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K.P. Yohannan

K.P. Yohannan (1950 - 2024). Indian-American missionary, author, and founder of GFA World, born in Niranam, Kerala, to a St. Thomas Syrian Christian family. Converted at eight, he joined Operation Mobilization at 16, serving eight years in India. In 1974, he moved to the U.S., graduating from Criswell College with a B.A. in Biblical Studies, and was ordained, pastoring a Native American church near Dallas. In 1979, he and his German-born wife, Gisela, founded Gospel for Asia (now GFA World), emphasizing native missionaries, growing to support thousands in the 10/40 Window. Yohannan authored over 250 books, including Revolution in World Missions, with 4 million copies printed, and broadcast Athmeeya Yathra in 113 Asian languages. In 1993, he founded Believers Eastern Church, becoming Metropolitan Bishop as Moran Mor Athanasius Yohan I in 2018. Married with two children, he faced controversies over financial transparency, including a 2015 Evangelical Council expulsion and 2020 Indian tax raids. His ministry impacted millions through Bible colleges, orphanages, and wells.
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Sermon Summary
K.P. Yohannan explores the profound impact of music, illustrating how it brings joy and relief to both humans and animals, as seen in ancient epics. He emphasizes God's intent for music as a source of hope and deliverance, citing examples from the Bible where music accompanied moments of victory and sorrow, such as the Israelites' song after crossing the Red Sea and David's music that soothed King Saul. Yohannan highlights the tradition of lamentation in Israel and the significance of music in expressing emotions, culminating in the New Testament where Jesus is welcomed with songs. He encourages the congregation to embrace music as a means of teaching and uplifting one another in faith.
Scriptures
The Magic of Music (Part 1)
Music opens a magical world and brings happiness to the lives of both humans and other living things. Ancient epics depict animals forgetting themselves in the magic of the flute and standing still until the end of the music. A poet describes a deer eating grass, forgetting to chew and just standing like a statue. There is a saying that even snakes enjoy music. God’s Intent for Music: Hope and Deliverance We can see many times that music is created at a time of success or with a heart full of happiness or sorrow. The Israelites crossed the Red Sea and reached the other side. Their enemies who followed them drowned in the sea. The next morning their dead bodies were on the sea shore. By seeing their victory Moses and Israelites sang music of glory, which is described in the 15th chapter of book of Exodus. When the Israelites defeated the commander of Canaan’s army under the leadership of the prophet Deborah, they sang a song, which is narrated in the 5th chapter of Judges. When Saul and David defeated Philistines, Israelite women sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” Music explores different areas. Whenever the spirit from God tormented King Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him. (1 Samuel 16:23) In times of sorrow, the human mind has created springs of music and found relief. The book of Lamentations records such a song written by the prophet Jeremiah. The Israelites also had a tradition that each year the young women of Israel would go out for four days to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite. (Judges 11:40) King David lamented when he heard of the death of Saul and Saul’s son, his friend Jonathan. That lament is included in the first chapter of the book of 2 Samuel. In the New Testament, we can see that people give Jesus a royal welcome, singing “hosanna” as he rode into Jerusalem. St. Paul the Apostle in his epistle to Colossians says, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”(Colossians 3:16) Like this, the chords of music always give hope and deliverance.
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K.P. Yohannan (1950 - 2024). Indian-American missionary, author, and founder of GFA World, born in Niranam, Kerala, to a St. Thomas Syrian Christian family. Converted at eight, he joined Operation Mobilization at 16, serving eight years in India. In 1974, he moved to the U.S., graduating from Criswell College with a B.A. in Biblical Studies, and was ordained, pastoring a Native American church near Dallas. In 1979, he and his German-born wife, Gisela, founded Gospel for Asia (now GFA World), emphasizing native missionaries, growing to support thousands in the 10/40 Window. Yohannan authored over 250 books, including Revolution in World Missions, with 4 million copies printed, and broadcast Athmeeya Yathra in 113 Asian languages. In 1993, he founded Believers Eastern Church, becoming Metropolitan Bishop as Moran Mor Athanasius Yohan I in 2018. Married with two children, he faced controversies over financial transparency, including a 2015 Evangelical Council expulsion and 2020 Indian tax raids. His ministry impacted millions through Bible colleges, orphanages, and wells.