iCare 2010 Consultation will be held in New York from July 30 to Aug 1. This unique consultation presents Counseling and Care as a Mission and offers  insight and practical solutions from a Christian Perspective. Dr. Bradford Smith, a renowned Christian Psychologist will be the keynote speaker. In addition, a number of leaders from the counseling field working among the South Asian Community will be presenting various seminars related to Christian Counseling and the challenges facing South Asian community in North America. You will learn about the major challenges and effective ways to address these challenges through care and counseling. Relevant for  Pastors, Professional Caregivers, Church Ministry Staff, Educators, Lay Persons involved in care giving and Parents. Registration information available at http://icarecounseling.net/

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Agape Partners has launched its latest survey on Indian Christian Youth  on June 28, 2010. This survey features dozens of questions about challenges facing Asian Indian Christian youths. Most of the questions are those that young people face and youth leaders are interested to know to be more informed to improve their own knowledge base as well as to help others. To complete the survey, click here. » Read More

Playing violent video games increases aggressive and behavior and negatively affect relationships, according to a new review of 130 researches conducted by Texas A&M faculty and students. However, if you have a child with no other risk factors for aggression and violence, and if you allow them to suddenly start playing video games 5-10 hours a week, they're not going to become a school shooter; one risk factor doesn't do it by itself. But video game violence is the only causal risk factor that is relatively easy for parents to do something about. (Source: USA Today 3/1/10)

Young teens who spend more time watching TV or computers appear to have poorer relationships with their parents and peers. Recent study research study by Dr. Richards (University of Otago) New Zealand, studied 3,043 adolescents in the age group of 14 to 15. Overall, the more time teens spent watching TV or playing on a computer, the more likely they were to report low attachment to parents and difficulty forming a relationship. The risk of having low attachment to parents increased 4% for every hour spent viewing TV and 5% for every hour spent playing on a computer. Conversely, teens who spend more time reading and doing homework reported a higher level of attachment to parents. For every additional hour of TV, teens had a 13% increased risk of low attachment to their parents and a 24% increased risk of low attachment to peers. Source: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, March, 2010)

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A new nationwide survey of Asian Indian youths, conducted by Agape Partners International, suggests that Indian youths who consider themselves to be Christian have Bible as the most influencing factor (40%) followed by Friends (22%), Parents (13%), Media (13%) and Church (12%).  The survey explored beliefs, the influence of faith on their life, views of the Church, Bible, and influence of media, moral choices. Full survey report coming soon.
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In recent decades, group violence, especially communal violence, has become a recurrent theme in the lives of Indians in many parts of the country. Starting with the anti-Sikh massacres in 1984, communal violence has continued to challenge India’s secular credentials in the Ayodhya riots (1992), Mumbai bomb blasts (1994), Gujarat pogrom (2002), in the Orissa riots (2008). There is a rising phenomenon of terrorism, as seen in the  Mumbai terror attacks (2008), which lead to societal and State responses that centrally challenge secularism and rule of law. There is a dire need to study these forms of violence and the impunity enjoyed by its perpetrators. This workshop thus aims to fulfill a timely need to examine the roots and processes of such violence. » Read More

In the December issue of Emmanuel Research Review, Dr. Thomas Idiculla presents the preliminary results of a recent survey on the perceived needs for Christian counseling in the Boston area. This survey provides preliminary findings to assist churches, ministries, and counseling agencies in strategically addressing counseling needs. When do church leaders refer counseling to others? What are the most common counseling issues in Boston? What role should the church have in the counseling process? What are the barriers in obtaining Christian counseling? How might churches and counseling ministries collaborate to address counseling needs? As a preliminary survey and report, this is an initial investigation that begins to address a much larger realm of questions on the topic that could and should be expanded and refined in the future.
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API just completed its recent mission trip to India. During  the two weeks, they did over 900 screening and 500 testing for sickle cell diseases. Some patients walked four hours to receive the screening. One community leader brought over 70 patients with sickle cell related symptoms. Most had never received any prior care. The team was overwhelmed by the warmth, friendliness, gratitude and smiles of helping the people in desperate need.  Shunmugabai said, "We are so grateful for the impact they made in our communities."
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The 10th annual Ethnic Ministries Summit will be held in Boston on April 15-17, 2010. The Summit is sponsored by the Ethnic America Network, a catalytic coalition of Christian ministries and churches across the USA and Canada, in partnership with local Christian leaders, churches, and ministries.  Click here for Regional Website/Registration » Read More

