India Pentecostal Church

The Indian Pentecostal Church of God
Logo of the Indian Pentecostal Church of God
Classification	Charismatic, Protestant
Orientation	Pentecostal
Polity	Pentecostal
Region	India and Worldwide
Headquarters	Kumbanad, India
Founder	Pastor K E Abraham
Origin	Started in July 1924, as ‘Thennindia Pentecosthu Daivasabha’ Registered on 9 December 1935 as "The Indian Pentecostal Church of God" at Eluru
Official website	ipc.international ipckerala.org

The Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC) is the largest Pentecostal denomination in India which mostly caters to the malayalee community in India .

The chief architect and the founder of IPC was Pastor K.E.Abraham, a charismatic speaker and writer. Pastor K.E. Abraham received the baptism in the Holy Spirit in 1923. Apostle A.Thambusamy, Apostle S.Moses, Apostle P. M. Samuel, Pastor T. G. Oommen, Pastor K.C.Cherian, Pastor P.T.Chacko, Pastor K.C.Oommen, Pastor P.T. Mathew, Pastor V.V. Thomas, Pastor T.K Mathew, Pastor C. K. Daniel Pastor T N Abraham and many others were also filled with the Holy Spirit in Nineteen Twenties. Gradually a fellowship was formed by these independent leaders and the first united Convention was held at Ranny in 1925 April. In 1935 they registered ‘The Indian Pentecostal Church of God’ as a Religious Society at Eluru, Andhra Pradesh. The First President was Apostle P.M.Samuel. Presently, IPC has over ten thousand congregations around the world. Its Administrative headquarters is at Hebronpuram, Kumbanadu, Kerala, India.

The local churches belonging to this movement are spread across India as well as countries outside India such USA, UAE, UK and Australia. Also more than 75% of the local churches are located in the South Indian state - Kerala.

The members of Indian Pentecostal Church are usually not permitted to wear ornaments, and there is no exchange of rings during a wedding and they forbid their members from taking part in cultural and other religious festivals. This was seen as a cult styled image among the other Christian denominations. The members of this organization refrain from drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and from visiting theatres. About 70% of its members are from Kerala and nearly 90% of the General Council members are Malayalees. The worship services of mainstream IPC churches are usually held in Malayalam and 100% of all the sermons delivered during General Convention are either in Malayalam or translated to Malayalam.

One of their prominent beliefs which separates them from other Christian denomination is the requirement of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. While IPC churches acknowledges the importance of Water Baptism through immersion as the foremost step after salvation, they believe that Baptism by immersion and Baptism in the Holy Spirit are two separate events. Fasting Prayers and Tarrying meeting are usually held for members who are not baptized in the Holy Spirit encouraging them to do so. Members of this church are encouraged to speak in tongues during worship services. The sermons are often interrupted by utterance of tongues.