How It All Began
Our History
The Elim A.G. Church had its humble beginnings in the living room of the senior pastor’s home with just 3 members. After a few months they moved to a rented thatched roof building nearby. Under Pastor Inbanathan’s leadership and sincere ministry, the church grew in numbers to maximum capacity but also faced various challenges socially and financially. After some years, the thatched roof caved in due to heavy rains and they had to look for a new place.
In God’s time and providence, the Church moved to a newly built building in 2002. The Church continued growing and English services were started in 2005, and in 2017 we celebrated 25 years of God’s faithfulness. It is purely by the grace of God and the fervent prayers of the church members and the pastor’s family that has helped the church to grow to where it is today. Matt 16:18, “On this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” has been our Scriptural anchor and kept us continuing faithfully to the calling.
Our desire at Elim A.G. Church is to reach people with the love of Christ, and help them grow in the knowledge of Jesus, and understand God’s purpose for their lives by the teaching of the Bible. We endeavour to be a God-glorifying community and provide a spiritual family to those who fellowship here.
Who We Are
Our Team & Leadership
According to scriptural understanding “Leadership is the act of influencing/serving others out of Christ’s interests in their lives so they accomplish God’s purposes for and through them”. In accordance with this God has blessed Elim AG Church with God fearing and Christ centered Leadership Team.
Rev. J. Inbanathan
(Senior Pastor, Elim A.G. Church)
Rev. J. Inbanathan is the senior pastor of Elim A.G. Church, Vellore. In his early youth-hood he would often get involved with gangs and street fights. But Jesus dramatically transformed his life at a youth camp in 1976.
Rev. Inbanathan and his wife Mrs. Thalitha Inbanathan pioneered the Elim A.G. Church in 1992 at Vellore and continue to serve as senior pastors. He believes that God has called him to stand in the gap and intercede for the lost souls of Vellore (Ezekiel 22:30). They are blessed with two children and four grandchildren. Their son, Isaac Jayakumar is the Associate Pastor; and their daughter Sarah and her husband Pastor Joseph also serve as pastors in another state.
Pastor Isaac Jayakumar
(Pastor In-Charge of English Service)
Pastor Isaac Jayakumar is a pastor at heart, a musician and an ardent Bible teacher, with an M.Th. in New Testament Studies from SAIACS, Bangalore.
The words of Isaiah 55:8-9 that God’s ways were much higher than his, and the words of Amy Carmichael from a bookmark that said “If God call you to be a missionary, don’t stoop down to become a king” radically changed his life and he committed himself to serving God full time, giving up his desire to be a medical doctor.
After completing his theological studies, he pioneered the English service at Elim A.G. Church in 2005. He has been ministering to the youth and intellectuals for the past 17 years through the vital task of teaching the Bible and discipling people.
Pastor Isaac is married to Mrs. Consy, who has also completed an M.Th. in Old Testament Studies, and loves to minister to children and youth. They are blessed with 2 children, John Israel and Shalom.
Our Beliefs & Values
The Bible is our all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. This Statement of Fundamental Truths is intended simply as a basis of fellowship among us (i.e., that we all speak the same thing, 1 Corinthians 1:10 [KJV/NIV]; Acts 2:42 [KJV/NIV]). The phraseology employed in this Statement is not inspired nor contended for, but the truth set forth is held to be essential to a full-gospel ministry. No claim is made that it covers all Biblical truth, only that it covers our need as to these fundamental doctrines.
The Scriptures Inspired
The One True GOD
The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Deity Of the LORD JESUS CHRIST
The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare:
His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His substitutionary work on the cross,
His bodily resurrection from the dead, His exaltation to the right hand of God.
The Fall Of Man
Man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness.” However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God.
The Salvation Of Man
Man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life.
The Ordinances Of The Church
• BAPTISM IN WATER
• HOLY COMMUNION
The Baptism In The HOLY SPIRIT
All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Initial Physical Evidence Of The Baptism In The HOLY SPIRIT
The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance.
Sanctification
Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God.
The Church And Its Mission
The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfilment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven.
The Ministry
A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the fourfold purpose of leading the Church in:
• Evangelization of the world.
• Worship of God.
• Building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son.
• Meeting human need with ministries of love and compassion.
Divine Healing
Divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers.
The Blessed Hope
The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the church.
The Millennial Reign Of Christ
The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years.
The Final Judgment
There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.
The New Heavens And The New Earth
“We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
“We cannot have communion with Christ till we are in union with Him; and we cannot have communion with the Church till we are in vital union with it.”
“True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that – it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.”
“Revenge, lust, ambition, pride, and self-will are too often exalted as the gods of man’s idolatry; while holiness, peace, contentment, and humility are viewed as unworthy of a serious thought.”