed]} TPM churches are run by full-time ministers who are celibate and predominantly single. Married couples who enter full-time ministry can^{[clarification needed]} become celibate and may be sent to different locations by the TPM leadership if they so choose.

Church names

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

The Pentecostal Mission (TPM) - India (International HQ in Irumbuliyur Chennai, India)
New Testament Church (NTC) - United States (HQ in Newark, New Jersey)
Universal Pentecostal Church (UPC) - Great Britain (HQ in Brixton, London)
Ceylon Pentecostal Mission (CPM) - Sri Lanka (HQ in Mattakuliya, Srilanka)
Eglise de Pentecote Primitive – France
Grace New Covenant Pentecostal Church – Canada
New Testament Church – Trinidad & Tobago
Iglesia Communion Cristiana – Puerto Rico
Iglesia Communion Cristiana – Dominican Republic
New Testament Church – Sierra Leone
New Covenant Pentecostal Church – Australia
New Testament Church - New Zealand
New Testament Church– Papua New Guinea
New Testament Church – Nepal
New Covenant Pentecostal Church – Fiji
Iglesia del Nueva Testamento – Mexico
Iglesia Communion Cristiana – El Salvador
Iglesia Communion Cristiana – Costa Rica
New Testament Church - Kenya
Christliche Gnaden Gemeinde – Switzerland
Neue Testament Kirche – Germany
The Universal Pentecostal Church - Nigeria
Pentecostal Church of Malaysia
Pentecostal Church of Singapore
New Testament Church - Middle East (Dubai, UAE)
New Testament Pentecostal Mission - Uganda
New Covenant Pentecostal Church - Philippines
Universal Pentecostal Church - Hongkong
New Testament Mission - Cyprus
Deeper Truth Pentecostal Mission - Ghana
Iglesia Communion Cristiana - Colombia
Iglesia Del Nuevo Testamento - Democratic Republic of the Congo
Eglise Universelle De Pentecote Primitive - Republic of the Congo
New Testament Ministries - Malawi
New Covenant Mission - Tanzania
Eglise Pentecostiste Lagrace - Togo
New Testament Church - Abu Dhabi( UAE Capital City)
New Testament Church - Oman
New Testament Church - Bahrain
New Testament Church - Qatar
New Testament Church - Kuwait
Ny Testamente Menighed - Denmark
Universal Pentecostal Church - Republic Of Ireland
Chiesa del Nuovo Testamento - Italy

OTHER BRANCHES IN

Brazil
Ecuador
Zambia
Rwanda
Guinea
Zimbabwe
Cameroon
Mauritius
Jamaica
Seychelles
Haiti
Guadeloupe
Nicaragua
South Africa
Gambia
Ivory Coast
Honduras
Abu Dhabi

Doctrines and teachings

The doctrines of the church broadly align with trinitarian Pentecostalism.^[7]

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

Magazine ministry

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

Church Magazines are being published in more than forty Indian languages and other foreign languages. Malayalam magazine Pentecost is one of the oldest Pentecostal magazines from Kerala. A Hindi edition of Pentecost Ki Wani published from New Delhi, a Tamil edition named Pentecost in Peroli from Irumbuliyur (Chennai), Pentecost-Chi Vaani from Mumbai, "Kadavari varshapu dwani" from Hyderabad, and Pentecost Da Sneha from Dhariwal (Punjab) are also produced.

Current Leading Chief Pastors

Pastor Abraham Mathew (Chief Pastor) 2018 –present

Pastor M.T Thomas (Deputy Chief Pastor) 2018 - present

Pastor G. Jayam (Associate Deputy Chief Pastor) 2014 - present

List of late Chief Pastors

Late Pastor Paul Ramankutty (Founder and Chief Pastor) 1923 - 1945

Late Pastor Alwin R. de Alwis 1945 - 1962

Late Pastor Freddy Paul 1962 - 1973

Late Pastor A. C. Thomas 1973 - 1976

Late Pastor Jacob Ratnasingham 1976 - 1990

Late Pastor V. G. Samuel 1990 - 1991

Late Pastor H. Ernest Paul 1991 - 1994

Late Pastor C. K. Lazarus 1994 - 1999

Late Pastor P. M. Thomas 1999 - 2001

Late Pastor T. U. Thomas 2001 - 2006
Late Pastor Wilson Joseph 2006 - 2014
Late Pastor Wesley Peter 2014 - 2015
Late Pastor Stephan Natarajan 2015 - 2018

Late Associate/ Deputy Chief Pastors

Late Pastor C. John (Deputy Chief Pastor 1973-1977)

Late Pastor S.B. Earnest (Deputy Chief Pastor 1976-1987)

Late Pastor Philip Chandapillai (Associate Deputy Chief Pastor 1977-1984)

Late Pastor T. Geevarghese (Associate Deputy Chief Pastor 1984-1986)

Late Pastor Don M. Spiers (Associate Deputy Chief Pastor 1987-2004)

Late Pastor Joy Fitch (Associate Deputy Chief Pastor 2006-2011)

References

^ O'Callaghan, Laura (10 November 2018). "CHRISTIANITY CRACKDOWN: Huge crowd of 100 attacks prayer meeting". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
^ Tan-Chow, M.L. (2016). Pentecostal Theology for the Twenty-First Century: Engaging with Multi-Faith Singapore. Routledge New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology and Biblical Studies. Taylor & Francis. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-317-08263-7. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
^ Anderson, A. (2004). An Introduction to Pentecostalism: Global Charismatic Christianity. Cambridge University Press. p. 127. ISBN 978-0-521-53280-8. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
^ Hedlund, Roger E. "Critique of Pentecostal Mission by a Friendly Evangelical" (PDF). Retrieved 15 April 2024.
^ "DoT | About". Doctrineoftruth.com. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
^ "Oral Roberts". Futurliner.com. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
^ "Basic Doctrines of Christ". PENTECOST VOICE. 28 October 2008. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2017.

[OCallaghan_2018_l640-1] O'Callaghan, Laura (10 November 2018). "CHRISTIANITY CRACKDOWN: Huge crowd of 100 attacks prayer meeting". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2024.

[Tan-Chow_2016_p._18-2] Tan-Chow, M.L. (2016). Pentecostal Theology for the Twenty-First Century: Engaging with Multi-Faith Singapore. Routledge New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology and Biblical Studies. Taylor & Francis. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-317-08263-7. Retrieved 15 April 2024.

[Anderson_2004_p._127-3] Anderson, A. (2004). An Introduction to Pentecostalism: Global Charismatic Christianity. Cambridge University Press. p. 127. ISBN 978-0-521-53280-8. Retrieved 15 April 2024.

[Anon._s766-4] Hedlund, Roger E. "Critique of Pentecostal Mission by a Friendly Evangelical" (PDF). Retrieved 15 April 2024.

[5] "DoT | About". Doctrineoftruth.com. Retrieved 19 October 2013.

[6] "Oral Roberts". Futurliner.com. Retrieved 19 October 2013.

[7] "Basic Doctrines of Christ". PENTECOST VOICE. 28 October 2008. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2017.

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