About Us
Gilgal Gospel Mission is committed to walking in Christ's footsteps to fulfill the Great Commission by Preaching Christ and Planting Churches among the unreached in India.
What is Gilgal?
Gilgal is the place where the reproach of Egypt upon Israel was rolled away. India also desperately needs His cleansing in order to become a country of Christ. Through the light of the gospel India can be revitalized for Christ. Gilgal Gospel Mission firmly believes that Jesus – “the way and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6), can set the Indian people free.
Mission Statement:
Our mission is to walk in Christ’s footsteps to fulfill the Great Commission among the unreached (Dalits) in India by preaching Christ and planting churches.
Our Vision:
Our vision for the future is built on a biblical foundation. We believe that God will use Gilgal Gospel Mission to proclaim the gospel to those who have never before heard throughout India and unto the ends of the world. As it is written in Mt 5:16,”let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and praise your Father who is in heaven.”
Our humble beginnings have been blessed and multiplied. We trust that God will continue to mightily use Gilgal Gospel Mission to establish His kingdom on earth. We lean upon His word and wait upon His promise. As it is written in Isaiah 60:22, “A little one shall become a thousand and a small one shall become a great nation.”
Gilgal Gospel Mission is a faith ministry. We depend completely upon God’s provision for our every need. He has promised that, “You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there.” 1 Kings 17:4.
Our History:
Gilgal Gospel Mission was founded by Rev. Dr. Chelliah and Mrs. K. Christobel Russelliah in Secunderabad, India. Chelliah was a young pastor at St. Thomas Tamil Church in 1974. GGM was formally registered in 1979. Both Chelliah and Christobel were fortunate to grow in the knowledge of Christ from a young age, although less than 3% of the population in India are Christians. The Russelliahs felt the call to share the joy they found in knowing Christ and visited several of the Hindu villages around Secunderabad to share the gospel. Many people came to Christ when they heard the good news. Soon a church was planted in the village to continue to strengthen the new believers. After five years of preaching and establishing three churches, the Russelliahs formed Gilgal Gospel Mission, Inc.
For the next 8 years, Gilgal Gospel Mission continued to preach Christ and plant churches among the unreached. Chelliah came to the US in 1987 to pursue his doctoral education. He graduated in 1994 from Trinity International University and returned to India. Christobel and their daughters joined him in 1997.
The Russelliahs realized that they needed the help of more workers to harvest the fields. They began the Indian Theological Seminary in 1990 and the Children’s Home in 1992. These ministries have served to enlarge the territory that God had promised to His servants. They asked the Lord to come to their aid, and He has supplied with His heavenly provision. As it is written in Mt 9:38, “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”