About us
Intro toIndian ChristianMission Center
Who we Are?
The orphan population in Asia and Africa is reaching crisis proportions due to AIDS, war, famine, and recent natural disasters. The 2005 UNICEF report on the orphan crisis in the world, “Children on the Brink 2005”, states that the orphan population in the world will grow significantly over the next ten years. India has the second largest population in the world and the largest orphan population. A Stats says ‘1 in 3 malnourished children in the world lives in India and malnutrition is more common in India than in Sub-Saharan Africa. The caste system and poverty leaves countless children without a future. India Christian Mission Center and its partners in America have taken the challenge of reaching out to the under-privileged children in order to make a difference and reach a new generation with the message of peace and love through Jesus of Nazareth.
ICMC is interdenominational organisation. It was founded from humble beginnings in 1988 by visionary Dr. S. Jayaraj Krishnan, known as “Dr Jay” or “Pastor Jay” along with his wife Christy. Raised as an orphan himself(see founder’s story), Pastor Jay has devoted his life to the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of orphans in southern India. Growing from 12 orphans and widows in 1988, ICMC has become one of the largest orphanages in India. He has been supported by individual donors around the globe in establishing ICMC, and as a result has seen many people saved from poverty and won for Jesus Christ. As an indigenous mission agency, it is highly effective in reaching the communities for Christ for the sake of the Gospel and continues to provide some of the best care and educational opportunities to the underprivileged in Asia.
ICMC is a registered non-profit organization in India and is supported by individual donors as well as a sponsorship program for the children. Sign up to sponsor a child today.
ICMC has Representatives that coordinate sponsors from around the world. We are international and interdenominational, with a common belief in the important things about our Faith.
Founder’sStory
FOUNDERS STORY: I Was to Be Killed But the Lord Saved Me by “Dr Jay” S. Jayaraj Krishnan
I was born into an orthodox Hindu family. My grandfather was a Hindu priest. When I was five, I lost my mother. When I was six, I lost my father. My elder sister and younger brother died when I was eight. Immediately, my grandfather took me to a palmist. He read my hands and said, “This boy is a curse to this family. He is the cause for the death of his parents, sister and brother. To remove the curse, he must be killed.”
No relative would help me. I did not know where to go. Nobody was there to love me. My grandmother was somewhat kind and she said to my grandfather, “Please do not kill this boy. He is old enough to live by himself by begging. Send him out of the house.”
I slept outside of the house. I used to go to the Hindu temple and cry hours together and drink the dirty water thinking that my curse and the unpardonable sins in my previous life would be washed away. The more prayer I offered to the idol, Kali Devi, a Hindu goddess, the worst thing happened. My youngest brother became a victim of chicken pox and he died.
I used to think about him and cry many times even after my salvation experience, because he was gone away without Jesus. This kind-hearted grandmother of mine also changed her attitude towards me. She wanted me to die without food. Unless I made one sleeping mat per day, my grandmother would not give me one simple meal a day. When I became sick, nobody cared for me. Everybody wanted me to die. I used to pray to Kali Devi, “Amma Kali Devi, if you do not want to help me, I do not want to live on this earth. Please kill me.”
A sister younger than me used to embrace me and cry with me. My grandmother told her not to touch me because I was a curse to the family. I could see tears rolling down her cheeks.
Thank the supreme, ultimate, all-powerful, absolute God, Jehovah, the creator, sustainer, and savior. He saw my tears, and sent a Dutchman all the way from Holland to bring me to a Christian orphanage. It was a heaven on earth for me. Now this orphanage produced hundreds of pastors, missionaries, and evangelists. I was given fish to eat and was taught about the Lord God.
I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior when I was doing my high school studies. I started proclaiming the love of Jesus. My grandfather became a Christian when he was 105 years old. My youngest sister and her family also found Christ then.
One day when I was standing at the bus stop, I saw an orphan girl lying near the bus stand. It was rainy season. Many passed by, but nobody cared for her. The Lord spoke to me clearly, “Jayaraj, once you were in this condition. I took care of you through Bethel. Now you must do my ministry.” It was on 10th June 1972.
After getting the definite call of God on my life, I went to South India Biblical Seminary, Bangarapet to do theological studies. After this I worked in Bombay as a pastor in the unreached places. Many Hindus and Muslims found Christ in their lives. I worked in North India for about ten years in spite of opposition and trials. The Lord was with me and many more souls were won for His Kingdom.
I never saw my wife before marriage. I praise God for he gave me a good and dedicated wife.
The Lord opened doors for me (and Christy) to study M.Div and also Doctor of Theology at the Asia Baptist Graduate Theological Seminary, Philippines.
In 1988, in India, we started an orphanage with twelve children in a rented house, because it is God’s command in the Holy Bible, in Matthew chapter 25. God tells us that when He was hungry we gave Him to eat, and when He was thirsty, we gave Him to drink. Whatsoever we are doing to the least of His children, we have done unto God. Anyone who receives a little child in His name receives Him. The kingdom of heaven belongs to the little children. The children are the innocent ones. They are at the mercy of the adults in this world. They live or die, eat or starve, by the will of others.
Hudson Taylor said, “Why should we hear the Gospel twice when there are millions who have never hear it, even once in their lives?”
Apostle Paul in Romans 10:14 says, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?”
After much prayer and fasting, God gave me vision to start India Christian Mission Centre, a registered, non-profit, charitable mission. The vision since 1988 is …
Message From The Chairman
India’s children are amongst the poorest and most deprived on earth and Danny Boyle’s brilliant Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire vividly captures the hardship and misery suffered by so many in India’s cities.
