NGO watchdog, Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), has approached the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) seeking a detailed investigation into foreign contributions received by the Madurai-based Evangelical Church Growth Mission (ECGM) from two United States-based missionary organisations – The Timothy Initiative Inc. and Gospelink Inc. in light of a recent Enforcement Directorate-linked FIR registered in Bengaluru.
In its complaint to the ED, LRPF alleged that ECGM, an FCRA-registered organisation based in Madurai, received substantial foreign contributions over several years from The Timothy Initiative Inc. and Gospelink Inc., two US-based Christian missionary organisations that it claims are linked through common leadership and similar missionary objectives.
According to the complaint, Evangelical Church Growth Mission is registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and operates from Pasumalai in Madurai. LRPF cited FCRA returns filed by ECGM as well as Form 990 filings submitted by the two American organisations to the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The complaint points to the role of David Nelms, who is identified in the organisations’ US filings as the founder and director of The Timothy Initiative and also a director of Gospelink. It is alleged that the common leadership structure and overlapping missionary objectives raise questions about whether funds intended for similar purposes were channelled through multiple interconnected entities.
According to figures compiled from FCRA returns, The Timothy Initiative allegedly transferred approximately ₹32.79 lakh to ECGM between 2014-15 and 2017-18. The contributions cited in the complaint include multiple transfers across four financial years, with the total amounting to ₹32,79,137.
The larger share of foreign funding cited by LRPF came from Gospelink Inc. The complaint alleges that Gospelink transferred approximately ₹4.16 crore to ECGM between 2010-11 and 2018-19. The listed transactions span nearly a decade and total ₹4,16,34,771.
Based on these figures, it is alleged that ECGM maintained a long-standing and substantial financial relationship with both organisations and has urged enforcement authorities to scrutinise the purpose, nature and utilisation of the funds received.
The complaint further alleges that Rev. J. Joshua Vijaykumar, also referred to as Joshua Vijay Kumar, the Secretary of Evangelical Church Growth Mission, has been closely associated with the activities of The Timothy Initiative in India. While not making specific allegations regarding wrongdoing by him, LRPF has requested authorities to examine the nature and extent of his association with the organisation, including any leadership, coordination or operational role.
The FIR filed last week by the ED names The Timothy Initiative USA among the accused entities and individuals. According to the complaint cited by LRPF, the FIR alleges the existence of a nationwide network that used foreign-issued debit cards to withdraw and distribute funds across India. The FIR alleges that approximately ₹92.55 crore was utilised through this mechanism, that over 1,000 foreign-issued debit cards were deployed across the country, and that nearly ₹44 crore was withdrawn and distributed in multiple states. The complaint also references alleged withdrawals in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas, recovery of foreign-issued debit cards from accused persons, expenditure records exceeding ₹95 crore and deletion of operational data following enforcement action.
Against this backdrop, LRPF has urged the Enforcement Directorate to investigate whether any foreign contributions received by ECGM from The Timothy Initiative or Gospelink have any nexus with the activities currently under investigation.
The organisation has specifically requested the ED to conduct a comprehensive investigation into foreign contributions received by ECGM from The Timothy Initiative, examine the role of Rev. Joshua Vijaykumar in relation to the organisation’s activities in India, scrutinise the utilisation of foreign contributions received from the two US-based entities, and initiate appropriate action under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 and other applicable laws if any violations are established.
Stating that the matter involves substantial foreign funding from organisations now facing scrutiny in a major Enforcement Directorate-linked investigation, LRPF has sought immediate intervention and action by the central agency.
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