CFO CAMPS IN INDIA:
Mumbai (Bombay) CFO Camp
Gujarat State CFO Camp
U.P. State CFO Camp
Kashmir CFO Camp
Chennai (Madras) CFO Camp
Bangalore CFO Camp
CFO CAMPS IN SRI LANKA:
Colombo North CFO Camp
Colombo Central CFO Camp
Colombo South CFO Camp
Kandy CFO Camp
A HISTORY OF CFO IN INDIA
Camps Farthest Out (CFO) was introduced in India by its founder Dr. Glenn Clark, when he visited South India in 1954 along with Rev. and Mrs. Roland and Marcia Brown, but no Council Ring could be formed at that time. The idea of CFO camps in India first came to Mr. Dal Chand (D.C.) Das of Moradabad in 1969 through his correspondence with Mrs. J.P. Edwards of San Francisco, U.S.A. Mr. D.C. Das got CFO literature from the Foundation Farthest Out (now CFO International) and made efforts to organize CFO camps in India.
The First CFO camp was organized and held on September 3 – 5, 1971, at Moradabad. In February, 1972, Mr. D.C. Das participated in a CFO camp in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) where Rev. Roland and Marcia Brown were the leaders. From this Mr. D.C. Das got the first experience of a CFO camp. With this experience and new enthusiasm, Mr. Das organized two camps–one at Moradabad on October 15 – 17, 1972, and the other at Delhi on February 11 – 14, 1973. Mr. D.C. Das also participated in the First International CFO Camp held in the United States in May, 1973, where he received further training in the CFO Daily Program and became a CFO leader for India.
The CFOI Board has been a great anchor of support to the growth of CFO in India. Some of the memories are listed below:
The First National CFO Camp was held at Moradabad on February 28 – March 4, 1974 in which Rev. Roland Brown and Mrs. Marcia Brown came as Leaders.
The Second National CFO Camp was held at Moradabad on November 3-7, 1975. Rev. James D. White and Mrs. Virginia White from U.S.A. came as leaders for this camp.
By the year 1975-76 Prayer Groups had been established at Agra, Delhi, Lucknow, Moradabad and Asansol (West Bengal) and even in some villages.
Rev. Norman Renshaw and Mrs. Elsie Renshaw came to India and helped in various CFO programs from September 25 to October 5, 1976 at Delhi, Agra, Moradabad, Nagpur and Bombay.
Mr. Bert Kerley of England, the then Vice-President of the International F.F.O. Board, came to India and provided leadership in the National Camp held at Delhi from February 19 – 24, 1978. Rev. Reginald Goff and Mrs. Verla Goff came to India in February – March 1979 and helped conduct camps and retreats at Delhi, Godhra (Gujarat), Moradabad, Bombay, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Madras, Jabalpur, Calcutta, Darjeeling and Lucknow.
In February-March 1982 Bert Kerley and Harold and Rose Brocklesby of England and helped in various Camps and Retreats. They provided leadership in camps held at Moradabad, Asansol (West Bengal), Lucknow, Nagpur, Ahmedabad and Srinagar (Kashmir). Their visit proved to be of immense help in the growth of CFO in India.
In 1983 Bob and Barbara Deal, International Coordinators, came to India as leaders. They provided leadership in a National Training Camp held at Rajpur, Dehra Dun on March 19 -23,1983 and helped in conducting Camps at Lucknow, Calcutta, Srinagar etc. Their visit and the leadership provided by them helped a great deal in developing the local leadership.
In 1985, after the 5th International Conference, Bob and Barbara Deal again came to India. They conducted a National Training Camp on September 9-15, 1985 held at Mussoorie (a beautiful Hill Station) and another National Camp was held at Belgaum (Karnataka, South India) on September 18-22, 1985. These Camps and the leadership of Bob and Barbara were found to be very helpful for the growth of CFO in India.
