Leadership

The history of Good News for India is the story of God using an ordinary couple in an extraordinary way.

Born in Kerala, a south Indian State, George Kuruvila Chavanikamannil was headed to law school when the Lord saved him and called him for full-time Gospel ministry. He developed a special burden for the northern part of India, traditionally a very difficult place for the Gospel.

George's future wife, Leela, came to know the Lord when she was very young. After completing her university education in Kerala, she started teaching in a school in Katmandu, Nepal. From there, she reached Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1972. George joined her in 1973, and they were married in St. Paul, Minnesota. They moved to California in 1974. George enrolled in Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. After graduating from Fuller, he joined World Vision in 1977 and served till 1986. Later he completed his Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, Massachusettes. 

All through these years, God was developing a vision in the hearts of George and Leela to reach their own mother country with the Gospel. So in 1986, George resigned from his position with World Vision to pioneer the ministries of Good News for India. Later Leela left her career with Bank of America and joined George. 

George and Leela shared their vision to start a training center for training Indian Christians to serve the Lord with anyone who would listen. Miraculously God provided resources to establish the Luther W. New Theological College (commonly known as NTC) in Dehradun, then in the state of Uttar Pradesh, and now the capital of Uttarakhand, North India. NTC opened its doors on April 15, 1989, and has now trained over 3,000 Christian youths to serve the Lord and people. Please pray for George and Leela, their two sons, their spouses, and their nine grandchildren. With God's help, Good News for India is committed to sharing the life-giving Word of God with all who would listen.