Gospel for Asia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gospel for Asia
2017 GFA Logo.jpg
Founded1979
FounderK. P. Yohannan
TypeFaith-based
FocusEvangelism, Education, Healthcare, Disaster Relief
Location
Area served
Asia, Africa
Metropolitan Bishop
K. P. Yohannan
Websitegfa.org

Gospel for Asia (GFA) is an Independent Oriental Orthodox Christian missions organization, founded by K. P. Yohannan in 1979, focusing on residents of Asian countries. The organization is located about five miles southwest of Wills Point, Texas, a small community east of Dallas. It is affiliated with the Believers Eastern Church.[1][2]

GFA World is present in India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Laos Thailand,[3] and Rwanda.[4]

The group has faced class-action suits in the US and Canada over their dispersement of the collected funds; the GFA settled the US case at a cost of $37 million.

History[]

In 1981, current president K.P. Yohannan formed a branch of GFA World in his native Kerala, with an Indian headquarters being set up in Tiruvalla in 1983.[citation needed]

The organization has since grown to support various humanitarian and spiritual programs as well as working with outside organizations, including local governments and the Believer's Eastern Church, which owns and operates hospitals, colleges and public and residential schools. Most of these are for-profit enterprises.[citation needed] Narada News has reported that BEC will be expanding their investments by building as many as 500 additional international schools.[5] The list of what is currently operating includes some hospitals and clinics, some colleges, 9 schools located within small towns of southern Rajasthan, and at least four public schools.[citation needed] In 2014, the Believers' Eastern Church purchased the Cheruvally Estate, a 2,268-acre (9.18 km2) rubber estate in Kerala, India as an investment to help fund social work among underdeveloped communities.[6] In mid-2015, the government initially confiscated the land from the Believers' Eastern Church in order to build an airport, but that decision was appealed.[7] After a 3-year long legal battle between the government and the Believers' Eastern Church, it was decided by an Indian High Court that the Believers' Eastern Church has the ownership right of the Cheruvally Estate and the government must pay them for the land if they still choose to build an airport in that location.[8]

Believers near their church building

Programs[]

The goal of GFA focuses on the formation of missionaries native to the nation the missionary is serving, with special emphasis on Asia. The organization has defined its primary mission field as being those people that live in the 10/40 Window, a rectangular region extending from west Africa to east Asia and between 10 and 40 degrees north longitude.

National missionaries[]

This is a team of national missionaries with their bicycles working in a remote region of Asia.

GFA's main focus is to train and equip national missionaries. Yohannan has stated that he does not limit "national missionaries" to formal nation-states, instead focusing on differences in culture and language to define nationalities. This approach might result in several specialized missionary groups within a single nation-state, from large cities and regions down to small tribes and villages. In 2018 GFA reported that they have over 16,000 missionaries and church planters in 18 Asian nations.[9][10][11][12]

Church buildings, Bibles and gospel literature[]

Gospel for Asia raises funds for the building of simple Christian worship centers in small villages to educate new disciples as well as provide a visible meeting place for Christians. However, they have built several large cathedral type buildings in major cities. Examples are St. Thomas Believers Church Cathedral in Thiruvalla[13] and another in an upscale neighborhood Hauz Khas.[14] They claim approximately 16 churches or mission stations are created every day.[citation needed] Similarly, GFA states they distribute native-language bibles and evangelical Christian literature to the region.[12]

Radio and television broadcasts[]

CFA produces the broadcast Radio in Asia, the Athmeeya Yathra (Spiritual Journey) radio programs and Athmeeyayathra Television's YouTube channel, which provides biblical video content.

