In June, four members joined DTS students from the first school in Calcutta for part of their outreach. It was a profitable time in expanding their vision for the rest of India. On their return, the four imparted the enthusiasm and zeal for ministry in the subcontinent, because now they had actually seen and felt the needs of the Indian people. The initial vision in coming to Madras was to train up Indian Christians for work in the north as well as the south of India.
In July of 1983, after three months of unstable living conditions, the Lord provided a facility at 8/17 GST Road in St. Thomas Mount, an area in Southwestern Madras where according to tradition the Apostle Thomas was Martyred. The vision for YWAM Madras to train became clearer as this stable housing was provided.
As a result, in September 1983 the first Madras YWAM DTS began. There were 22 Indian students from several Indian states. The greatest challenge for the staff was to effectively conduct a YWAM DTS to meet the needs of the Indian people. The challenge for the students was learning to relate to foreigners and other Indian cultures within one setting. God's Holy Spirit was there to give the wisdom, the grace and the unity needed to run the school.
Since that school we have completed over 40 DTSs as well as other schools such as the Primary Health Care School and the most recent, the School of Business Administration.
During the later 80s and the 90s new ministries were added as well. In 1995 YWAM Madras began a process of decentralization, in which ministries and workers moved to various locations all over the city of Madras so as not to only be concentrated in the area of St. Thomas Mount. YWAM Madras (now also known as YWAM Chennai) now has over 18 ministries in various parts of the city.
Links
Links relating to the city of Chennai
Chennai (Madras) overview