UPC India History
BRIEF HISTORY OF UNITED PENTECOTAL CHURCH IN INDIA
The BIBLE doctrine of ONE GOD and baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ was first brought to India in the first century by Apostle Thomas, who was one of the disciples of the Lord, who died as martyr and his tomb is at Santhome at Chennai. He preached first in Kerala and then in Tamilnadu, But the truth was kept under dark after third century till nineteenth century.
After the formation of the United Pentecostal Church International in 1945 with the Head Quarters at St.Luis in USA, Bro.Ellis L.Scim and his wife Sis.Majure Scism were sent to India as a missionary in 1949.He landed at Madras (Chennai) went to Kodaikanal and then moved to Adoor in Kerala.
Before the Scisms came to Kerala, Sis. Elizabeth Simmat who was from USA, had came to India in 1942 as a missionary from the Pentecostal Assembly of the World. She had started just a few churches in Kerala around Kanakapalam in Ranny& Erumeli area and also around Adoor area, with the help of Pastor Kottanthara Koshy and Pastor T.M.Mathew.
Then, when Bro. E.L. Scism came to Adoor, PAW work was merged with the UPC having Sis.Simmat gave the entire responsibility to Bro.E.L.Scism. Work continued to grow afterwards. Pastor T.M.Mathew, Pastor M.Joseph, and Pastor T.Samuel are some of the Pastors who helped Bro.E.L.Scism & Sis.Scism to start new churches in Kerala. Scism’s children were at Kodai School for education & Bro.E.L.Scism went to Assam, Aizwal and started the work under the leadership of Bro.Zachamlova and Bro. Lethansung. In those days he had travelled by train up to Calcutta and from there on by river ( boat) .His visits in North East India has produced good result .His work in North East India spread to hilly states such as Manipur ,Aizwal , Assam & Meghalaya .
In the mean time Bro.E.L.Scism fell sick several times, having undergone many surgeries. Later on the work was divided into two units, namely India & North East India unit. Within this time Bro.Scism worked hard for the formation of the organization having made a constitution .This constitution was effective for both units. Bro.E.L.Scism after Ordination became the First General Superintendent of both India and North East India units.
In 1956, with the financial help of Sis.Simmet, Rev.E.L.Scism bought the Missions Compound with the Bungalow therein at Adoor and made their permanent stay there. In 1957 the ambition of Rev.E.L.Scism was fulfilled by the establishment of the UPC Bible Collage in the Missions Compound at Adoor in which, students from both the units were trained. In early 1959, Bro.Harry Scism (the son of Bro.E.L.Scism) & his wife Andreine H. Scism went to North India for language study at Zandere. After the language studies Bro & Sis Harry were engaged in the North India ministry having their stay at 89, Malaviya Nagar, Bhopal. This is how they started the work in Madhya Pradesh at Intekeri (1961) Indore, and Ujjain were the main places.
During this time (1948) Bro.George Shalm and his wife Sis. Margret Shalm who were from Canada stayed at Kodaikanal as a Trinitarian missionary of Apostolic Church of Pentecost Canada, had the chance to met Rev.E.L.Scism in 1949 and through him Bro.Shalm came to know about the Oneness Doctrine and resigned from ACOP and with the recommendation of Rev.E.L.Scism, Bro.Shalm joined the UPC and started to establish the UPC work in Tamilnadu area. Through him Pastor V.Jeyaraj joined with UPC.
During this time on 30.09.1961, the Church was registered as a Religious and Charitable Society, at the Registrar office at Madurai in under the societies act of Govt.of Tamilnadu, with the head quarters at Kodaikanal and became the registered church in India, under the registered title “United Pentecostal Church in India”
When Rev.E.L.Scism was seriously ill, Bro.Harry took over as the General Superintendent. When Bro .Harry became the R.F.S, Bro & Sis .George Shalm became the Superintendent, and they continued till 1972.
After the Shalms left India, Pastor.M.Joseph was appointed as the General Superintendent of India unit. And resided at Kodaikanal from 1972 onwards. He continued till 1975. After Pr.M.Joseph, Pr.Solomon Isaac, Pr.Victor Hobday, Pr.P.George, Pr.P.K.Chaudhary and Pr.V.P.Mathew were holding the office of the General Superintendent. From July 2010 onwards Pr.D.Jothi Raja Singh is the present General Superintendent.
United Pentecostal Church in India is governed by the Executive Board and the General Superintendent is the Chairman of the Board and Chief functionary of the Church of India unit and the society. The board members are the Asst.General Superintendent, General Secretary, General Treasurer, District Presbyters of 6 regions of whole India, General Missions Director, General Youth Dept.President, and the General Sunday School Director.
Present Executive Board Members: (2010-2013)
1. Pastor D.Jothi Raja Singh, (General Superintendent)
2. Pastor John Samuel, (Asst.General Superintendent)
3. Pastor D.George, (General Secretary)
4. Pastor T.J.Veslikutty, (General Treasurer)
5. Pastor T.J.Veslikutty, (Presbyter, Southern Dist – Kerala)
6. Pastor R.Jesuraj, (Presbyter, Eastern Dist – Tamilnadu)
7. Pastor Vinayak Shirsat, (Presbyter, North Central Dist)
8. Pastor D George, (Presbyter, Western Dist)
9. Pastor Y.Alexander, (General Missions Dept)
10. Pastor K.C.John, (General Youth Dept)
11. Pastor N.P.Solomon, (General Sunday School Director)
Total Number of Churches in India : 142+143=285
Total Constituency : 18,000
Total Number of Licensed Workers : 220
Ordination Credential Holders : 45
General License Holders : 27
Local License Holders : 78
Bible Woman certificate Holders : 70
Training Institutes:
At present we have 3 ministerial training centers in India.
U.P.C. Bible Collage at Adoor in Kerala State for Malayalam medium.
U.P.C. Bible Institute at Madurai in Tamilnadu for Tamil medium.
Scism Christian Institute at New Delhi for English medium.
We have a proposal to start 2 training centers in near future.
U.P.C. Bible collage at Koppa in Karnataka for Kanada medium.
U.P.C. Bible collage at New Delhi for Hindi medium