PBMI and Peoples Baptist Church
About PBMI
PBMI and Peoples Baptist Church
Dr. G.S. Nair founded People’s Baptist Church (PBC) in 1981. It is an independent, fundamental Baptist church located in the city of Trivandrum, Kerala State, India.
Formally established in 1986, Peoples Baptist Ministries to India (PBMI) is the outreach ministry of People’s Baptist Church. It is a charitable society existing to serve the Lord and help local churches. Dr. G.S. Nair is the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Deacons of PBC make up the rest of the Board. This charitable society is a non-profit, non-political, tax-exempt organization recognized by the government of India and established for charitable purposes. It operates like a 501(c)(3) in the United States.
Indian charitable societies are governed by the Indian Societies Registration Act of 1860. A minimum of seven individuals are required to form a society. Dr. Nair is one of the seven members. Societies are similar in character to trusts, although there are a few essential differences. In a society, for example, all property is held in the name of the society, whereas all the property of a trust legally vests in the trustees.
Unlike trusts, societies may be dissolved. Upon dissolution, and after settlement of all debts and liabilities, the funds and property of the society may not be distributed among the members of the society. Rather, the remaining funds and property must be given or transferred to some other society, preferably one with similar objects as the dissolved entity.
PBMI owns and operates People’s Baptist Bible College and Seminary in Trivandrum, India, as well as four other Bible colleges in Punjab and Chhattisgarh, India. Over 2,000 of the more than 4,000 graduates are now serving in full-time ministry. PBMI also owns 8 Christian schools in six different Indian states. It owns 25 college extension schools in eight different Indian states, 26 children’s homes (orphanages) in four different Indian states; 2 vocational training centers for women; and a home for abused girls.
Moreover, PBMI, in conjunction with and through generous gifts from individuals and supporting churches, has purchased the property and funded the construction of facilities for over 700 local, independent Baptist churches in 30 different Indian states and in three neighboring countries.
Here’s how it works…
Most of the time, PBMI buys properties and builds church buildings for the benefit of and “in the name of” the local church. The local church, which is an independent body of believers, is not under obligation to purchase the property from PBMI and is not charged rent by PBMI. This is a great deal for the local church, but a terrible deal for PBMI. Here’s why…
At its option, the local church can, at any time, reimburse PBMI for the cost of the land and building and own it outright should the church so desire. Remember, the church can take title to the property “at cost.”
This means that even if the property appreciates in value, the church could in the future still buy the appreciated property at the original cost with no inflation rider. For example, if PBMI bought a piece of property in 1980 for $10,000 to build a church, and it is now worth $100,000, the church gets to purchase the property at the original $10,000 price. Bad deal for PBMI—a great deal for the local church.
If the local church decides to move out of that particular property and if PBMI decides to sell the property, it must dispose of it according to statute and government regulations, which state that the sale proceeds would have to be channeled into a ministry with the same goals and objectives. The money cannot benefit any member or officer of the society.