The Evangelical publication Operation World estimates their numbers, as of 2010, at 310,000 adults and children in 910 assemblies,[1] as their churches are generally known.
Theologically, the Assemblies Jehovah Shammah are a conservative Evangelical movement placing a great emphasis on the preaching and expounding of scripture.
They are a lay movement with no ordained clergy, and each congregation is led by elders who take responsibility for the spiritual needs of those in fellowship.
Assemblies Jehovah Shammah do not have a formal membership, but regard any Christian who has been baptised as a believer and attends regularly as being part of their fellowship.
[4] In these matters, the Assemblies Jehovah Shammah greatly resemble the Open Brethren, but with certain adaptations to Indian culture, such as seating the congregation on mats on the floor.
Although Bakht Singh taught congregational autonomy,[3] in practice he maintained tight centralized control over the movement until his death in 2000.