The Metropolitan of Believers Church

The founder and president for Gospel for Asia, K.P. Yohannan, was born and raised in a small village in South India. At age eight, Yohannan accepted Christ as his personal Savior, and by sixteen, Yohannan was volunteering in North India with Operation Mobilization. Through the next years of serving as a volunteer, a seminary student, and a pastor in Dallas, Texas, Yohannan never forgot the millions of brothers and sisters lost on his native soil, India. With a heart for his homeland, and a great desire to follow God, so began the incredible journey of serving the Lord through Gospel for Asia (GFA).

With a huge presence in Asia, GFA has become one of the most effective missions there today with 54 Bible Colleges and over 8,000 native missionaries in training for church planting. The GFA mission is: "to be devout followers of Christ and fulfill the Great Commission among the unreached in Asia through training, sending and assisting qualified laborers to win the lost and plan local churches in partnership with the Body of Christ." With a big mission and an even bigger heart, Yohannan has set GFA's vision on track with the goal of sending 100,000 native missionaries into areas of Asia that have been unreached. At this time, there are more than 14,000 native missionaries serving, with the incredible feat of planting ten churches per day.

Recently, Bill Cooper, president and CEO of ChristiaNet.com, spent time with K. P. Yohannan and had the opportunity to interview this remarkable man of God. Yohannan discussed with ChristiaNet his ministry, his dependence upon the Lord, and his take on the condition of the North American church today. Candid and convicted to follow the Lord only, Yohannan proves to live out his life demonstrating what he believes.

Yohannan and GFA operate daily with a conviction to depend upon God's leading. He discussed how we are experts in research and structure, and we are experts in getting the job done with excellent execution. But he, Yohannan, explained that he was talking about a different ball game than expertise and manipulation of time and power. "David asked God, "Should I go against the Philistines?" And God said, "Yes," so David wiped them out. But, in the next chapter, you read about how David faced the exact same problem again, and asked God, "Lord, what should I do?" But that time, God said, "Don't do anything." So, even with the same situation and same problem, God did not come to David and say "David, I see your same problem again." No, the Lord waited. The Lord waits."

Yohannan went on to describe his unique ability to understand the apostle Paul's statement about being a "bond slave of Jesus Christ" because of his beginnings in India. "Outside a large office in India, a man sits on a stool. That's all he does. He just sits there. When the boss comes out of the large office, the man on the stool says to the boss, "Sir, what would you like me to do?" The boss says, "Make me a cup of tea." The man takes three steps backward and turns around to go make the tea. He then brings it back. Then he says to the boss, "Anything else, sir?" If the boss says "no," then the servant just sits back down again on the stool. That is all he does. He has no agenda of his own."

Yohannan explained that it is to be the same way in the Christian life. "We are to have no agenda of our own, but to be totally sold out to God." Yohannan has spent time training his mind and emotions to discern God's voice and carry out God's commands through disciplined study of the Word, time in prayer, and fasting. When asked about the amount of time he spent in these disciplines, Yohannan revealed, "Everyday I read the Bible. At least one day of the week, I fast, which is not at all unusual." But, Yohannan also cautioned against the potential to become legalistic about prayer schedules and programmed fasting. "The amount of time we spend praying and the number of days we fast is something we should be private about. Publicizing how much we pray and fast becomes a burden and not an encouragement [to others]."

K. P. Yohannan shared his heart and concerns for the North American Church today in ChristiaNet's interview. "I may be off the wall, but I personally think that the church in North America is going back to the Dark Ages." He explained, "Since the beginning of the 19th century, we have not had sober, serious writings about the holiness of God or the fear of God. Why? Because experience became the measuring rod for spirituality rather than the Word of God."

Seeing the Christian community become involved in fame and fortune has attributed to Yohannan's convictions. "Who are the shepherds or our country today?" Those who write books. But sadly, what are publishing houses all about? Money." He goes on to explain that the messages we are receiving from the pulpit and from the books published by Christian Publishers is all about us, and not God's holiness and truths. "We are in the Dark Ages because the Bible is no longer the book by which people live by nor the book they will be judged by. The Bible has just become the "tool of the trade" by which pastors and writers market their books and make a living."

