Gospel Association of India(GAI)
The Gospel Association of India was founded on the southeastern costal plains of Andhra Pradesh, India by Rev. Rajaratnam Bandela father of Rev. Dr. Yesu Bandela.
Rev. Rajaratnam was saved on September 10, 1944. On October 16, 1944, he felt the call of the Lord for full-time ministry and resigned his position as the headmaster of a school. GAI recognizes this day as the day of his birth. Ever since then, there was no turning back for Rev. Rajaratnam. One passion became his life's goal - to preach the Gospel in season and out of season. The days were tough and the weather was rough. But the founding father trod on. The Lord honored His humble servant's labor. By 1967, GAI had grown to 22 full-time pastors and 50 churches. It was a stupendous fruit God gave to GAI.
As the Lord was building His kingdom, the enemy too was digging graves for the Lord's faithfulness. The saintly servant was martyred on June 22, 1967, when he fell a prey to the fury of a religious fanatic. But as the Lord told that unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it would not bring forth life, so was this martyrdom, to see many more saved and come to the Lord.
The dying words of his father Rev. Rajaratnam became the clarion call when he took his son to himself and said to young Yesu, 'Son forgive the murderer take over the Lord's ministry of GAI'. Ever since then, what had been his father's passion became the undying passion of young Yesu to reach out and stretch out to the lost and the lonely souls of the great land of India.
Under Yesu Bandela's leadership, GAI has grown to be a significant mission outreach to all of India, and a local ministry with more than 167 pastors in 200 churches and with an outreach network in 450 villages and towns. Gospel Hall in Vijayawada, India, is the headquarters for the Indian ministry.
GAI conducts believers retreats to teach, train and counsel believers. They are vital for the growth of new Christians because they provide fellowship, prayer support and encouragement to live the Christian life. Currently 3,000 to 6,000 believers attend these retreats. Believers are vital to GAI's follow-up ministry. Many believers from other religions backgrounds are, not allowed to go to church every Sunday. They are, however, permitted by their people to attend special events, such as retreats. Because they are so eager to hear the gospel, believers often attend even under adverse weather and travel conditions. They come from many villages and towns with barely enough money to travel, often not having enough to eat. GAI serves meals to meet their basic needs and often provides funds for their travel expenses.
Since 1990, GAI has sponsored Christmas and Easter Specials aired on Indian television that reach millions with the message of Christ's birth and ministry. Christians from around the world have been involved in these productions. The Christmas and Easter holidays have been the only times that the Christian message has been regularly broadcast in India on its government television channel. This program reaches a potential viewership of 350 million people in India and surrounding countries.
Visit us online at http://www.uecf.net
Gospel Association of India(GAI)
The Gospel Association of India was founded on the southeastern costal plains of Andhra Pradesh, India by Rev. Rajaratnam Bandela father of Rev. Dr. Yesu Bandela.
Rev. Rajaratnam was saved on September 10, 1944. On October 16, 1944, he felt the call of the Lord for full-time ministry and resigned his position as the headmaster of a school. GAI recognizes this day as the day of his birth. Ever since then, there was no turning back for Rev. Rajaratnam. One passion became his life's goal - to preach the Gospel in season and out of season. The days were tough and the weather was rough. But the founding father trod on. The Lord honored His humble servant's labor. By 1967, GAI had grown to 22 full-time pastors and 50 churches. It was a stupendous fruit God gave to GAI.
As the Lord was building His kingdom, the enemy too was digging graves for the Lord's faithfulness. The saintly servant was martyred on June 22, 1967, when he fell a prey to the fury of a religious fanatic. But as the Lord told that unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it would not bring forth life, so was this martyrdom, to see many more saved and come to the Lord.
The dying words of his father Rev. Rajaratnam became the clarion call when he took his son to himself and said to young Yesu, 'Son forgive the murderer take over the Lord's ministry of GAI'. Ever since then, what had been his father's passion became the undying passion of young Yesu to reach out and stretch out to the lost and the lonely souls of the great land of India.
Under Yesu Bandela's leadership, GAI has grown to be a significant mission outreach to all of India, and a local ministry with more than 167 pastors in 200 churches and with an outreach network in 450 villages and towns. Gospel Hall in Vijayawada, India, is the headquarters for the Indian ministry.
GAI conducts believers retreats to teach, train and counsel believers. They are vital for the growth of new Christians because they provide fellowship, prayer support and encouragement to live the Christian life. Currently 3,000 to 6,000 believers attend these retreats. Believers are vital to GAI's follow-up ministry. Many believers from other religions backgrounds are, not allowed to go to church every Sunday. They are, however, permitted by their people to attend special events, such as retreats. Because they are so eager to hear the gospel, believers often attend even under adverse weather and travel conditions. They come from many villages and towns with barely enough money to travel, often not having enough to eat. GAI serves meals to meet their basic needs and often provides funds for their travel expenses.
Since 1990, GAI has sponsored Christmas and Easter Specials aired on Indian television that reach millions with the message of Christ's birth and ministry. Christians from around the world have been involved in these productions. The Christmas and Easter holidays have been the only times that the Christian message has been regularly broadcast in India on its government television channel. This program reaches a potential viewership of 350 million people in India and surrounding countries.
Visit us online at http://www.uecf.net