K.A. Paul
Encyclopedia
Kilari Anand Paul is a Christian
preacher originally from India
who later became a naturalized American
.
, India, into a poor 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.
Through charitable contributions to his organization, several of Paul's backers provided funds to purchase a 747SP
airplane that Paul named "Global Peace Ambassadors" and it flew under the alias "Global Peace One". 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. A former crew member described it as a "flying death trap". In 2005, the pilot, co-captain and flight engineer quit because of concerns over maintenance and non-payment of debts.
The plane was ferried to Tijuana, Mexico, in late 2005 where it remains today. The Federal Aviation Administration has revoked the plane's operating certificate citing maintenance and airworthiness concerns.
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.
, 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.
, the Florida pastor who had planned to burn copies of the Quran as a protest against the building of a mosque
close to Ground Zero
in New York. They together gave the Imam
of the planned mosque 2 hour notice to contact them over the pending Quran burning. Paul stated that "I have requested and pleaded with pastor not to burn the Koran".
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
preacher originally from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
who later became a naturalized American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early life
Originally named Anand Kilari, he was born on September 25, 1963, in a small village called Chittivalsa in the State of Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, India, into a poor Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
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
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
father to hundreds of villages in India sharing the gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
to many non-Christians. At the age of 19 Paul claimed he felt a calling and entered into the full-time ministry.
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 DuluthDuluth, MinnesotaDuluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. - 1996. GUM opened its headquarters in HumbleHumble, TexasHumble is a city in Harris County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area.As of the 2000 census, the city population was 14,579. The city shares a zip code with the small Houston neighborhood of Bordersville, although people who live in Bordersville still have Humble...
, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. - 1999. GUM moved its headquarters to Houston, Texas.
- 2007. K.A. Paul made comments against the Chief Minister CM (equivalent to a State Governor in the USA) of Andhra PradeshAndhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
State in India, Mr. Y. S. Rajasekhara ReddyY. S. Rajasekhara ReddyY.S. Rajasekhara Reddy , popularly known as YSR, was a two-time Chief Minister of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He is seen as the most popular chief minister of Andhra pradesh. His popularity is often attributed to various welfare schemes and development programs he championed for the...
and the India's governing council Chairman, Ms. Sonia GandhiSonia GandhiSonia Gandhi is an Italian-born Indian politician and the President of the Indian National Congress, one of the major political parties of India. She is the widow of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv 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 PartyIndian National CongressThe Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. 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.
Global Peace One
Boeing 747SP
The Boeing 747SP is a modified version of the Boeing 747 jet airliner which was designed for ultra-long-range flights. The SP stands for "Special Performance". Compared with its predecessor, the 747-100, the 747SP retains its wide-body, four-engine layout, along with its double-deck design, but...
airplane that Paul named "Global Peace Ambassadors" and it flew under the alias "Global Peace One". Paul used the plane for missions to Third World
Third World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
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
China Airlines
China Airlines is both the flag carrier and the largest airline of Republic of China . Although not directly state-owned, the airline is owned by China Airlines Group, which is owned by the China Aviation Development Foundation...
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
Aileron roll
The Aileron Roll is an aerobatic maneuver in which the aircraft does a full 360° revolution about its longitudinal axis. When executed properly, there is no appreciable change in altitude and the aircraft exits the maneuver on the same heading as it entered...
above the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
on flight from Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
before the pilots regained control and landed safely. A former crew member described it as a "flying death trap". In 2005, the pilot, co-captain and flight engineer quit because of concerns over maintenance and non-payment of debts.
The plane was ferried to Tijuana, Mexico, in late 2005 where it remains today. The Federal Aviation Administration has revoked the plane's operating certificate citing maintenance and airworthiness concerns.
Accountability
In 2005, the Evangelical Council for Financial AccountabilityEvangelical Council for Financial Accountability
The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability is an accreditation agency to promote fiscal integrity and sound financial practices among member organizations. Founded in 1979, it comprises over 2,000 evangelical Christian organizations which qualify for tax-exempt, nonprofit status and...
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
Ministry Watch
Ministry Watch is an independent evangelical Christian organization whose purpose is to review Christian ministries for financial accountability and transparency, and to provide independent advice to Christians considering making donations to them...
, the independent source for ministry ratings.
Political activism in India
Anand returned to India in September 2007 to help change India's government. He believes that Sonia GandhiSonia Gandhi
Sonia Gandhi is an Italian-born Indian politician and the President of the Indian National Congress, one of the major political parties of India. She is the widow of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi...
, as she is a Christian and the head of the Congress Party
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
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.
Quran-burning
K. A. Paul appeared publicly with Terry Jones2010 Qur'an-burning controversy
The Dove World Quran-burning controversy arose in July 2010, when Terry Jones, the pastor of the Christian Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, U.S., declared he would burn 200 Qurans on the 2010 anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Media coverage resulted in international...
, the Florida pastor who had planned to burn copies of the Quran as a protest against the building of a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
close to Ground Zero
World Trade Center site
The World Trade Center site , also known as "Ground Zero" after the September 11 attacks, sits on in Lower Manhattan in New York City...
in New York. They together gave the Imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
of the planned mosque 2 hour notice to contact them over the pending Quran burning. Paul stated that "I have requested and pleaded with pastor not to burn the Koran".
External links
- http://kapaulglobalpeace.blogspot.com/2011/03/quran-burning-stopped-by-worlds-most.html
- Biography on Global Peace Initiative website
- Biography on Gospel to the Unreached Millions website
- K. A. Paul's life history in ministrywatch.org
- 'Charity City' may be on assigned land, Times of India, June 10, 2007
- K.A. Paul Party official portal
- K.A. Paul Gets Attention After Hastert Meeting, from Christianity Today