All India Mission

Our History

In 1975, with 50 cents in his pocket, NJ Varughese began working in the city of Simdega, India. He and one other ministry worker traveled first by foot, then by bicycle to the many village markets; selling Bibles and handing out Bible tracts for two years before they gained their first convert. By 1995, they had established 50 churches and had 100 full-time pastors working with them.

In 1997, Brother NJ’s heart was greatly stirred by the absence of healthcare for the approximately 250,000 people living in Simdega and the surrounding area. In that year alone, approximately 5,000 people died of a malaria epidemic. Thousands die every year from malaria, cholera, typhoid and tuberculosis, diseases that can be readily cured with proper healthcare. NJ and his workers prayed for an answer to this tremendous need. In 1999, the ministry founded a mobile medical clinic which has now treated over 100,000 ailing natives from its medical van. While much has been accomplished through the mobile medical team, it became clear that a fixed based clinic, hospital and medical training center were greatly needed.

In 2002, NJ developed a vision for a 200 bed hospital to be called Shanti Bhavan Medical Center. By faith, Brother NJ was able to purchase 30 acres of land far below market value, which is unheard of in India. The initial survey, design, and architectural work were completed by Engineering Ministries International, an American organization that does this type of work free of charge around the world.

Since 1975, the ministry, now known as All India Mission, has grown to more than 650 pastors and evangelists and over 350 churches, four orphanages, a Bible school and two elementary schools for native children. The ministry is presently involved in developing micro-enterprises in a number of Indian villages that will lead to a better food supply and a source of income which ultimately will lead to self-sufficiency for the pastors and natives in those villages.