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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
[[File:PASTOR KURIEN THOMAS.jpg|thumb|]]

'''Kurien Thomas''' (1922–2000) or '''Kurian Thomas''' was pioneer [[pentecostal]] [[missionary]] to Central India.

==Pioneering works==
He hailed from Kerala. In the beginning he was a missionary from the [[India Pentecostal Church of God]] but later formed a new organization called the [[Fellowship of the Pentecostal Churches in India]] along with other Christian leaders. He authored several books originally in Hindi, English, and Malayalam. He was the pastor of the [[Pentecostal]] Church at [[Itarsi]], Founder/Chairman and later Patron of the Fellowship of the Pentecostal Churches in India, and Principal of the Central India Bible College, estd. in 1962 (now [[Central India Theological Seminary]]) for several years. He was recipient of several awards for his outstanding contributions in the field of Christian literature, education, and ministry. His book ''God's Trailblazer In and Around the World''<ref>Kurien Thomas, ''God's Trailblazer'' (Bombay: GLS Press, 1986)</ref> was his autobiography.
[[File:Release of Kurien Thomas' autobiography.jpg|thumb|Dr. Matthew Thomas releasing the second edition of his father, Dr. Kurien Thomas', autobiography]]

Kurien Thomas also began a Hindi Christian magazine called ''Satyadoot'' that is one of the prominent Christian magazine in the Hindi language.

The [[Fellowship of the Pentecostal Churches in India]] has now over 1100 pastors working in close network with headquarters at the mother Church at Itarsi. Pastor Kurien pastored the Church from 1945 till his death in 2000. He is now succeeded by his son Dr. [[Matthew K. Thomas]] who is also the Chairman of the Fellowship ([[FPCGI]]), Editor-in-Chief of "Basileia", [https://web.archive.org/web/20110917123601/http://www.pentecostalworldfellowship.org/about/leaders.htm Secretary] of [[Pentecostal World Fellowship]], and President/Principal of [[Central India Theological Seminary]].

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Dates
! Important Events in the Life and Ministry of Dr. Kurien Thomas
|-
| 1939
| Kurien Thomas gets saved in K.E. Abraham's meetings at Kerala.
|-
| 1945
| Kurien Thomas comes with his wife as missionary to Itarsi.
|-
| 1946
| The first Pentecostal Conference in Itarsi.
|-
| 1948
| ''Satyadoot'' India's widely read Hindi Christian magazine is born.
|-
| 1962
| Bharosa Bible School begins with 7 students.
|-
| 1966
| The [[Fellowship of the Pentecostal Churches in India]] ([[FPCGI]]) is born with Pastor Kurien Thomas as Chairman.
|-
| 1996
| Dr. Kurien Thomas PG Studies and Research Center is established.
|-
| 2000
| Dr. Kurien Thomas breathes his last on earth.
|}

==Selected bibliography==
All writings were published by Central India Bible College, Itarsi.
*''अतीत की पगडंडिया'' Autobiography
*''परिणयगाथा'' A Commentary on the Songs of Solomon
*''प्रकाशितवाक्‍य'' A Commentary on Revelation
*''मिलापवाला तंबु'' The Tabernacle
*''पवित्र आत्‍मा'' Holy Spirit
*''धर्मविज्ञान प्रणाली'' Systematic Theology
*''Ruth: Malayalam''

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://books.google.com/books?id=LDZgKELq7AoC&pg=PA229&lpg=PA229&dq=kurien+thomas+pentecostal&source=bl&ots=i922xBd-PF&sig=IjLmAW2LiEW7tNb3y3HnWzruDiQ Allan Anderson, ''Asian and Pentecostal'' ]
*[http://www.glopent.net/Members/wlukose/indian-pentecostalism Kerala Pentecostalism ]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090219205803/http://indianchristianity.org/pentecostal.html Indian Christianity ]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110827022258/http://sfcmaharashtra.org/Trumpet_archives.pdf The Trumpet]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Kurien}}
[[Category:Christian clergy from Kerala]]
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:2000 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Pentecostals]]
[[Category:Pentecostal missionaries]]

Kurien Thomas - Revision history

->InternetArchiveBot at 14:50, 20 February 2020