Ultimately, K.P. Yohannan has a message that inspires all to follow in the footsteps and example of Christ, regardless of the mission field or call upon one's life. "Jesus died to His will to do the Father's will." Yohannan believes that we must make sure that our heart condition is right before the Lord. "It is better to walk with the Lord now than to look back on life and regret having missed what will count for eternity - God's work." K.P. Yohannan, a true follower of God, and an inspiration to all.

Celebration of hope

‘Celebration of Hope’, the Christmas celebrations of Believers Church Residential School was held on December 20th.

The students and staff performed a number of programs such as choreography, nativity play, instrumental fusion etc. The school choir presented melodious christmas carols and songs.

The event was inaugurated by the Home Minister of Kerala, Shri. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and presided over by Dr. K.P.Yohannan, Metropolitan of Believers Church. The event was attended by several prominent political leaders.

Gospel for Asia: Sharing the love of Christ in Asia

Gospel for Asia:

• Is serving humanity by caring for the homeless, victims of disaster and children in need of education.
• Endeavors to share the love of Christ in Asia.
• Is working among people in China, Nepal, India, UK, US, Germany, Burma, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and others.
• Is a religious non-governmental organization (NGO) and is therefore not involved in politics or controversies of any kind.
• Does not believe in the idea of forced conversions.

Gospel for Asia Believes:

• All are created by God.
• That religious discrimination is wrong.
• That rich nations should not exploit the poor.
• That God's love is revealed in Jesus Christ, and His followers are asked to also love their neighbors as themselves. This compels us to serve by both word and deed.

More about the legend

Dr. K.P. Yohannan, Metropolitan of Believers Church, is committed to giving India’s youth access to education that will equip them with both the skills and values they need to succeed. Believers Church Residential School was started to help meet this goal.

Located near Believers Church’s Synod Secretariat, the school provides a model for other value-based schools around the country. Around 2,000 students currently study in the school.

“Education must facilitate these children to become leaders and strong, upstanding citizens,” says Dr. K.P. Yohannan, Metropolitan; “people who will be able to serve and lead the country in the years to come with integrity and honesty.”

K.P. Yohannan, the Indian-born founder of Gospel for Asia, is a quiet revolutionary who is leading the charge to bring the Gospel message to the “10/40 Window,” which is an area of the world that contains the largest population of non-Christians in the world – two billion of them. The area extends from 10 degrees to 40 degrees north of the equator, and stretches from North Africa across to China.

His 16,500 native missionaries are based in10 countries that include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal and India. Each missionary goes through intense training.

In an interview at his headquarters in the Indian state of Kerela, K.P. spoke about that training which is bringing a “Revolution in World Missions.”

Introduction to KP Yohannan and Gospel for Asia

In 1981, current president K. P. Yohannan formed a branch of GFA in his native Kerala, with an Indian headquarters being set up in Tiruvalla in 1983. It is active throughout India, especially in the North, and directly administers bible colleges, whose graduates receive financial support to found new congregations. Increasing donations made GFA "one of the most financially powerful mission undertakings in India in the 1980s." GFA directly supports more than 50 Bible colleges in various countries.

In 1993, GFA began founding its own network of churches in Asia, including the Believers Church which is Episcopal in governance.

The mission statement for Gospel for Asia is Our mission in life is to be devout followers of Christ and to fulfill the Great Commission among the unreached in Asia through training, sending out and assisting qualified laborers in partnership with the Body of Christ.

About the Metropolitan

Dr. K.P. Yohannan, the Metropolitan Bishop of Believers Church, was born and brought up in Niranam, Kerala. Niranam has immense historical significance in the tradition of Saint Thomas, a disciple of Jesus Christ who planted the first church there in AD 52.

Metropolitan Dr. K.P. Yohannan dedicated his life to God at a young age to serve the needy and downtrodden. He prayed, “Oh my Lord, let my heart break with the things that break Your heart” and his life was never the same. It’s his belief that one can only demonstrate God’s love by loving people. After over four decades of selfless service, he says,

I have no regrets in praying that prayer for I know God has touched millions through what He did in and through me. It is all God’s grace.

