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including reports on the deaths of Kerala Pentecostal pastors and preachers. 65
There were also special articles and issues published in memory of Kerala
Pentecostal preachers. 66
Anderson’s observation regarding the link between Pentecostalism and the
existing churches is true in Rajasthan also. According to him, ‘Pentecostal
missionaries almost invariably started their work within the framework of existing
missionary networks, both evangelical and mainline mission.’ 67 Most pioneer
south Indian missionaries were working among Christians at least at the start of
their ministry. Many of their first converts were already Christians in various
existing churches, mostly ‘mission churches,’ when they became Pentecostals.
However, later south Indian Pentecostals became involved in educational and
community development programmes along with the expansion of evangelistic
and church planting activities. Theological institutes were established to train the
local ministers. Funds were raised to build churches in many parts of Rajasthan.
Evangelistic activities were accelerated through various means, including modern
means of communication such as radio, TV and other audio-visual devices along
with spiritual resources like healing, exorcism and miracles. All these activities
resulted in the multiplication of native Pentecostal believers, missionaries, pastors,
leaders, churches and organizations. Thus in brief, the south Indian missionaries,
65 For example, see Thomas Mathews, ‘Pastor Abraham: Now Belongs to History,’ Cross and
Crown 5, no. 4 (1975): 14-15; ‘Pastor T.M. Varghese Promoted to Glory,’ Cross and Crown 15,
no. 9 (1985): 6-8.
66 See for example, Thomas Mathews, ‘The Late Pastor Abraham: End of an Epoch…? Or the
Beginning,’ Cross and Crown 5, no. 4 (1975): 16-18. This was published soon after the death of
K.E. Abraham. Cross and Crown 15, no. 5 (1985) was a memorial issue on Pastor M.K. Chacko,
who was called the ‘lode-star of the Pentecostal Movement in North India,’ by Kerala
Pentecostals.
67 Anderson, Spreading Fires, 8.
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