Bible colleges[]

GFA claims to have over 56 bible colleges in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka s with the purpose of training native missionaries within their own dialects and cultures so that they will be effective ministers. The program includes three years of instruction, including field instruction and experience.[15]

Bridge of Hope[]

A class in the Bridge of Hope school

Bridge of Hope is a child sponsorship program for poor families in underserved communities, especially lower-caste families and Dalits. The program offers education, physical and spiritual care, including healthcare training and vocational training for women.[9] In its 2019 Special Report, GFA World reported that there were 138,000 children enrolled in Bridge of Hope throughout Asia. [16]

Wells[]

GFA digs wells in communities where water is scarce during parts or most of the year. These wells are built for long-term use near churches, bible colleges or Bridge of Hope centers, and each well is maintained by a local pastor. These wells provide free, clean water to individuals regardless of caste, class, social designation or religion.[17][18] In its 2019 Special Report, GFA World reported 4,856 wells were drilled in communities needing clean water.[19]

Leprosy Ministry[]

Also called “Reaching Friends Ministry,” the Leprosy Ministry started as a small effort in 2007 to help a few people suffering with the disease.[20] GFA World workers care for the patients through social and relief work, medical aid, and health and hygiene awareness programs.[21]

Expansion to Africa[]

GFA's work in Africa begins with GFA World Child Sponsorship in the slums of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. This expansion will also include training national missionaries, clean water projects, medical ministry, education for the underprivileged, women’s empowerment, and community development projects. GFA plans to expand the ministry to six other nations in Africa during the next few years. GFA World in Rwanda will focus on training indigenous workers to serve their native communities. [22]

Disaster relief[]

Nepal earthquake[]

Gospel for Asia-supported field partners joined forces with the Nepal government to provide disaster relief in the wake of the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal in 2015. The organization helped by providing food, water and medical supplies. Following the initial relief efforts, GFA's founder K.P. Yohannan met with the Prime Minister of Nepal.[23]

Asian water crisis[]

One of their longest ongoing efforts to date, Gospel for Asia's Jesus Wells provide clean drinking water to Asian villages with insufficient access to safe, clean water sources. By 2018, the organization helped construct almost 7,000 wells and BioSand water filters. The wells are typically maintained by Gospel for Asia-supported pastors or their church members, preventing the wells from breaking down and ensuring they last for up to 2 decades.[24][25][26]

Illiteracy and poverty[]

GFA's Bridge of Hope after-school program assists underprivileged villages through ongoing literacy and education for their boys and girls. This education helps children and their families to overcome generational poverty and avoid the worlds of bonded labor and sex-slave trade.[27] There are more than 600 of these centers.[28] Students at the centers receive daily education and a nutritious meal, school supplies and uniforms as well as free medical care.[29][30] GFA is using these centers as a way to alleviate the root causes of impoverishment and gender discrimination in Asian countries as well as inhumane child labor practices.[31][32]

According to reports, in 2018 GFA assisted "more than 70,000 children, free medical services in over 1,200 villages and remote communities, 4,000 wells drilled, 11,000 water filters installed, Christmas gifts for more than 200,000 needy families, and spiritual teaching available in 110 languages in 14 nations through radio ministry".[33]

Kerala Floods[]

In 2018, flooding in Kerala left over 200,000 Indian people without homes. GFA's primary field partner saw their Kerala headquarters suffer from severe flooding. Many Bridge of Hope centers also suffered damage. But GFA's filed partner volunteers delivered medical supplies, clothes, food and fresh water to flooding victims throughout the area.[34] The estimated recovery time from these floods is five years and GFA-supported filed partners plan to assist for as long as necessary.[35]

Sri Lanka Easter Bombing[]

GFA also contributed to relief efforts after the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka in April 2019. They provided victims with food and other emergency supplies. One of GFA's supported social workers lost five family members in the bombings. In addition, two bombs were found near GFA-supported offices.[36][37]

Gospel for Asia distributes vegetables in Andhra Pradesh during Covid lockdown

COVID-19 relief[]

Due to the water crisis and national lockdown in India, leaving home and effective hand washing are not possibilities. In response to the coronavirus, Gospel for Asia is providing clean water projects through BioSand filters and Jesus Wells in order to give clean drinking and hand washing water. They are also partnering with local governments to educate people and improve on hand washing techniques.[38] The organization is also installing toilets and running medical clinics[39] throughout South Asia.[40] GFA partnered with Believers Eastern Church in Asia and local officials to distribute food kits for families suffering from the medical and economic loses due to COVID-19.[41]