He spent the early years of his service in North India and traveled to the remote villages sharing the love of Christ and doing charitable works. Through numerous encounters during those years, he was instilled with an increasing passion to bring hope, peace, and comfort to the needy and deprived. His sacrificial commitment, farsightedness and aptitude to perceive helped him to lead a life of unhindered devotion to serve Christ and His church.

On February 6, 2003, he was consecrated and installed as the Metropolitan Bishop of Believers Church. He remains grateful for the Godly heritage of his parents. Hailing from the Malankara Syrian Christian tradition, he is honored to have begun this spiritual journey following in the footsteps of Saint Thomas.

Ring kissing ritual

Out of the metropolitan’s heart for the needy have flowed many initiatives and projects to build the nations where Believers Church is located. These include Bridge of Hope, a childcare project helping 72,000 impoverished children; Sisters of Compassion, an order that serves the most neglected of society; hospitals, schools and major relief efforts.

Metropolitan Dr. K.P. Yohannan is also the voice of Athmeeya Yathra, touching millions through his daily radio and TV broadcasts. His 250 books offer practical and spiritual guidance on hundreds of subjects.

Metropolitan Dr. K.P. Yohannan’s wife and two grown children are also serving the Lord.

K.P. Yohannan's Long Road to Helping India's 'Broken People'

An interview with Dan Wooding

The Gospel for Asia founder describes his life in a tiny, remote village in India, his time in Texas, and his call back to Asia where his movement has more than 16,000 workers in the heart of the 10/40 Window

It’s been an extraordinary long and winding road for K.P. Yohannan. He has gone from a life in a poor Indian village, to being invited to study God’s Word in Texas, to running one of the largest mission groups in Asia and is now involved in a huge project to help the Dalits, or “untouchables,” of India find the new life that can only come through Jesus Christ.

K.P. Yohannan is the founder and president of Gospel for Asia, a mission organization involved in evangelism and church planting in the unreached regions of South Asia. Currently GFA supports over 16,000 church planters in the heart of the 10/40 Window.

GFA has grown rapidly and has quickly become one of the most effective mission forces in Asia today. The ministry now supports native missions in 10 Asian nations. At the 54 Gospel for Asia missionary Bible colleges, over 8,000 church planters are being trained to reach the unreached. 

In an interview in Dallas, Texas, where he took time out from speaking at the Gospel for Asia “Renewing Your Passion” missions conference, K.P. first of all talked about his early life in India.

“I was born and grew up in a very small rural community in the extreme southern part of India,” he began. “When I came to America in 1974 I happened to read in a large textbook on Church history and there I came across the name of my tiny village.

“This village happened to be one of the places that the Apostle Thomas, Christ’s disciple, came to preach the Gospel in A.D. 52. He planted seven churches and one of them is still in that community.

“So I was born about three kilometers from where that church was established. The privilege I had more than anything else is that my mother was a very godly devout follower of Christ, and my father was also a believer. So in a land where you have millions and millions of people and hardly two and a half percent are Christians, what a privilege it was for me that the Lord allowed me to be born in a home where my parents knew the Lord.

“It was at the age of eight my mother explained to me about Jesus dying for me, and that is how I gave my heart to the Lord. That was my beginning of understanding about Jesus and then growing of course you know later it is again my mother’s prayer that the Lord answered in calling me to serve Him.”

K.P. Yohannan said that he joined Operation Mobilization, founded by George Verwer, and traveled 2,000 miles north from his home and spent eight years serving God. He said that at the end of 1973, he was planning to go to a Bible college in England, when Dr. W.A. Criswell, pastor of the huge First Baptist Church in Dallas, heard about him and invited him to come to America to study at Criswell Bible College in Dallas.

I asked him if this was a huge culture shock for him, and he laughed and replied, “Oh my goodness, yeah. You know I must tell you for the first two weeks when I was here it was like I was kind of spaced out—not on drugs. I mean the loud roads and the people.”

He recalled his early experiences with American food.

“I remember my first day in America, I was at the airport in New York and I was so hungry that I went to the cafeteria and sat there forever waiting for someone to come and serve me. Finally, a lady saw me sitting there and said, ‘Are you here to get some food?’ I said I was and she told me to go and stand in line to get the food.

