WILLS POINT, TX — On May 15, around a thousand people visited Restland Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas, to pay tribute the late Dr. K.P. Yohannan (Metroplitan Yohan), founder of GFA World.
Between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., a steady stream of people flowed into the funeral parlor, including presidents of national Christian organizations; former dignitaries of the Indian parliament; bishops, priests and leaders of various Christian denominations; and friends from across the United States.
During the viewing, P.J. Kurien, former Deputy Chairman of the Upper House of the Parliament of India, expressed his condolences that were rooted in a personal connection with the late missionary statesman.
Metropolitan Yohan surrounded by children in Rwanda 2022
“[K.P. Yohannan] was a real friend to me. He loved me so much. He always prayed for me. … I cannot forget the way he loved,” Kurien said. “I don’t know why he had to go away so early, but I can say what is important is not how long you lived; what is important is how you lived when you were on this earth. … [Yohannan] lived a wonderful life, lived a meaningful life, lived a real Christian life. … He lived for others.”
Kurien went on to share how Yohannan “not only preached the Gospel, he lived the Gospel” and exemplified the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:40 by the many ways he had helped the poor and needy through GFA World (Gospel for Asia). He specifically mentioned how Yohannan provided free education to children in poverty through the child sponsorship program, built thousands of houses for those who had lost their homes during cyclones or the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and aided many people throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Whenever there was a need for help, [Yohannan] made a decision to help; he did not hesitate,” Kurien said. “He took upon himself the mandate of Jesus Christ to help the poor. Lakhs and lakhs and lakhs of people, poor people, were helped by this great bishop.”
For more than four decades, K.P. Yohannan had dedicated his life to sharing the love of Christ in word and deed with the world around him. He founded GFA World, a Christian mission organization that has become a significant bridge in fulfilling the Great Commission. Through this organization, hundreds of thousands of communities across Asia have received practical help coupled with the transforming hope of Jesus.
“[Yohannan] put into practice what he preached unlike many. That makes him especially unique among the larger group of Christian leaders,” Kurien said. “Metropolitan Yohan was a bishop who made a difference. He was unique and the church he established was also unique. This man, whose body is right here, was certainly a great man, a great man who lived for others, who lived a full life for others. He also lived for spreading the kingdom of heaven in the earth.”
The remaining services for K.P. Yohannan (Metropolitan Yohan) will take place in India with a public viewing on May 20 at the Believers Convention Center located at the Church’s global headquarters in Thiruvalla, Kerala.
Many dignitaries and officials of the Indian government are expected to attend. On Twitter, Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on the passing away of Moran Mor Athanasius Yohan I Metropolitan.
“I am pained by the passing away of the Metropolitan of Believers Eastern Church, Moran Mor Athanasius Yohan,” Modi wrote. “He will be remembered for his service to society and emphasis on improving the quality of life of the downtrodden. My thoughts are with his family and all devotees of the Believers Church. May his soul rest in peace.”
About K P Yohannan
K.P. Yohannan (Metropolitan Yohan), founder and director of GFA World (Gospel for Asia) and Metropolitan of Believers Eastern Church (BEC), until he departed in the presence of God on May 8, 2024, had written more than 250 books, including Revolution in World Missions, an international bestseller with more than 4 million copies in print. He and his wife, Gisela, have two grown children, Daniel and Sarah, who both serve the Lord with their families.
Read more posts by KP Yohannan Metropolitan or visit his blog on Patheos.
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