Our History
Christ Gospel Ministries, Inc., with a U.S. office in Atlanta, Georgia, was formed in 2019 to grow indigenous missions in India. We believe that with your support, we can make a significant difference. Your contributions enable us to support church planting and develop leaders, provide orphan care, educational and self-employment training for widows and poor girls, and disaster relief. We serve as the fiscal sponsor for Christ Gospel Church Ministries (India) and facilitate pastor training programs to train 1000+ village pastors each year and plant churches.
The original ministry was established in 2002 by Pastor Vijay Raju. Vijay was born into a low-income family and was unable to take care of himself because his parents lived in poverty. When he was six months old, Vijay was adopted by a Hindu family member.
Vijay led the life of an Orthodox Hindu. His previous name was Venkatesh (named after a Hindu god). Vijay was given a good education and learned many languages. His adopted father was in the army, and Vijay traveled with the family across India and studied in different schools.
At the age of 16, Vijay’s adoptive mother died from a heart attack, and his adoptive father remarried. Remaining with him was not an option, so Vijay had to go back to his biological parents. This was a turning point in his life because they were still living in poverty in a thatched shed and were Christians.
Since he was raised as a Hindu, Vijay was rebellious to his parents and their Christian faith. One Easter Sunday, however, Vijay attended church at his mother’s request and heard the gospel for the first time. On 30th September 2000, at 19, he believed the gospel while reading the Scriptures and accepted Christ as his personal Saviour. He dedicated himself to the Lord’s ministry of reaching the lost.
Vijay has personally planted 12 churches and started the Christ Gospel Church Ministries in India. Over the past 20 years, the ministry has trained thousands of pastors. Vijay and his team aim to reach unreached villages to plant churches and train leaders. They are inviting fellow Christians to join this movement. Vijay holds degrees in M.A. English from Andhra University, an L.LB (Law degree from Andhra University), a Master’s in Theology from MINTS, and an Honorary Doctorate from Anglican Seminary.
Vijay is married to Swarupa, and they are blessed with two children, Henry and Blessy.
Dr. G. Vijay Raju also serves as an Archbishop for the Anglican Church of India and the Council of Reformed Churches of India.