Our story is still being written as God continues to change lives for the sake of Christ by His Spirit through the ministries
and people of our church.
Indian Pentecostal Fellowship | 1976
Fifty people from across Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, gathered to form a new church. They had a vision for proclaiming the authority of the Word of God to all who would hear, for lifting high the name of Jesus through worship, for believing firmly in the power of prayer, and for sharing the good news of Jesus with boldness. Indian Pentecostal Assemblies was born in the year 1976, with Job Gnanaprakasam serving as Senior Pastor.
Bethel Faith Spark Bible College | 1980
Job’s son, Pastor David Prakasam, steps out in faith and pioneers a vision he has long held, by founding Bethel Faith Spark Bible College. His desire was to train local leaders in ministry and send them out to plant churches in many unreached areas. It started small, with men equipping men, but soon became a Bible College that catered to any who felt the call of God for ministry on their lives. Today, the college trains 70 students annually and is still growing.
Indian Pentecostal Assemblies | 1991
The church steps out in faith and begins to pray for a new and larger facility. They acquire a property and for the first time ever, build an unprecedented 1,200 seat auditorium, complete with amenities such as a gallery and a multi-faceted lower level to be used as both a school for children and various trade schools for youth. It was the first time any church had built something so large and with such grandeur and many people speculated that it was too big for the number of the church. Pastor David said, “We will build it, and God will fill it.” And that is exactly what He did.
The congregation of 350 people quickly grows to over 2000 and the 1,200 seat church auditorium once again, becomes too small for the congregation. The church steps out in faith and begins a massive extension project for the new facility.
Extension Project Completed | 2008
The extension project proves to be more spiritual warfare than physical struggle. A court case brought against the church stops construction for almost 2 years. Eventually, God gives victory and the courts grant the case in favor of the church. The work then continues and finally finishes, 4 years after it began.
IPA Becomes Bethel City Cathedral | 2008
The church celebrates God’s faithfulness as they re-open their doors at the completion of the extension program. The state of the art, fully air-conditioned, 3,000 seat church auditorium serves as a steadfast reminder of God’s favor. They commemorated the grand opening of the church by renaming it, Bethel City Cathedral a light to the nation of India.