Agape Partners International (API) is conducting its third mission tour from November 5 to Nov 19. This short term trip has two purposes: conduct medical camps in North India; and second, conduct leadership and family seminars in various Indian cities including Trivandrum, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Ahmadabad. These events are organized in partnership with local Christian churches and organizations in India.


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The Atlanta chapter of API hosted a one day Marriage and parenting seminar on September 26, 2009, at  Atlanta Christian Assembly, Atlanta, GA. Dr. Thomas Idiculla took classes on effective parenting and Leslie Verghese, LCSW engaged the young people on God's Design for Marriage.
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Boston Night of Worship is the rising united worship movement from the city of Boston. Over 30 worship leaders united on one stage across cultural, denominational, racial and social lines!  God is leading this team  to mobilize the college students and host the night of worship at one of the city’s top colleges, M.I.T.  Boston has the highest number of colleges/universities than any other city in the world.

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Award winning historical Malayalam novel, Palam Thettiya Theevandi is now available online. This novel by Dr. E. C. Samkutty  is written in the background of the Pentecostal movement in India. There is a strong voice in this book against idol worship, veneration of  relics, and mediation through deceased saints. Dr Samkutty, Professor of English Literature, Educator and Author of six books. » Read More

Setting Captives Free is a a great online resource for  those are seeking bible based solution to addiction. It is a non-denominational ministry which teaches the biblical principles of freedom in Jesus Christ. Founder and President, Mike Cleveland, was captive to habitual sins for many years. He finally began to seek help and learned the biblical solution to his sin problem: repentance, forgiveness, and the newness of life that comes through the gospel. He is also an airline pilot with Continental Airlines and he and his wife, Jody, have six children. » Read More

In the recent issue of Emmanuel Research Review, Boston-area psychologist Dr. Bradford M. Smith has been exploring “the broader role that Christian counseling and psychology is having around the world in serving the poor and underserved in Jesus’ name.  Brian Corcoran, EGC. » Read More

A new research study headed by Martin Teicher, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Developmental Biopsychiatry Research Program at McLean Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School found that verbally abusive parents could cause lasting damage to brain pathways that regulate emotions and process language in their children. This is the first evidence of the potential injurious effect of ridicule, humiliation, and disdain on brain connectivity.  This discovery was published in the February 1 issue of Biological Psychiatry. The findings illustrate the need for taking a positive step toward healthy parenting.  Courtesy Biological Psychiatry and Jeewook Choi » Read More

Aug 1. A two day youth retreat was held at the beautiful Toah Nipi Intervarsity Retreat Center in Rindge, New Hampshire.  This retreat was attended by over 50 participants. Attendees included teens and youths from Boston, Nashua, and Stamford. Pastor Freddy Thomas, Pastor John Johnson, Dr. Thomas Idiculla, and Pastor Manu were the guest speakers for this seminar. Participants enjoyed the messages and  interactive sessions where they learned and discussed the major challenges facing the teens and possible solutions based on biblical principles. Youths from the International Church of God, India Pentecostal Assembly of Boston and Tabernacle Church led praise and worship during these sessions. Participants’ feedbacks were overwhelming positive. Sr Jeby and Vinod George coordinated this meeting. » Read More

The 27th Pentecostal Conference of North American Keralites PCNAK) was held in Chicago (IL) from July 2 to 5, 2009.  Over 6000 people attended this conference. The participants experienced awesome speakers, awesome testimonies, wonderful worship, wonderful seminars. and worship leaders, specially the Friday night message by Pr Babu Cherian and the Saturday night message by Kanam Achan and  Felix Chivandire and the Hindi songs of Vijay Benedict. The Saturday combined face-off session with adults and youths on the topic of the Future of Keralite Pentecostal Churches in North America was  well received by the participants. Click here for details.

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