Articles by CDI Staff
-
The All India Congress on Church in Mission (AICOCIM) continued Wednesday with a keynote address by Dr. Santhosh T. Mathew, an internal medicine specialist who has served with the Emmanuel Hospital Association. In a wide-ranging presentation, Mathew urged the Indian Church to reclaim its legacy of holistic healing and to reimagine pastoral care in response to today’s mental health and trauma crisis. -
Indian Christian entrepreneur urges Christian relevance in public life through excellence and ethics at AICOCIM
The evening session of the second day of the All India Congress on Church in Mission (AICOCIM) featured a plenary address by Dr. Sanjay Patra, who called on Christians in India to embrace their role as “salt and light” in society through relevance, entrepreneurial initiative, professional excellence, and ethical witness. -
'If our faith makes sense to the weakest, it will make sense to all': Indian Church called to embrace identity in the margins
The second day of the All India Congress on Church in Mission (AICOCIM) featured a deeply reflective plenary address by Rev. Dr. Jayakumar Christian, former CEO of World Vision India and past lead for Faith & Development at World Vision International, who urged the Indian Church to recognize its calling to live and serve from the margins of society. -
‘Most lonely breed on earth’: Indian evangelical leader issues urgent call for counseling care for pastors
Rev. Dr. Richard Howell, former General Secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India and the Asia Evangelical Alliance, warned at the All India Congress on Church in Mission (AICOCIM) that pastors often struggle in deep isolation and urgently need safe spaces to share their burdens. -
European Evangelical Alliance elects Andreas Wenzel as new president
The European Evangelical Alliance has elected Andreas Wenzel of Germany as its new president, succeeding Frank Hinkelmann, who concluded 12 years in the role. The leadership transition was announced during the Alliance’s hybrid 2025 Members Meeting in Bar, Montenegro, which gathered the EEA Board and staff on site and evangelical leaders from across Europe virtually. -
'Every leader must pass the baton': AICOCIM plenary challenges Indian Church to end centralized power, equip future pastors
Speaking at the All India Congress on Church in Mission (AICOCIM), Rev. Dr. A. K. Lama, Chair of the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation, issued a call for the Indian Church to cultivate leadership that endures beyond personalities, offices, and titles. In a wide-ranging plenary address on the second day of the Congress, Lama emphasized that leadership “that lasts” is rooted in integrity, sustainability, and spiritual authority. -
Evangelical Fellowship of India launches 75th anniversary celebrations at AICOCIM
The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) has launched a series of events leading up to its 75th anniversary, beginning with a kickoff at the All India Congress on Church in Mission (AICOCIM) this week. Founded in 1951, EFI has grown into a prominent evangelical network recognized across the country and beyond. -
'We must return to our first love': AICOCIM plenary calls Church back to Christ-centered mission
The second day of the All India Congress on Church in Mission (AICOCIM) opened with a plenary address from Bishop P.K. Samantaroy of the Church of North India, who offered a frank assessment of the Indian Church. Balancing “joy and sadness,” he celebrated the growth of Christian communities while lamenting what he called a “deficit of impact” in their witness. -
From mission to 'sevā': AICOCIM challenges Indian Church to embrace selfless service
On the opening day of the All India Congress on Church in Mission (AICOCIM), Rev. Dr. Praveen Paul, Principal of Caleb Institute, delivered a plenary address urging the Indian Church to recover the essence of discipleship. He warned that consumer-driven attitudes and shallow models of church growth cannot sustain Christian witness, calling instead for the formation of authentic disciples shaped by integrity, humility, and Spirit-led obedience. -
StopArmut conference in Switzerland to address conflict resolution and peacebuilding
The 16th edition of the StopArmut Conference is set to focus on conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and reconciliation work. The event, titled "Swords to Plowshares - Responses to Armed Conflict," will take place on Nov. 1 at the Arche Winterthur in Winterthur, Switzerland. Hosted by the StopArmut (Stop Poverty) initiative, the conference connects the issues of armed conflict with the broader goal of poverty alleviation. -
Indian Church urged to proclaim Christ with authenticity, purity, unity, and boldness at AICOCIM 2025
On the opening day of the All India Congress on Church in Mission (AICOCIM), Rev. Dr. Paul Mathews, National Overseer of Filadelfia Fellowship Churches of India and Senior Pastor of Rajasthan Pentecostal Church, delivered a plenary address urging the Church in India to renew its witness through authenticity, purity, unity, and boldness. -
'A Church broad but shallow cannot stand': Vijayesh Lal urges leaders at AICOCIM to return to deep discipleship
The opening keynote of the All India Congress on Church in Mission (AICOCIM) became a wide-ranging call to action Monday afternoon (Sept. 15) as Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) General Secretary Vijayesh Lal urged nearly 450 Christian leaders to embrace surrender, courage, and Spirit-guided imagination to meet the challenges of this moment in history.
