K. A. Paul
K. A. Paul | |
---|---|
![]() K. A. Paul in 2004 | |
Born | |
Occupation | Evangelist |
Political party | Praja Shanti Party |
Spouse | Mary Kilari |
Children | 3 |
Parent | Barnabas |
Kilari Anand Paul (born September 25, 1963) is an Indian Christian evangelist , humanitarian and Indian Politician. He is the founder of the US-based organizations Global Peace Initiative (GPI) and Gospel to the Unreached Millions (GUM) and has operated orphanages, including Charity City in Hyderabad. He was joined by Manoj Malla alias Bala Yesu in 2008, and started the Praja Shanti party that same year.[1]
Personal life
Kilari Anand Paul was born in the village of Chittivalasa, Andhra Pradesh, India.[2] His parents were Barnabas and Santhosamma.[3][4] His parents converted to Christianity in 1966, and Paul became a Christian in March 1971, at age eight. Paul stated that he traveled with his evangelist father to hundreds of villages in India sharing the gospel and, at age 19, he entered full-time ministry.[5]
Paul has three children with his wife Mary Kilari.[6] His mother died while undergoing treatment in Visakhapatnam on 12 Feb 2019.[4]
Paul was granted honorary degree from Living Word Bible College in Swan River, Manitoba, Canada.[7]
Career
Paul has travelled to many countries and met numerous world leaders in his role as a Christian evangelist.[8][9][10][11] In 2006, Paul authored the book Al-Qaeda Winning–America Losing.[12]
In an article in The New Republic, Michelle Cottle compared him with Billy Graham and Jimmy Carter, writing that "Focused as he is on Third World hunger and other apolitical issues that don’t get you on “Crossfire,” Dr. Paul simply may never fit the American image of a Spiritual Leader. But such challenges simply make the indefatigable peace crusader even more determined to try."[13]
The same article in The New Republic, states that "By all accounts, Dr. Paul’s overseas peace rallies are sights to behold. Most take place in Africa or India, where villagers stream in from around the countryside to see, as one Indian paper put it, “the mesmerizing evangelist,” who has become a minor celebrity across much of both continents. A “small” rally is defined as an audience of 10,000 or 20,000. Large rallies stretch upward of a million.[13] Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, who traveled to India with Paul in January 2002, stated "But there were maybe seventy-five thousand, a hundred thousand," Huckabee says of the rally he attended. "I'm not sure I ever saw that many people except at a major football game."
In 2005, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability terminated the membership of Paul's organization, Gospel to the Unreached Millions, for failing to meet financial accountability and governance standards.[14]
Global Peace One
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/KAPONGLOBALPEACE1.jpg/225px-KAPONGLOBALPEACE1.jpg)
Through charitable contributions to his organization, Paul's backers provided funds to purchase a Boeing 747SP airplane that Paul named "Global Peace Ambassadors", which flew under the name "Global Peace One".[15] The airplane was formerly flown by China Airlines; it was the aircraft in the China Airlines Flight 006 accident. The airplane was used for missions to Third World countries, delivering disaster aid. A former crew member described it as a "flying death trap". The volunteer pilot, first officer, and flight engineer all quit in 2010 because of concerns over maintenance and non-payment of debts. The FAA eventually suspended the plane's operating certificate due to insufficient maintenance.[16] The aircraft is parked at Tijuana International Airport in Tijuana, Baja California, and is reported to be in poor condition with expired registration as of December 31, 2016.[citation needed] .
Murder Charges
He was arrested in the murder conspiracy case of his own brother K. David Raju in 2012.[2][17] A non-bailable warrant was issued against him in 2019.[2][18] Though there were multiple reports that police dropped charges against him due to lack of evidence,[19][20] as of March 2023, the case is still ongoing as he petitioned for a stay against his arrest in the Supreme Court of India.[21]
Politics
Paul launched the Praja Shanti Party in India in 2008. He stated, "The purpose of starting the Praja Shanti Party is to redeem people from slavery, promote equality among all people and all faiths and all castes and establish true democracy."[22] Paul said in January 2019 that his party would contest the 2019 elections in Andhra Pradesh.[23] His party's slogan was "Save Secular India". He stated that both central and state governments reneged on their election promises and deceived the people.[24] He contested unsuccessfully from Narasapuram as a Lok Sabha candidate for 2019, securing 3,037 votes out of 1,325,028 cast.[25][26] His nomination for 2019 Bhimavaram Assembly constituency was rejected by the returning officer as he reached the place after the deadline.[27]
In the United States, Paul backed Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election due to Obama's opposition to the War in Iraq.[28] Paul then endorsed Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.[29][30]
References
- ^ ""The 8th wonder of the world K a Paul" in Oslo – NORWAY NEWS – latest news, breaking stories and comment – NORWAY NEWS".