Affiliate offices[]

GFA has or had 14 known affiliated LLCs registered in Willis Point, TX as well as national offices in various countries in which they operate mission efforts.[42]

GFA Canada[]

The GFA Canada office, established in 1986, is located in Ontario, Canada and is registered with the Canadian government as a charity that provides disaster relief among other humanitarian efforts to communities.[43]

Controversies[]

GFA Diaspora[]

In 2014, a group of over 10 former Gospel for Asia staff members called the GFA Diaspora wrote two letters. While their concerns were mostly regarding GFA leadership,[44] they were also concerned for GFA's donors.

These letters[45] from former staff, along with their request to meet with the board and discuss the issues,[46] brought about a supposed internal investigation by GFA that was completed by Gayle Erwin, a member of GFA's board. Upon the completion of Erwin's investigation, a report was released.

Erwin later admitted, after resigning from Gospel for Asia's board, that the report was dictated to him by GFA's president and founder Moran Mor Athanasius Yohan Metropolitan (formerly known as K. P. Yohannan) who was displeased with Erwin's actual findings and original report.[47] According to Erwin, "When I first presented the conclusions of my investigation to KP (with David Carroll present) KP glanced at it, declared that he was a speed reader, and began what I will simply call an ugly scene filled with brutal expressions I don’t wish to repeat...".[48] Erwin's report was discarded and a new report was written and given to the board, which was portrayed as Erwin's own report. Erwin wrote a letter to GFA President K.P. Yohannan on 17 March 2015 after seeing the false report. In this letter, he states "I think you are well aware that I cannot agree with this letter except for the generic niceties about wanting biblical reconciliation", and also "I think you exonerate yourself and GFA."[49]

Erwin eventually provided his original report[50] to the GFA Diaspora group, along with an apology for allowing the false report to be distributed.[48]

Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability revokes Gospel for Asia's membership[]

In September 2015, GFA lost their 36-year membership in the financial standards advocacy group Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), with the ECFA reporting that GFA had not met many of their required standards[51] of excellence in financial accountability and governance.[52]

ECFA's report[]

The ECFA had been conducting and investigation into Gospel for Asia for four months before releasing the results and revoking the organization's membership.[53][54][55] The ECFA states that GFA's membership was "Terminated for failure to comply with"[56]

  • Standard 2: Governance
  • Standard 3: Financial Oversight
  • Standard 4: Use of Resources
  • Standard 6: Compensation-Setting and Related-Party Transactions
  • Standard 7.1: Truthfulness in Communications
  • Standard 7.2: Giver Expectations and Intent

The ECFA also noted in their report that "Certain information provided to ECFA by GFA that was crucial to our review was, at least initially, inaccurate", and also that "Certain pertinent information about the compliance issues was not revealed to ECFA by GFA until late in the review process." Additionally the ECFA stated that "We have learned significant information from sources unrelated to GFA that we should have learned directly from GFA." In the letter revoking GFA's membership, the ECFA listed seventeen concerns.[52]

GFA response[]

The GFA board responded with a statement that noted "ECFA's decision was made after conducting a special review of Gospel for Asia, and we respect ECFA's evaluation. Our response was to begin a focused review and to implement the ECFA's recommended improvements".[53][57]

Class action lawsuit[]

In 2017 Gospel for Asia was accused by Arkansas couple Garland and Phyllis Murphy of raising funds for charity "while covertly diverting the money to a multimillion-dollar personal empire."[58] The couple filed a class action RICO anti-fraud lawsuit against GFA's president and several GFA leaders, seeking to substantiate GFA's claims of where it spent the money donors gave to the organization.[59] The case was settled after three years of court proceedings in which GFA and the plaintiff agreed "all donations designated for use in the field were ultimately sent to the field".[60] Those entitled to join the class action were those United States residents who donated to Gospel for Asia between the dates of 1 January 2009 and 10 September 2018.[61] Information regarding the lawsuit has been published on the official Murphy v Gospel for Asia website.[62]

