Provisional Status for the FMC of India; Three New Bishops Nominated
Bishop Joseph James

I am pleased to announce that on February 12, 2005, at a preliminary meeting of the Provisional General Conference of India, three bishops were nominated to oversee the work of the Free Methodist Church (FMC) of India: Dr. John Gollapalli, Dr. Narendra John and Dr. Joab Lohara. We give praise to God for raising up these leaders to give oversight to the FMC of India.

The three nominees will soon be presented to the FMC of North America, the sponsoring General Conference, with election to take place at the April 14-16, 2005 Board of Administration meeting in Indianapolis, IN.

In addition to the election of bishops, a recommendation will be presented that the 2005 India Book of Discipline be approved. Its preparation and translation into five languages has been a major project this past year.

The three bishops, once elected, will serve as bishops elect until the formal inauguration of the Provisional General Conference of India scheduled in Hyderabad, India, on September 2-4, 2005. Since this is a Provisional General Conference, the bishops will serve as suffragan bishops with the counsel of the FMCNA Board of Bishops, until becoming a General Conference, anticipated in 2009.

This historic occasion in September will launch a celebration of 125 years of Free Methodist ministry in India, a service of consecration of the three bishops, a formal inauguration of the Free Methodist Church — Provisional General Conference of India, and services of worship, prayer, praise and teaching. This will be a time of vision casting, inspiration, meeting new friends, building networks of prayer support and rejoicing in God's providence that led to the launch of a nation-wide ministry of the Free Methodist Church of India.

It is anticipated that many people will join in this great celebration of God's faithfulness and provision. The more than 800 Free Methodist pastors and their spouses will come together for the first time in the history of the church.

Samuel Casberg (c. 1906), missionary to India, with his Betsy Ross motorcycle. (Courtesy Marston Memorial Historical Center) VIEW PHOTO ALBUM OF HISTORICAL PHOTOS FROM INDIA.

Rev. Ernest A. Ward left the Illinois Annual Conference in 1881, selling his possessions and boarding a ship to follow the call of God as a missionary to India. Could he have imagined the developments in 2005? God has faithfully honored the sacrifice and obedience of his servant. Many in faith and perseverance have followed in the footsteps of Rev. Ward, maintaining a continuous witness for Christ in India for almost 125 years.

Building on that solid foundation, under the leadership of John Gollapalli, 250 Agape Fellowship churches were welcomed into the Free Methodist Church in 2003. The following year, under the leadership of Joab Lohara, 732 Immanuel Fellowship churches united with the Free Methodist Church. The Lord has honored that partnership and blessed this union with ongoing rapid expansion so that today there are more than 1200 Free Methodist Churches serving people in life transforming ministries. These churches across 12 states of India are giving daily witness to the living Christ. For this we give praise to God.

In a fresh way, we now lock arms in a partnership with the leaders of India to share the Good News of God's transforming power. Please pray that the Lord of the Church will continue to guide in the important developments that will take place in the coming months to provide a strong, unified Free Methodist Church across all of India, for His Glory.