- ^ a b c Sukumar, C. R. (22 May 2012). "Evangelist KA Paul arrested for murder conspiracy by Andhra Pradesh police". The Economic Times.
- ^ "K.A. Paul's father condemns arrest". The Hindu. 25 May 2012 – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ a b "KA Paul Bereaved". The Hans India. 12 February 2019.
- ^ "Gospel to the Unreached Millions". ministrywatch.org. Archived from the original on 21 November 2003. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
- ^ Dooley, Tara; Chronicle, Copyright 2005 Houston (29 January 2005). "Evangelist K.A. Paul moves spirits worldwide". Houston Chronicle.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Sethurupan, Nadarajah (17 May 2004). ""Foreign Minister" in The New Republic". The New Republic.
- ^ "Hastert duped into letting stranger inside". 29 May 2015.
- ^ "Dr. K.A. Paul, President of Global Peace Initiative Advises President Donald Trump to Lift Sudan Sanctions".
- ^ "K.A. Paul: Indian, Evangelical, Pro-Israel International Man of Mystery".
- ^ "The Persuader". The New Yorker. 25 August 2003.
- ^ K. A. Paul (2006). Al-Qaeda Winning--America Losing. Global Peace Initiative. ISBN 978-0-9789284-1-4.
- ^ a b "From The Tnr Archives: World's Most Popular Evangelist". The New Republic. 23 October 2008.
- ^ Hernandez, Nathaniel, "Hastert meets with critic over scandal", Washington Post. AP Story, October 10, 2006, viewed 03/16/2018
- ^ Tommy Morgren (10 June 2010). "End is near for Global Peace One". 747sp.com.
- ^ Craig Malisow (8 June 2006). "The Plane Truth". HoustonPress. Retrieved 8 June 2006.
- ^ "Noted evangelist KA Paul's brother found dead in Andhra Pradesh". DNA India. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Mayabrahma, Roja (19 August 2019). "Non-bailable warrant issued against KA Paul". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Sukumar, C. R. (11 November 2020). "Police drop murder charge against evangelist KA Paul". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ "Police drop murder charge against evangelist". The Times of India. 9 November 2020. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
- ^ Telugu, 10TV; Thiru, Narender (1 March 2023). "KA Paul: సోదరుడి హత్య కేసులో సుప్రీం కోర్టుకు కేఏ పాల్.. తనను అరెస్టు చేయకుండా స్టే విధించాలని పిటిషన్". 10TV Telugu (in Telugu). Retrieved 14 September 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Evangelist K A Paul launches Praja Shanti Party in AP". The News Wire. 5 October 2008.
- ^ "Praja Shanti will contest 2019 polls, says KA Paul". The Times of India.
- ^ "Save secular India is PSP agenda: Paul". The Hans India. 7 January 2019.
- ^ "Jagan has 31 cases pending, Naidu one". Deccan Herald. 24 March 2019.
- ^ "Narsapuram Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 Live: Narsapuram Constituency Election Results, News, Candidates, Vote Paercentage". News18.
- ^ "KA Paul's Nomination For Bhimavaram Rejected". Sakshipost. 25 March 2019.
- ^ Jacob Kamaras (29 January 2016). "K.A. Paul: Indian, evangelical, pro-Israel international man of mystery". Jewish News Syndicate.
- ^ "Seven Reasons Why Dr. KA Paul, World's Most Popular Evangelist Is Backing Donald Trump for America's President". PR Newswire. 19 February 2016.
- ^ CDS Mani (2 December 2016). "Indian priest preached Donald Trump gospel". Times of India.
External links
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- 1963 births
- Living people
- American Christian clergy
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- Converts to Protestantism from Hinduism
- Christian clergy from Andhra Pradesh
- Indian evangelicals
- People from Houston
- Politicians from Visakhapatnam
- People from Uttarandhra