What is PEFCOC?
PEFCOC was founded in the month of August 1981 in Vizianagram, when Mr. Priyanath Rufus was working as a Lecturer in Maharajah's College. The inspiration has been drawn almost a decade before when he came across, in the study of European History, the chapter on Crusades which have been fought between Muslims and Christians. The word Crusades and Crusaders have attracted his attention, and an interesting idea struck his mind saying, "Why not our young men and woman become crusaders, not to fight Muslims, but to fight Satan." Thus the title of the Organization came into existence. As the Lord inspired Mr. Rufas with this idea, he undertook a fast for thirty nights, from July 5th through August 3rd of 1981, and on the August 4th formally launched the work of the organization and dedicated PEFCOC for the glory of God and for His holy service.
The Vision
Indeed, in the beginning of the ministry Mr. Rufus had no idea whatsoever about the work to be done. But he picked up every work that came in handy and did with utmost sincerity and commitment. Slowly God made things clearer about what to do and what not to do. Still it is widened to the extent of having a specific work in a specific place, and in a specific way.
In 1989 the Lord gave him an opportunity to travel in the northern parts of India where he came to know that the majority of the people there have never had an opportunity to know the name of Jesus. The things were entirely different from that in the south. Unlike in south you cannot see churches and Christians in the northern states of India. Then, he began to feel a need to do something for the people of north India. "Whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein; do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice" (Phil. 1:18). What Paul says is true in regard to the southern parts of India, while the vast multitudes of our brethren in the north of the sub-continent are impoverished for the gospel.
"Come over into Macedonia, and help us" is the call ringing in Mr. Rufus' ears, and revealed His purpose saying, "It is light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will also give thee for a light to the gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6).
After conducting many programs in north India and taking large batches of people from south in order to give them a direct exposure towards the need for ministry in north India, he thought some concrete work should be done though it caters to a small group and a small area. He began to make an encyclopedic study of ministry needs in the northern states of India, and found out that Himachal Pradesh is the least evangelized state in the country with less than 0.5% Christians. Therefore he wanted to concentrate his work there in spite of many oddities.
God showed the path and place and kindly led him into the state of Himachal Pradesh in August 1997, and slowly the work began, though tough and seemingly fruitless.
Who is Pastor Priyanath Rufus?
Pastor Priyanath Rufus was born in a family of Pastors, father, brother, fore fathers, and most of the kith and kin in the mission fields. In 1972, after his Degree studies, he accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior.
In 1980, when serving as Lecturer in English in the famous Maha Rajah's College in Vizianagaram committed himself to ministry as a secular employee. He did not yield in the first two calls for full time ministry on account of the bitter financial strains in the father's family due to father's resignation from the lucrative service as a Government Officer after encountered by the Lord on a vision, in 1954. In 1981 he founded PEFCOC.
When the Lord called the third time in the wee hours of 14th November 1994 -- after two months of great mental turmoil, wrestling with the Lord, and daily encounters in prayer -- he heard an audible voice encouraging for full time ministry. He tendered his resignation as lecturer and went into full time ministry on November 16, 1994. Pastor Rufus is shown in the picture (front center) with his family.
At the helm of affairs in the beginning of the ministry was his wife, Selma Suhasini Rufus, who was also a Lecturer in English in Government service. Just after starting Himachal Ministry, she was called away from him to eternal abode.
Pastor Rufus has three daughters. The first one, Esther Supriya Rufus, a Post Graduate on Computer Applications, is married and is living with her husband in Abu Dhabi. His second daughter, Preethi Rufus, after finishing secular and Theological Degrees, is serving the Lord among students as Program Secretary for Students Christian Movement of India, for Andhra Pradesh region. His third daughter, Divya Rufus completed a Degree in Computer Science, and after her mother's demise, was employed under Government provision in the place of mother, and is in government service as Junior Assistant. She is pursuing her P.G. studies as an external candidate.
Pastor Rufus' ministry is expanded into the states of Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Both states are about 2500 kilometers (1500 miles) apart from each other. He regularly shuttles between both states. His CLSS (Christian Life Style Seminar) programs and Revival Ministry have been operating in many of the northern and southern Indian states.
Pastor Rufus' ministry totally depends on unexpected native prayer and financial sources. He is a Post Graduate in English Language and Literature from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, and obtained P.G.D.T.E. (Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching of English) from C.I.E.F.L. (Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages) Hyderabad, and B.D. from the Senate of Serampore.