The orphaned and abandoned children on India’s streets are trapped in urban poverty and crushed by India’s caste system. Many endure intolerable conditions working in sweat-shops and survive by scavenging and living on city streets.
Rural children fare no better, food insecurity is such that India tops the United Nations World Hunger Chart with malnutrition accounting for nearly 50% of all child deaths.
The Indian Christian Mission Center (ICMC) was founded by the Rev. Jayaraj Krishnan and his wife Christy. Since Jayaraj and his wife opened their gates to give sanctuary and minister to the widows and orphans of Salem, some 200 miles south of Chennai.
On behalf of Jayaraj and Christy along with their children David, Neva and Bright I would like to thank every one of you who has given much needed support to ICMC, the Indian Christian Mission Center, founded by them 25 years ago in August 1988.
Over the years this remarkable family have looked after thousands of orphans and semi- orphans and the generosity and love you have shown has helped the mission through economically straightened times. No child is ever turned away from the gates of the Promised Land and currently more than 800 unbelievably poor children are cared for by ICMC.
My own children Olivia, Dolly and Jody chanced upon the orphanage more than ten years ago and as a family, we are passionately committed to supporting and fund-raising for a better future for these children.
Children with sponsors feel blessed to receive such wonderful support from faithful donors around the world who are touched by their plight.
During the past year more and more of you are sponsoring orphans and the children feel so blessed to receive such wonderful support from so many faithful donors around the world who are touched by their plight.
With the benefit of regular donations, sponsored events and some quite outstanding acts of individual generosity, we have been able to care for the children, educate them and also finance major projects for the mission.
Thank you so very much for your compassion and generosity of spirit towards them.
With my very best wishes
Nicholas Wainwright – Chairman
Message From The President
In 1997, at the age of 19, I visited ICMC with my sister, Olivia. We wanted to ‘do something for the Lord’ having, shortly before, both become Christians. And what a journey and experience this has been!
Jayaraj inspired us from the very outset; his story, having been orphaned himself and carrying an obvious burden to rescue other orphans, just as he had been. I was moved by the deep compassion that permeated all aspects of, what at that stage was just a handful of rented houses in Salem – and of course the rented orphan home ‘Eden garden’, which we visited.
The three week trip was marked by the tragic deaths of both Princess Diana and Mother Teresa, but experiencing constant signs of death in India was overwhelming. The ministry of ICMC, even then, included feeding the local lepers, members of the blind community and so much more.
We were completely committed to helping – and here we are 26 years later!
What an honour to be ICMCs international president. Covid has made life rather difficult but our relationship stands firm, even though visiting has not happened since 2017. We hope to go as an extended family to visit later this year (2023)
Bright (who was a little chap running around the orphanage when I first saw him) has been taking on the mantle in recent years along with Neva his sister who supports with a strong medical background. David and his wife are also on hand supporting with the schooling and education projects.
It has been a joy and a privilege to stand alongside this ministry.
As Jay would so often say – and still does – ‘religion that God accepts as pure and faultless, is to look after orphans and widows in distress’ (James 1.27). Who wouldn’t want to align themselves with such a ministry!
Jody Wainwright
key outcomes
What makes us diferent?
Community centers
We’ve built 80 centers globally. There, kids get access to education centers, medical offices, libraries, playgrounds and more.
Data-driven approach
We track measurable progress with a research agency to prove we’re making a real impact on our kids.
Support
Programs change by age and country to ensure that our kids graduate healthy, educated, empowered, and employed.
Isabelle McKenzie
- CEO & President
“I love the kids we serve and when love is the motivation, there is no things that can’t be achieved.”
Jeremy Newman
- Chief Operating Officer
“To be of benefit to all children who need the support of the greatest goal in my life.”
Micheal
- 7 Years
Isaiah
- 12 Years
Hello, my name is Isaiah and I am 12 years old and I want to be a doctor when I grow up.
Samantha
- 6 Years
Hello, my name is Samantha and I am 6 years old and I want to be a ballet dancer when I grow up.
What We Believe
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We believe in the deity and humanity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His present rule as Head of the Church and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful men regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. Salvation is by grace through faith.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the barrenness of damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, with equality across racial, gender, and class differences.
What We Believe
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We believe in the deity and humanity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His present rule as Head of the Church and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful men regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. Salvation is by grace through faith.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the barrenness of damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, with equality across racial, gender, and class differences.
ICMC's Core Values
Vision
ICMC collectively strives for socio-educational empowerment to enrich and equip individuals to become enhanced wholesome purpose-driven social transformers.
Values
To be salt and light; service oriented; mission minded; passionate about Truth; prayer guided; offering mutual respect, humility, reliability and integrity.
Mission
Our mission seeks to intervenes for children-at-risk to provide welfare, nurture, education, skills training, with the aim of empowering their economic and social status, and building a sense of family where there has been none.
We believe in a child’s right to survive and aim to protect those who are vulnerable; to develop and to participate with the approach of relief welfare, development, empowerment, transformation, character-moulding, and community development.
We strive to build into a child’s developmental needs including their emotional and behavioural development, identity, family social relationships and self care.
We seek to alleviate issues surrounding children’s education and social barriers.
We are providing access for career guidance, behavioral change, protection, independent identity, personality development, self esteem, self goals and relationship abilities and responsibilities.