“For me, in India, you go and stand in line for food in front of a temple or some other festival and only beggars would do that. I never knew there was this thing called a buffet system.

“Do American people eat dog meat?”
“I finally got to the front of the line and had a tray in my hand and the lady standing behind the counter asked me what I wanted. I didn’t know any of the names of the food and I said I didn’t know. She then raised her voice and asked again, ‘What do you want?’ So I pointed to something behind the counter and I asked her what it was. ‘It’s a hot dog,’ she said.

“I was so shocked that I took three steps back and I said, ‘Madam, you mean to tell me that in America, people eat dog meat? She shook her head thinking that I was joking and I was not. Of course, I didn’t buy the thing but picked out something else, but now I know what it is.”

K.P. Yohannan stayed the Dallas college from 1974 to 1979 and I asked him if was tempted to stay in America.

“Well, you know, within six months of my coming to America, besides my studies, I was called to pastor a local church and ordained by Dr. Criswell at the First Baptist Church,” he said. “I was quite busy teaching my people, visiting homes and counseling. A couple of years went by. America is a wonderful nation, but unless one is very careful, the affluence and materialism can ruin one’s life. And I didn’t know this was happening to me.

“Within two and a half years, I found myself so lost in a world of education, philosophy and Greek and Hebrew and also so busy with the church and all this stuff, that I found my heart was no longer soft and tender. I no longer had tears in my eyes for the lost world. Of course, as a Baptist minister, I talked about Heaven and Hell and missions and all those things, but they became just a matter of fact to me.”

“Then too, because the resources now available, I was able to buy whatever I wanted to buy. So money was there.”

He then explains the German connection.

“My wife Gisela is German. She was with me in India before I came to America,” said K.P. “So you know, Jesus said, ‘You cannot serve God and money.’ I think the enemy has these things called materialism, affluence, a new house, a new car, new clothes. It’s the American dream and I had all these things, but I was dying on the inside, spiritually.

“In my head I knew all the answers, and Bible became the tool of the trade for me that I would use to teach and preach and I was doing very well. People liked my sermons, but finally I said to myself, ‘I’m not the same person I was when the Lord called me to serve Him. I’m not the same person that I was that walked on the streets of North India weeping over the lost and perishing millions and stayed up all night praying and weeping over a world map. I’m not the same person; and I realize my heart is cold.’

“And I was frightened, and this is when I began to cry out to God to change me. I still had in my head all the knowledge I have now about missions. I had read and studied all of this, but it didn’t create passion or tears or my ability not to say no to what I wanted and walk away from materialism for the sake of the lost world.

“It was my sin, and the Lord was gracious to make me understand that finally, and when I did, that was a turning point in my life.”

K.P. then described what happened next.

“I spent days of seeking God’s face,” he said. “You know, in America, we sit in comfortable, nice, soft leather chairs, but I was so desperate to hear from God that I was sitting on the carpet and, just like a little child, I said, ‘Lord, I’m lost. I know all this stuff in my head but my heart is cold. I pray, but I don’t know if You can ever hear me. I don’t know what to do. Did I lose it all? If you know me Lord, would you please talk to me once again?’

“A week and a half or went by, and then a most beautiful thing happened. The Lord walked into my room. I can’t even explain in detail what happened; but He began to speak to me. He was so real. I’m not a spooky person looking for weird stuff to happen, but when Jesus walked into the room and talked to me, I was so overcome by His love, that immediately I know that all I could think at that time was to take my wife and my son at that time and just go back to India and live somewhere in the village there.

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“It was to be a fresh start to my life. No one needed to know me, but I just wanted to serve Him. I was so overcome by His love.” He said that he and family went back to India for several months.

“I made a decision to wait and watch and pray until the Lord told us what to do,” said K.P. “The Lord was gracious enough to talk to us very lovingly, and I realized that he wanted me to go back to America and speak to the ‘Body of Christ’ about the possibility of seeing countries like India, Burma and Bhutan, turn to Christ if only they would become unselfish in praying and helping these brothers by becoming senders.

“So in obedience to the Lord we came back, and meanwhile we continue to send our resources to help native missionaries in North India who were in the ministry. And then of course you know, to make a long story short, with the advice of several godly men, Gospel for Asia was born.”