K P Yohannan passes away
Prominent evangelist Mor Athanasius Yohan I, also known as K P Yohannan, the founder of Believers Eastern Church based in Kerala, passed away in Dallas, Texas on Wednesday following an accident. An official statement from the Church indicated that he succumbed to sudden cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment in a Dallas hospital, where he had been admitted since the May 7 incident.
Yohannan, aged 74, initially a Pentecostal preacher, gained significant influence as a Christian leader in Kerala. He had been previously accused by the RSS in Kerala of converting Hindus to Christianity and recently made headlines for endorsing Anil Antony, the BJP candidate in the Pathanamthitta constituency during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Over the past few years, Yohannan and his Church have faced scrutiny from the Income Tax Department regarding the alleged misappropriation of charitable funds, amounting to approximately Rs 4,000 crore, purportedly diverted for real estate and other commercial ventures.
Beginning his evangelical mission early in life, Yohannan, alongside his wife Gisela, a German national, established Gospel for Asia (GFA) in 1979 to propagate biblical teachings, amassing a large global following through his passionate preaching. One of the trusts he founded, Athmeeya Yathra (spiritual journey), has been broadcasting religious radio programs.
In 2000, he founded Believers’ Church in Thiruvalla, central Kerala, appointing himself as its bishop and later advancing to the position of Metropolitan Archbishop, overseeing several junior bishops. Yohannan’s involvement in real estate became evident in 2005 when Believers’ Church acquired 2,263 acres of rubber estate from Harrison Malayalam Ltd for Rs 63 crore. He also possessed Cheruvally estate, recognized as one of Kerala’s well-managed rubber estates.