That court case states that in 2013, "Despite GFA’s explicit representations that it would spend in the field 100 percent of every dollar donors designated for the field, GFA spent only $14.9 million of $118.6 million on actual relief efforts, instead spending far more on salaries and overhead", according to the complaint.[63] "The Murphys (the plaintiffs), of Bentonville, Arkansas, say that Gospel for Asia raised more than $450 million in donations from the United States alone from 2007 to 2013, much of which Yohannan redirected to his personal empire."[58]

On 4 June 2018 Federal Court Judge Brooks ordered GFA to pay for a Special Master to oversee the gathering of evidence for the discovery phase.[64] Judge Brooks stated, "Therefore, the court finds that the defendants abusive conduct in this case since August constitutes a willful violation of its clear discovery orders."[64] In February 2019 Gospel for Asia lost an appeal denying a stay against discovery.[65]

Brooks noted, "The fundamental question in this case has always been whether these entities have in fact redirected donated money in violation of promises that were made to their donors around the world".[66] Gospel for Asia denied the Plaintiffs' allegations, maintaining all money designated for the field went to the field. GFA denied all misdirection of funds and willful misleading of donors.

At the end of February 2019 a settlement was announced. Gospel for Asia agreed to pay $37 million dollars to refund donations to 200,000 donors. The total also included $12,210,000 in Plaintiff's attorney fees and $750,000 in Plaintiff's attorney's expenses as expressed in the Final Order and Judgment. According to the settlement agreement, "All funds designated to the field were sent to the field and used for ministry purposes; and no Individual Defendant, as defined herein, received any improper personal gain or enrichment from or related to donated funds". Further, in section 9.2.2 of the Settlement agreement it reads, “ The Parties also mutually stipulate that all donations designated for use in the field were ultimately sent to the field."[60]

The settlement agreement also requires that K. P. Yohannan's wife Gisela be removed from the board of the charity for three years and for Garland Murphy, one of the plaintiffs, to be given a seat and another person appointed to the board acceptable to both Murphy and K. P. Yohannan; in addition a subcommittee of the board which will include Murphy but neither Yohannan nor his son, Daniel Punnose, will produce annual reports for the board, the Judge and the lead counsel for three years.[67][68][69]

GFA maintains that the settlement is not an acknowledgment of guilt.[70]

GFA UK[]

In January 2016 the Charity Commission, the non-ministerial government department that regulates registered charities in England and Wales and maintains the Central Register of Charities, was “assessing information provided” about the United Kingdom GFA office.[71] The United Kingdom GFA office remains recognised by them as a registered charity with up-to-date accounts. In the year ending 31 March 2020, they spent £316,000 on fundraising, brought in donations and legacies totaling £1.37 million, and spent £0 on charitable activities.[72]

GFA New Zealand[]

Gospel for Asia's New Zealand office operated out of space provided to them by the church Calvary Chapel Auckland. Once Calvary Chapel became aware of the controversies stirring in the United States, an investigation into GFA's practices was launched. Finding that the work on the field did not at all resemble what GFA had presented to the church and that many for-profit enterprises were run using donated funds, GFA was told to leave the building and the church ceased supporting the ministry.[73]

GFA World (formerly GFA Canada)[]

Gospel for Asia's Canadian arm is subject to a $170 million class action suit launched in Feb of 2020 by Greg Zentner of Woodburn, Nova Scotia., alleging the charity "defrauded or made negligent misstatements to donors and civilly conspired to misrepresent the nature of donations collected." Citing the suit and a steep drop in donations due to the publicity, and the COVID-19 Pandemic, GFA World filed a request for Creditor Protection with the Ontario Superior Court on 26 June 2020. The Court placed their operations under trustee management of PricewaterhouseCoopers. During this period GFA may still collect donations but no disbursements may be made without PwC oversight.[74]

Believer's Eastern Church[]

