Students “gain experience and knowledge into the realities of the society” through practical ministries

The Madras Theological Seminary and College (MTSC) in India puts much effort into harmonizing academic excellence in the classroom with practical ministry in the field through mission work. Through practical ministry, students are able to reach out to the community, as well as “gain experience and knowledge into the realities of the society,” says Rev. Dr. J.A. David Onesimu, MTSC Principal.

Some of MTSC’s practical ministries include weekend church ministries, camp ministry and social work. For weekend ministries, students take part in Sunday worship services and other church ministries. During the 2008-2009 academic year, MTSC reports that their students ministered in 40 different churches, some of which included churches in tsunami-affected areas that are “filled with drug addicts, alcoholism, witchcraft and other evil things,” he says. People who were far from the Lord have accepted Him and have been delivered from the bondages of sin. Chemancherri is a “neglected” place in the city where there was no education for children, so a children’s ministry has been started, and many have accepted the Lord after hearing the Gospel. “Through the constant and tireless work of our students, a number of people have turned to Christ” in a staunchly Hindu area as well.

During camp ministries, students are sent to different places in Tamil Nadu for two weeks where they are actively involved in planting 10 Sunday school centers.

Students and pastors are also involved in social work, such as relief and rehabilitation among the tsunami-affected villages in and around Chennai. “Our students continue to minister to those poor tsunami victims by taking tuition for the children and extending help to others.” Some assist Happy Homes with spiritual development by telling Bible stories and teaching songs and English. Students also participate actively in the mobile medical clinic and are sent to unreached areas to conduct house churches and regular worship services.

The school has done well this year to blend studies in the classroom with effective ministries in the community. “The Lord has done marvelous things, and our hearts are filled with gratitude towards our Heavenly Father for His guidance throughout the 2008-2009 academic year,” says Rev. Dr. Onesimu. “We are fortunate to have a wide network of international partnerships,…[including] OC. We thank God for their support and prayers for our seminary.”

MTSC’s plans for the future:

• Plant 10 churches and 100 House churches
• Obtain more relevant books and upgrade the library
• Conduct seminars in mission and evangelism
• Extend the library building
• By 2020, the seminary hopes to plant 10,000 churches and 100,000 House churches, in addition to training 30,000 church planters.