Pentecostal Mission · Vellore, Tamil Nadu

Carrying the Gospel to the villages of Tamil Nadu.

Hallelujah Village Church Trust is planting churches and serving the least among us in rural India — widows, orphan children, rural pastors, and the vulnerable — in the name of Jesus Christ.

HVCT invites cross-cultural missionaries and resource persons to share in the ministry — visiting the mission spots, staying for a time, and taking part in medical, educational, crusade, theological, and social service work.

Led by Pastor T. John Ravi Chandran
Based in Melmonavur Village, Vellore
Commission Mark 16:15

About HVCT

A brotherhood of faithful Christians, united in the name of Jesus.

Hallelujah Village Church Trust is a Pentecostal fellowship gathered under the grace of God and the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Our heart is the Great Commission of Mark 16:15“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

We work to conserve the unity of the Church as the body of Christ, uphold biblical principles, and honor the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). Our labour is among the least and most needy: widows, orphan children, rural pastors, lepers, the elderly, and Sunday school children.

We ask for your prayer and partnership in three urgent works — leadership training for rural pastors, education for orphan children, and a sustaining ministry for widows and Bible women.

  • 01Leadership training for rural pastors
  • 02Education for orphan children
  • 03Care for widows & Bible women
The HVCT network of village pastors gathered outside the church
“A brotherhood of faithful Christians, united in the name of Jesus Christ.”
Pastor T. John Ravi Chandran preaching at the village pastors meeting
Pastor T. John Ravi Chandran Founder & Pastor, HVCT

Meet the Pastor

"To go where the Gospel has not yet gone."

Pastor T. John Ravi Chandran has walked the dusty roads of Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts for years, planting churches in villages where no preacher had set foot, and gathering a brotherhood of rural pastors who carry the same fire.

He carries one verse the way a soldier carries his orders — "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). It is why HVCT exists. It is why he keeps going back to the Gipsy Camp at dusk, why he sits on the floor with widows, why he teaches the village pastors who teach their own. The mission is the man, and the man is faithful to the call.

He invites cross-cultural missionaries, teachers, nurses and intercessors to come and see for themselves — to walk a few of those roads alongside him.

Our Mission

To plant churches in remote villages of Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts — evangelizing, baptizing and discipling the downtrodden, faithful to the Word of God.

Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

— Mark 16:15

What we do

Ministries serving the village and the soul.

Medical Outreach

Free camps and care for those without access in rural Vellore and Tiruvannamalai.

Education for Orphans

School, food and a future for orphan children in our care — and a sponsor program for partners.

Gospel Crusades

Open-air meetings, evangelism and discipleship in villages across two districts.

Theological Teaching

Preaching, Bible teaching and leadership training for rural pastors and Bible women.

Social Service

Walking alongside widows, the elderly, lepers and the most vulnerable in our community.

Missionaries Welcome

An open invitation for cross-cultural missionaries to come, stay, and serve alongside us.

Our Beliefs

What we believe — and where it is written.

Our doctrine is rooted in Scripture, the inspired Word of God. The summaries below are the core convictions that shape our worship, our witness and our work.

iThe Scriptures

The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the product of holy men of old who spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant, as recorded in the New Testament, we accept as our infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine.

2 Tim. 3:16 · 1 Thess. 2:13 · 2 Peter 1:21

iiThe Godhead

Our God is one, but manifested in three Persons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — being coequal. The Father is greater than all, the Sender of the Word and the Begetter. The Son is the Word flesh-covered, the One Begotten, who has existed with the Father from the beginning. The Holy Spirit proceeds forth from both the Father and the Son and is eternal.

Deut. 6:4 · Phil. 2:6 · John 14:28 · John 16:28 · John 1:1, 14, 18 · John 14:16 · John 15:26

iiiMan, His Fall and Redemption

Man is a created being, made in the likeness and image of God, but through Adam's transgression and fall, sin came into the world. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was manifested to undo the works of the devil and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God. Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the Law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God.

Rom. 3:10, 23 · Rom. 5:14 · 1 John 3:8 · Eph. 2:8–10

ivEternal Life and the New Birth

Man's first step toward salvation is godly sorrow that worketh repentance. The New Birth is necessary to all men, and when experienced, produces eternal life.

2 Cor. 7:10 · John 3:3–5 · 1 John 5:12

vWater Baptism

Baptism in water is by immersion, is a direct commandment of our Lord, and is for believers only. The ordinance is a symbol of the Christian's identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. The baptismal formula: “On the confession of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and by His authority, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

Matt. 28:19 · Rom. 6:4 · Col. 2:12 · Acts 8:36–39

viBaptism in the Holy Ghost

The Baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire is a gift from God as promised by the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers in this dispensation and is received subsequent to the new birth. This experience is accompanied by the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Holy Spirit Himself gives utterance.