Main article: Believers Eastern Church

There is also considerable controversy in India considering GFA. The Times of India has reported that "The Believers [Eastern] Church, founded by Moran Mor Athanasius Yohan Metropolitan (formerly known as K. P. Yohannan), and three NGOs associated with it have been barred from bringing in foreign funds to India with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) canceling their FCRA registrations." As of September 2017, GFA provided the requested documents for review to MHA and "Fr Panthapallil said though the MHA website has advertised that the registrations of the four organisations are cancelled, they are still under revision."[75] In August 2017, the Church of South India (CSI) decided to have a "non-cooperative stance" towards the Kerala Council of Churches (KCC), an ecumenical forum of non-Catholic Protestant Churches in Kerala, in protest against the KCC decision to provide membership to the Believers Church since the leader, Yohannan, claims to be a CSI bishop, a claim CSI denies.[76] Narada News in India reported concerning that, "The CSI senate committee probed the issue. They came to the conclusion that their bishop was paid huge sums of money and a luxury car for this. The church sacked bishop KJ Samuel from the CSI for this deed."[77]

There is also been an ongoing court case regarding the illegal filling in of wetlands in order to build the Believers Church Medical College Hospital.[78] GFA has been paying a special tax because a "substantial" amount of its income is not used for intended purposes of the fundraising. An Indian court said, "It is not in dispute that substantial income of the assessee trust was not used by both the assessees for the purposes for which they were formed."[79] Moran Mor Athanasius Yohan Metropolitan (formerly known as K. P. Yohannan) says that the claims were politically motivated and that the workings of Gospel for Asia and Believers Church are transparent.[80][81]

GFA has been accused of engaging in predatory proselytization while providing aid in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami. The Hindu American Foundation criticized the organization for, according to it, pressuring vulnerable tsunami victims to convert to Christianity, setting up illegal unregistered orphanages and forcing orphans recite the Christian prayers several times a day.[82][83]

References[]

