KP Yohannan, the Metropolitan Bishop of the Believers' Church and founder of Gospel For Asia, the renowned evangelisation organisation passed away at Dallas in USA late Wednesday evening following a car accident.

Thiruvalla born Yohannan, who has been renamed as Athanasius Yohan following his elevation as Metropolitan Bishop was on an official trip to USA. A speeding car hit him while he was on his morning walk through a country road on Tuesday. The police rushed to the spot and airlifted him to a specialty hospital where it was found that Yohannan had suffered serious multiple injuries including broken ribs that damaged his liver. He was on life support system since he was admitted to the Dallas hospital and a cardiac arrest turned fatal.

The Believers Church management informed that his mortal remains would be brought back to Thiruvalla for the final rites. The Believers Church has many educational and business enterprises spread across the country. Spiritual Journey, the radio programme broadcast by Yohannan was a popular show among the his followers.

Yohannn was 74 and is survived by his son and daughter. Born into a poor family of duck rears in Thiruvalla, Yohannan rose to become the best evangelist in Asia and is credited with bringing millions of “sinners” to the path of Cross and Jesus. Those who vehemently oppose religious conversion themselves offered all possible help to Yohannan and his army of proselytisers to operate freely across India. He spent lavishly on these organisations by provising them with advertisements worth millions of rupees. In a rare show of communal harmony, publications owned by the RSS always spotted the advertisements   issued by Yohannan.

Starting his evangelization drive through the renowned Operation Mobilization, Yohannan had made proselytization an art form. The satellite TV channels owned by Yohannan are a major relief to people waiting for a call from the Holy Spirit. Details like the time and place of the Metropolitan’s last journey is awaited.

Believers Church was in the news in 2020 and 2022 following ED raids in the Church premises and business establishments owned by it. There were reports that the raids led to seizure of hundreds of crore rupees which is believed to be from money laundering .