In the year 1987, the CFOI Board through its Committee on Selection of Leaders selected Mrs. Hope Peal and Jim & Barbara Thomas to come to India and help with the leadership in a National Training Camp and some local camps. All three of them came in the month of October 1987 and provided leadership in the National Training Camp held on Oct. 2-6,1987 in Nasik, Maharashtra and four local camps namely Gujarat State Camp held in Bharuch; U.P. State Camp held in Sat Tal, District Naini Tal; Nagpur Camp held in Nagpur and the Kashmir Camp held in Srinagar, Kashmir. Their leadership was greatly appreciated.
Mr. Colin Ray, president of CFOI Board at that time came to India and helped with the leadership in the South Asia Regional Camp held at Catholic Seminary at Pillar, Goa, India on January 8 – 12, 1996. Colin Ray’s leadership was a great help.
Mr. Charlie Grassl, the President of CFOI Board at that time came to India in the year 2002 and was there for the Regional Camp held at Charal Kunnu, Kerala State on November 4-8, 2002. His presence and leadership were of great help in the conduct of the Regional Camp. His visit was greatly appreciated.
We had a Regional Camp in Bangalore on November 3-7,2006. Mrs. Sheryl Monroe, the International Coordinator at that time came to India and was with us in the Regional Camp and helped a great deal with the leadership which was greatly appreciated.
Edward Ruddel, President of the CFOI Board, did not come to India but came to the Region and was with us for the Regional Camp held at Kandy, Sri Lanka on June 9-13, 2008 and for the Board meeting held at the Y.M.C.A. Colombo, Sri Lanka on June 14-19, 2008. His presence was a blessing for the Regional Camp.
Mr. Karl O. Hass, the former Vice-President of CFOI Board had attended the National Camp of CFOI India held at Christian Retreat and Study Centre, Rajpur, Dehra Dun on June 6-12, 2009.
The National leadership of CFO in India shifted from Mr. D.C. Das of Moradabad to Late Rev. Dr. Christopher Samuel (C.S.) Das who was posted at Lucknow as Pastor of Central Methodist Church, in the late nineteen seventies. He provided excellent leadership till the year 1984. In the year 1984 Late Rev. C.S. Das was assigned as a Missionary to Fiji by the Methodist Church in India so he left, and Dr. Prakash Masih was elected as the National Chairman of CFOI India. About this time a formal Constitution for Camps Farthest Out in India was framed and to let the organism become a legal entity for various purposes in the country, it was registered under the Registration of Societies Act. 1860 as a Society to be known as “Camps Farthest Out International India” in the year 1984-85. The Society was also Registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act in order to receive Foreign Contributions. The same status is continuing, and the National Council Ring has been working according to its Constitution, electing Chairperson and other officers of NCR every after a term of four years. At present there are following six CFO Camps in India:
Mumbai (Bombay) CFO Camp
Gujarat State CFO Camp
U.P. State CFO Camp
Kashmir CFO Camp
Chennai (Madras) CFO Camp
Bangalore CFO Camp
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS: In the year 1992, CFO International was divided in various Regions and a Regional Vice President was appointed for each Region. CFO in India was placed in the South Asia Region along with one more neighboring country of Sri Lanka. The CFO in the Region has been served by the following Regional Vice Presidents along with the National Council Rings of each country:
Dr. Prakash Masih (India) 1992 – 1996
Rev. James V. Kumar (India) 1996 – 2000
Mrs. Shanthi Handy (Sri Lanka) 2000 – 2004
Mr. Thomas Johnson Thomas (India) 2004 – 2008
Mrs. Mano De Alwis (Sri Lanka) 2008 – 2012
Mr. Charles V. Kumar (India) 2012 – 2016
Mrs. Saundary Alexander (Sri Lanka) 2016 – 2020
Mr. Nirmal Chandappa (India) 2020 – present
The National Council Ring of CFOI India had the privilege of hosting the Annual CFO International Board Meeting for the first time in the history of CFO in India. The Board Meeting was held at Christian Retreat and Study Centre, Rajpur, Dehra Dun from 1st to the 3rd of October 2019. Several Board members from around the world attended the meeting including the President of the CFOI Board, Mr. Thomas Johnson Thomas, the Vice President of the CFOI Board Mr. Bryan Holland, the International Coordinator, Mr. Dana Belmonte.
Compiled by: Prakash Masih, Lucknow, India, June 12, 2021