  1. ^ "Row over Cheruvally for airport". Deccan Chronicle. 18 November 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2021. ...Gospel for Asia, the social service wing of Believers Church.
  2. ^ "KP Yohannan, founder of GFA, available for Interviews on India covid crisis". Missions Box. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021. K.P. Yohannan is the founder of Texas-based GFA World ... also Metropolitan (lead bishop) of the indigenous, orthodox Believers Eastern Church
  3. ^ "Regional Updates - Gospel for Asia". www.gfa.org. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  4. ^ "GFA World: Showing God's Love in Africa". Gospel for Asia. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  5. ^ https://www.facebook.com/naradanewslive. "Self-appointed bishop KP Yohannan now declares himself saint, starts for-profit schools in the name of St. Johannes". naradanews.com. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Cheruvally Rubber Estate". Believers Church. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Smooth take-off unlikely for proposed Erumeli airport".
  8. ^ "Harrisons case setback may cost Kerala government dear in Erumeli airport project". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  9. ^ a b "Gospel for Asia 2018 Year in Review". www.gfa.org. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  10. ^ Houston, Rickey. "Loving Your Neighbor: A Guide to Developing and Sustaining Community Service Projects." Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary Doctor of Ministry Thesis, March 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  11. ^ Jaffarian, Michael. "The Statistical State of the North American Protestant Missions Movement, from the Missions Handbook, 20th Edition." International Bulletin of Missionary Research. Vol.32, No. 1. January 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  12. ^ a b Wooding, Dan. "K.P. Yohannan’s Long Road To Helping India’s ‘Broken People’." ASSIST News Service. 14 July 2006. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  13. ^ "YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  14. ^ "believers church - ixigo trip planner!". www.ixigo.com. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  15. ^ "Bible Colleges - Gospel for Asia". www.gfa.org. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  16. ^ "Gospel for Asia 2019 Year in Review".
  17. ^ Wooding, Dan. "Jesus Wells bring ‘living water’ to thousands in India and South Asia." ASSIST News Service. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  18. ^ Christian Today. "5000 Jesus Wells Bringing Clean Water Across India and South Asia." christiantoday.com. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  19. ^ "Gospel for Asia 2019 Year in Review".
  20. ^ "Pandemic Worsens the Hardships of Leprosy Patients - COVID-19 intensifies two crippling challenges".
  21. ^ "Leprosy Ministry".
  22. ^ "GFA World: Showing God's Love in Africa".
  23. ^ "Relief: Nepal Govt Lauds Church Volunteers". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  24. ^ GFA. "The Universal Crisis That Unites All Nations Demands Christlike Response". Charisma News. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  25. ^ "Sight Magazine - New report highlights world water crisis and calls for action on solutions". www.sightmagazine.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  26. ^ 9 November, Gospel for Asia |; 2018. "A Jesus Well Transforms Salil's Family". www.christianpost.com. Retrieved 26 November 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ "Turning The Spotlight on What Is Keeping Millions in Grinding Poverty". www.crossrhythms.co.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  28. ^ "Ministry Saves Vulnerable Girls from Slavery". Vision Christian Radio. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  29. ^ 12 December, Gospel for Asia |; 2018. "Trading Plastic Bottles for a Brighter Future - Help Children in Asia Through Gospel for Asia". www.christianpost.com. Retrieved 26 November 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ "Christians Give "Hands-On" Demonstration of God's Love". Vision Christian Radio. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  31. ^ "100 million women 'missing' worldwide trapped in sex slavery, killed by abortions or domestic violence". www.christianpost.com. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  32. ^ "Scale of child labour is laid bare in report". www.churchtimes.co.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  33. ^ "'Greatest Human Rights Issue' Means the World Has Four Slaves for Every Prisoner". Huntington News. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  34. ^ "'Surrounded by an Ocean of Water': Historic Flooding Kills Hundreds in Kerala, India". CBN News. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  35. ^ "Ministry holds out helping hands amidst India flooding". OneNewsNow.com. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  36. ^ "Yohannan's advice: Keep your eyes on the cross". OneNewsNow.com. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  37. ^ "Gospel for Asia social worker lost 5 family members in Sri Lanka Easter bombings". www.christianpost.com. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  38. ^ "Coronavirus: Hope for Today – Cornerstone Network". Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  39. ^ "Gospel for Asia Busy with Coronavirus Response". Vision Christian Radio. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  40. ^ McFarlane, Josie (15 May 2020). "Coronavirus: Charity reaches forgotten starving masses by utilising network of churches". Keep The Faith ® The UK's Black and multi-ethnic Christian magazine. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  41. ^ "Gospel for Asia Distributes Food Kits to 70,000 Desperate Families on the Edge of Starvation Due to Coronavirus Plague".
  42. ^ "GFA Offices Open". Gospel for Asia - Office Websites. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  43. ^ "GFA World – Quick View". Government of Canada.