Matt. 3:11 · John 14:16,17 · Acts 1:8 · Acts 2:1–4, 38–39 · Acts 19:1–7

viiSanctification

Without holiness no man can see the Lord. We believe in the Doctrine of Sanctification as a definite, yet progressive work of grace, commencing at the time of regeneration and continuing until the consummation of salvation at Christ's return.

Heb. 12:14 · 1 Thess. 5:23 · 2 Peter 3:18 · 2 Cor. 3:18 · Phil. 3:12–14 · 1 Cor. 1:30

viiiDivine Healing

Healing is for the physical ills of the human body and is wrought by the power of God through the prayer of faith, and by the laying on of hands. It is provided for in the atonement of Christ, and is the privilege of every member of the Church today.

James 5:14,15 · Mark 16:18 · Isa. 53:4–5 · Matt. 8:17 · 1 Peter 2:24

ixResurrection of the Just & Return of Our Lord

His coming is imminent. “The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” Following the Tribulation, He shall return to earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, and together with His saints He shall reign a thousand years.

Acts 1:11 · 1 Thess. 4:16–17 · Rev. 5:10 · Rev. 20:6

xHell & Eternal Retribution

The one who physically dies in his sins without accepting Christ is eternally lost in the lake of fire. The terms “eternal” and “everlasting” carry the same meaning of endless existence used in denoting the joy of the saints in the Presence of God.

Heb. 9:27 · Rev. 19:20

Make a Mission Trip

Come, stay, and serve in the villages of Vellore.

We extend an open hand to cross-cultural missionaries, pastors, teachers, nurses, and resource persons. Come and visit the mission spots, stay for a time, and take part in the ministry firsthand.

  • Medical campsprovide care alongside our team
  • Children's programsteach, mentor, encourage
  • Gospel crusadespreach in the villages
  • Pastor trainingstrengthen rural leaders
  • Social servicewalk with widows and the elderly
HVCT Gipsy Camp outreach at dusk

Watch the ministry

Moments in motion.

Short clips from the Gipsy Camp Outreach and a Pastors Teaching session — please be patient as videos load on slower connections.

Gipsy Camp · gathering at dusk
Gipsy Camp · sharing the Gospel
Gipsy Camp · praying with the people
Pastors Teaching · April 2026

Frequently asked

Honest answers, before you ask.

Most of the questions we hear from sponsors, missionaries and friends — with the answers Pastor John would give you if you reached him on WhatsApp tonight.

Q1How does sponsoring an orphan child work?

You commit to a monthly gift that goes directly toward an orphan child's food, schooling, clothing, and care. Pastor John will confirm the monthly amount with you personally when you reach out — we keep it flexible so it works for your family. We'll share which child you are supporting, photos and updates from time to time, and you can write to them through the church.

Q2Where does my gift actually go?

Every gift goes into three works: rural pastor training, orphan education and care, and the widow & Bible-women ministry. Gifts given for a specific child or pastor are used for that purpose. Pastor John is personally accountable for the funds and is happy to share details on request.

Q3Can I come and visit the mission?

Yes — we warmly welcome cross-cultural missionaries, pastors, teachers, nurses, and intercessors. You can come for a few days or stay longer. Reach out on WhatsApp first and we will plan the trip together — we'll suggest the season, arrange accommodation, and walk you through what to expect at the Gipsy Camp, the pastors meetings, and the village churches.

Q4Is HVCT a registered trust?

Yes. Hallelujah Village Church Trust is the registered name of the ministry. Pastor T. John Ravi Chandran is the founding pastor and steward. For formal documentation or large gifts that need a receipt, please reach Pastor John directly and he will provide what you need.

Q5I can't give every month. Can I still help?

Absolutely. One-time gifts are deeply appreciated and stretch a long way in the villages of Vellore. You can also share this site with people who might partner with us, or simply pray for our pastors, our widows and our children. Prayer is the first work of every mission — please pray for us.

Q6What's the best way to reach Pastor John?

WhatsApp on +91 98428 91578 is the fastest — he replies personally, usually within a day. Email at johnrchandran@gmail.com works too. Please be patient on slow-network days; Vellore villages aren't always covered.

Find us

Jesus HVCT Mission Center, Melmonavur Village.

A village church on Church Street in Melmonavur, Vellore district — the heart of our ministry.

Contact

Reach Pastor John.

Whether you are sponsoring a child, planning a visit, or just want to say a prayer with us, we'd be honoured to hear from you.