Provisional General Conference

• Organized Free Methodist Churches: 1,255
• FMC Membership: 127,067
• Ordained Ministers: 178
• Ministerial Candidates: 224

Origins

In 1881, several years before the mission board was organized, Ernest and Phebe Ward went to India backed by the prayers and occasional financial support of the home church. Ten years later, a board-appointed missionary, Miss Ceila Ferries, arrived.

The Free Methodist Church was assigned to minister in central India in the state of Maharashtra. The work was difficult and slow. During the famine years, beginning in 1899, church orphanages were built in Yavatmal district for homeless children.

In 1937 the first annual conference was organized. Two years later, a Bible college was opened which became Union Biblical Seminary (UBS), one of the first evangelical seminaries in Asia. Umri Christian Hospital opened in 1951.

Present Ministries

In the 1980s ministries were extended to Mumbai (Bombay). This ministry in western India flourished, and by 1994 work expanded to other states in the cities of Bangalore and Mysore. Bangalore became an annual conference in 2003, and a new mission district was organized in Hyderabad.

From the late 1970s, indigenous movements to Christ among the Indian tribals have grown rapidly. Two of these groups, Agape Fellowship and Immanuel Fellowship, have joined the Free Methodist family, adding nearly 100,000 members and 1,000 churches.

Umri Christian Hospital has expanded its ministries to include an English school and nursing school. Through International Child Care Ministries, hundreds of children are being cared for in six hostels. Many sponsored children have become pastors and church leaders. A growing literary program works primarily with deprived village women. Micro-enterprise projects empower members to support their families. An effective ministry to HIV-affected families has emerged in Mumbai.

In September 2005, the Free Methodist Church in India celebrated 125 years of ministry. At that time the formal inauguration of the church as a Provisional General Conference was held, along with the consecration of three bishops.

Opportunities to support India ministries

Learn more about India