K. A. Paul
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| Kilari Anand Paul | |
|---|---|
 K.A. Paul on Tarmac in Haiti |
|
| Born | September 25, 1963  Andhra Pradesh, India, |
| Occupation | Evangelist Author Speaker |
| Spouse(s) | Mary |
| Children | Grace, Peace and John Paul |
Kilari Anand Paul is a controversial Christian preacher originally from India who later became a naturalized American.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Originally named Anand Kilari,[2] he was born on September 25, 1963, in a small village called Chittivalsa in the province of Andhra Pradesh, India, into a poor, lower caste Hindu family. His parents were Barnabas and Santhosamma.
His parents became Christians in 1966. Paul became a Christian in March 1971, when he was eight years old. Paul claims to have travelled with his self-styled evangelist father to hundreds of villages in India sharing the gospel to many non-Christians. At the age of 19 Paul claimed he felt a calling and entered into the full-time ministry.[1].[3]
[edit] India political activism
Anand returned to India in September 2007 to help change India's government. He believes that Sonia Gandhi, as she is a Christian and the head of the Congress Party and the ruling coalition in India's parliament, has to remain for more time to serve the people of India. He is often considered a controversial figure, and has had allegations of wrongdoing leveled by detractors, including his brother.[4]
[edit] Global Peace One
Through charitable contributions to his organization, several of Paul's backers provided funds to purchase a 747SP airplane that Paul named "Global Peace Ambassadors" (Registry N4522V) and it flew under the alias "Global Peace One".[5] Paul used the plane for missions to Third World countries, delivering aid to disaster areas and to countries with people in need. The plane itself had an interesting history, having belonged to China Airlines previously. On February 19, 1985, an engine failed, and the plane, filled with passengers, made an uncontrolled descent from 41000 feet to 9500 feet and made a full 360 degrees aileron roll above the Pacific Ocean on flight from Taipei to Los Angeles before the pilots regained control and landed safely.[6][7]
[edit] Controversy
In 2005, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability terminated the membership of Paul's organization for failing to meet financial accountability and governance standards. Financial details of his ministries are listed by Ministry Watch; the independent source for ministry ratings.
[edit] Charles Taylor
Paul was once a confidant and adviser to former Liberian President and alleged war criminal Charles Taylor.
[edit] Chronology
- 1983. K.A. Paul was ordained at his father's church and in the same year founded Gospel to the Unreached Millions ministry in India, at the age of 20.
- 1989. Paul came to the United States.
- 1993. Paul created the U.S. nonprofit Gospel to the Unreached Millions (GUM) in Duluth, Minnesota.
- 1996. GUM opened its headquarters in Humble, Texas.
- 1999. GUM moved its headquarters to Houston, Texas.
- 2007. K.A. Paul made comments against the Chief Minister (equivalent to a State Governor in the USA) of Andhra Pradesh State in India, Mr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and the India's governing council Chairman, Ms. Sonia Gandhi. Mr. Paul accused the Chief Minister of requesting 5 Million USA dollars in illegal donations to use for his party’s victory during the 2004 state elections. Both Mr. Reddy and Mrs. Gandhi belong to the Congress Party. Paul also claimed to be able to arrange for a congressional hearing in the United States where it would be proved that the US had contacted Sonia Gandhi to abort the peace mission. His counsel filed a defamation case on the three leaders seeking exemplary compensation to the tune of Rs. 500 crore for causing damage to his reputation in the Delhi High Court.
2009 - The Delhi High Court on September 15, 2009 dismissed a petition filed by Paul against YSR, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and former minister K Natwar Singh, stating that they had allegedly stalled his Global Peace Mission in 2007, resulting in a loss of over Rs 500 crore to him. The court did not find any evidences against the three leaders.
http://www.espynick.com/2009/09/15/k-a-paul-loses-case-against-late-y-s-rajasekhar-reddy/
[edit] References
- ^ a b The Plane Truth, page 1 - News - Houston Press - Houston Press
- ^ [1] Houston Press expose on K.A. Paul
- ^ [2] Ministrywatch.org. retrieved October 17, 2006
- ^ GPI's own website, letter from Kilari Paul
- ^ Travel Video Television, article on missions to Tsunami struck Indonesia
- ^ History of 747sp Airplanes
- ^ Airliner Info website
