SAIACS offers advanced training to keep students in India for their studies

Founded in 1981, the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS) in Bangalore, India, has become one of the most advanced and respected training centers in the non-Western world, offering post-graduate and research level studies. Before SAIACS, there were no Indian evangelical institutions offering training beyond the Bachelor level, forcing students to train outside of India with only 10 percent returning to the country after completing their studies.

Degrees include the Master of Theology/Art and the Doctor of Ministry/Missiology. The DMin program is designed for senior pastors who are unable to take a two year break for formal residential study, thus the residential requirement is only two weeks annually. SAIACS’ training program reflects three priorities: development of leadership skills, sharpening analytical skills and creative thinking, and commitment to biblical theology firmly based in evangelical faith and relevant to contextual issues. The Continuing Education Opportunity Center is a facility used to conduct seminars, workshops and conferences as well.

Many of the interdenominational institute’s 605 graduates are now faculty of theological institutions, missionaries, pastors and leaders of mission organizations. Although missionaries have long been present in India, the government has limited the ability of non-Hindu religions to evangelize; therefore, well-trained Indian leaders who can effectively minister to their fellow citizens have the greatest affect.

One of the biggest challenges facing SAIACS today is India’s political situation. The Church has come under severe persecution in many areas of India with the presence of corruption and extreme movements. SAIACS’ student ministries continue to meet local needs in the areas of counseling, hospital visitation, worship ministry and youth/children’s fellowship.

Master of Theology graduate Rev. Suri Williams is the Chaplain and Academic Dean of OC partner Colombo Theological Seminary (CTS), Sri Lanka. “My time at SAIACS gave me great refreshment after years of ministry,” he said. “Pioneering work in the war zone of northern Sri Lanka made me look for answers, and my study let me reflect, think freshly and face up to issues.”