K. A. Paul

Kilari Anand Paul
K.A. Paul on Tarmac in Haiti
Born	September 25, 1963 (1963-09-25) (age 48) Andhra Pradesh, India,
Occupation	Evangelist Author Speaker
Spouse	Mary
Children	Grace, Peace and John Paul

Kilari Anand Paul is a Christian preacher originally from India who later became a naturalized American.^[1]

Early life

Originally named Anand Kilari,^[1] he was born on September 25, 1963, in a small village called Chittivalsa in the State of Andhra Pradesh, 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.^[2]

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.^[2]
• 1989. Paul came to the United States.
• 1993. Paul created the U.S. nonprofit Gospel to the Unreached Millions (GUM) in Duluth, Minnesota.
• 1996. GUM opened its headquarters in Humble, Texas.
• 1999. GUM moved its headquarters to Houston, Texas.^[2]
• 2007. K.A. Paul made comments against the Chief Minister CM (equivalent to a State Governor in the USA) of Andhra Pradesh State in India, Mr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and the India's governing council Chairman, Ms. Sonia 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 Party. 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.^{[citation needed]}

Global Peace One

K.A. Paul walking off Global Peace One on March 2, 2004, on a humanitarian mission to Haiti

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".^[3] 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.^[4][5][6] 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.^[1] 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.^[4]

Controversies

Accountability

In 2005, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability terminated the membership of Paul's organization for failing to meet financial accountability and governance standards.^[7] Financial details of his ministries are listed by Ministry Watch, 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 Gandhi, 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.^[8]

Quran-burning

K. A. Paul appeared publicly with Terry Jones, 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".^[9][10]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Craig Malisow (June 8, 2006). "The Plane Truth". Houston Press. http://www.houstonpress.com/2006-06-08/news/the-plane-truth/1. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Ministrywatch.org Retrieved December 12, 2010
3. ^ Travel Video Television, article on missions to Tsunami struck Indonesia
4. ^ ^{a b} History of 747sp Airplanes
5. ^ Airliner Info website
6. ^ Aviation Safety Network
7. ^ ECFA Terminated Membership Ties with GUM, MinistryWatch DonorAlert, 2005
8. ^ GPI's own website, letter from Kilari Paul
9. ^ "Fellow evangelist says minister's Koran-burning is definitely off for Saturday". 
10. ^ http://kapaulglobalpeace.blogspot.com/2011/03/quran-burning-stopped-by-worlds-most.html

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

Persondata
Name	Paul, K.A.
Alternative names
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Date of birth	September 25, 1963
Place of birth	Andhra Pradesh, India
Date of death
Place of death