Indian Pentecostal Church of God

History

IPC traces its origins to the Pentecostal revival in India during the early twentieth century. The movement was initiated by Pastor K. E. Abraham and others, originally associated with the Jacobite and Orthodox Syrian Christian Church. After having an experience of the baptism in the Holy Spirit in 1923, they separated from their former denomination and many others joined them to form IPC.

The first united Pentecostal convention related to the IPC movement was held in April 1925 in Ranny, Kerala. The meeting brought together several early Indian Pentecostal leaders who had separated from Kerala Brethren and other mainline Malankara Churches, including Pastors T. G. Oommen and P. M. Samuel. The movement was first called as The South Indian Pentecostal Church.

In 1933, a council of twelve ministers was formed, and P. M. Samuel was elected the first President of the fellowship. The denomination was formally registered as The Indian Pentecostal Church of God on 9 December 1935 in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, marking the establishment of the organisation as a legally recognised body committed to spiritual and administrative self-reliance.

The early leaders of IPC emphasised indigenous Indian movement, independent of Western missionary control. The movement maintained that Indian churches should be completely oriental in character and managed by Indians. The IPC opposed foreign control of Indian churches. Roger E. Hedlund describes IPC as an example of Indian Christian nationalism.

The denomination expanded rapidly across South India, especially among Malayalam-speaking Christians, and later throughout India and regions with significant Indian diaspora populations, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East.

A notable schism occurred in 1953, resulting in the formation of the Sharon Fellowship Church.