  44. ^ Zadrozny, Brandy (13 February 2016). "Did This Preacher Rob From The Poor To Give To Himself?". Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  45. ^ "GFA Letter" (PDF). GFA Diaspora. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  46. ^ "Communications History – GFA Diaspora". www.gfadiaspora.com. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  47. ^ "December 1, 2015 * Gayle Erwin Sends Original Board Report and ECFA Report to Diaspora – GFA Diaspora". www.gfadiaspora.com. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  48. ^ a b Erwin, Gayle. "Letter of Apology" (PDF). GFA Diaspora. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  49. ^ Erwin, Gayle (17 March 2015). "Letters of Concern" (PDF). GFA Diaspora. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  50. ^ Erwin, Gayle D. "Report for Gospel for Asia Board Concerning Accusations" (PDF). GFA Diaspora. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  51. ^ "Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardshipâ"¢ - ECFA.church". www.ecfa.org. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  52. ^ a b "ECFA Report to GFA" (PDF). Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  53. ^ a b Lancaster, Jessilyn. "Gospel for Asia Responds to Claims of 'Egregious Abuse'". Charisma News. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  54. ^ "Why the ECFA Kicked Out Gospel for Asia". News & Reporting. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  55. ^ BST, Mark Woods Fri 22 April 2016 11:55. "Gospel for Asia fights back against fraud allegations". www.christiantoday.com. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  56. ^ "Former Members". ECFA. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  57. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)[failed verification]
  58. ^ a b Garza, Erik De La (22 February 2017). "Class Calls Christian Charity a 'Vile Scheme'". Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  59. ^ "Arkansas couple accuse ministries group of fraud | Legal Newsline". legalnewsline.com. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  60. ^ a b Zylstra, Sarah Eekhoff. "Gospel for Asia Settles Lawsuit with $37 Million Refund to Donors". News & Reporting. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  61. ^ "Murphy v Gospel for Asia". www.gfaclassaction.us. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  62. ^ "Murphy v Gospel for Asia Frequently Asked Questions". www.gfaclassaction.us. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  63. ^ "Plaintiff's Original Class Action Complaint". GFA Class Action. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  64. ^ a b "Order Appointing Special Master" (PDF). GFA Class Action. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  65. ^ "Gospel for Asia Appeals the Denial of a Stay in the RICO Lawsuit". Long Room. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  66. ^ https://www.docketbird.com/court-documents/Murphy-v-Gospel-For-Asia-Inc-et-al/MEMORANDUM-OPINION-AND-ORDER-denying-85-Motion-for-Protective-Order-granting-94-Motion-for-Sanctions-and-deferring-ruling-on-104-Motion-for-Sanctions-Signed-by-Honorable-Timothy-L-Brooks-on-June-4-2018/arwd-5:2017-cv-05035-00125
  67. ^ Zylstra, Sarah Eekhoff (1 March 2019). "Gospel for Asia Settles Lawsuit with $37 Million Refund to Donors". News & Reporting. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  68. ^ Tom, Disney (6 March 2019). "Yohannan Settles US Lawsuit for Rs 261cr". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  69. ^ "Murphy v Gospel for Asia, Inc., et al. Documents". www.gfaclassaction.us. Retrieved 30 September 2019. Legal documents related to the case including the settlement agreement.
  70. ^ "Gospel for Asia settles class-action lawsuit, maintains it did 'not act fraudulently'". www.christianpost.com. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  71. ^ "Commission assessing whether to investigate UK branch of scandal-hit charity Gospel for Asia". www.civilsociety.co.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  72. ^ "GFA World - Charity 1064738". register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  73. ^ Friday; December 4th; 2015 (3 December 2015). "Auckland church severs ties with Gospel for Asia". CathNews NZ and Asia Pacific. Retrieved 22 January 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  74. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/gospel-for-asia-creditor-protection-subject-of-class-action-1.5656224. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  75. ^ "MHA: No foreign funds for Believers Church - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  76. ^ "No severing ties with Kerala Council of Churches, CSI Bishop clarifies". The New Indian Express. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  77. ^ https://www.facebook.com/naradanewslive. "KP Yohannan and his web of deceit: How the Pentecostal pastor became Episcopal Bishop". naradanews.com. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  78. ^ "Govt overruled objections to aid illegal filling of land - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  79. ^ "M/S Gospel For Asia, Thiruvalla vs Department Of Income Tax on 12 December, 2014". indiankanoon.org. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  80. ^ "GFA says allegations politically motivated". Christianity Today.
  81. ^ "An open letter to fellow Christians from K.P. Yohannan".
  82. ^ Pawan Deshpande (10 April 2015). "Is Predatory Proselytizing During Disasters Fair Game?". Hindu American Foundation. Archived from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  83. ^ "Tsunami victims exploited, religion critics say". The Billings Gazette. 23 January 2005. Retrieved 20 July 2020.

Bibliography[]

  • Brodeur, Michael; Liebscher, Banning. (2013). Revival Culture: Prepare for the Next Great Awakening. Chapter 4. Gospel Light Publications. ISBN 9780830765478
  • Yohannan, K.P. (2004). Revolution in World Missions. Gospel for Asia Books. Carrollton, Texas. ISBN 9781595890016

External links[]

Retrieved from ""