Christian young men of parassala can reasonably feel proud to recall that the idea of the YMCA loomed in the minds of their grand-parents even more than a hundred years ago; for, it is quoted on page 3 of the parassala Pastorate Golden Jubilee Souvenir published in 1943, that "it is seen in the Annual Report of the Trivancore District Committee(of the LMS) for 1858, that young men were meeting weekly to study, church history and other useful knowledge".
However, there are records to show that an association, with the name of the YMCA was actually started on 28-10-1909 by the Rev. A.T. Foster, Missionary of the L.M.S in parassala. Mr. S. Manual, the first Rural Secretary of the YMCA was responsible for infusing men of this locality and the late Mr. S. Devasahayam, Mr. V. Y. Isaiah and Mr.G. Lazarus served the Association with all earnestness for some years as Secretaries.
Maintenance of a Reading Room and conduct of essay meetings were among the chief activities of the Association then. But after some years of services into insignificance, Subsequently there had beenseveral attempts for revival.
"The Lord did not tell us to build beautiful churches,
but to evangelize the world" -Oswald J. Smith
The YMCA movement is the oldest and the largest lay-ecumenical-youth membership movement in the world spread across 12000 local associations in 125 countries with 45 million members. It began in London in the drapery established of M/s. Hitchcock and Rodgers in which a young apprentice of 21, George Williams, took initiative in organizing Bible classes in his bedroom in the nature of a mutual edification society which brought in a cohesive group of twelve of his co-workers in the establishment from nearly as many denominations of the Christian church to form the very Young Men's Christian Association on June 6, 1844. The new organization was dedicated to developing a healthy spirit, mind and body. YMCA instilled a sense of direction and hope in the minds of the industrial workers through prayer and Bible study. It spread far and wide through young men who flocked to London and those migrated from London to other continents.
The YMCA traditional is not new to India. Way back in 1857 synchronous with the First War of India's independence, the very first YMCA in Asia took roots in Calcutta. The National Council of YMCAs of India was formed in Madras on February 21, 1891 through the initiative of David McConaughy, who also became the first National Secretary of the Indian National Council of YMCAs the forerunner of the National Council of YMCAs of India. The India YMCA is a Christ-centred, youth-focused and mission-oriented movement. The first Indian Bishop V.S.Azariah was the first Indian YMCA Secretary and K.T. Paul OBE, the first Indian National General Secretary.
The Young Me's Christian Association of India seeks to unite men, women, youth and Christian as co-workers with God to promote mutually caring, loving and humane communities. Accordingly, the YMCA participates in God's mission of restoring abundant life for all, with special concern for the most distressed and dehumanized in the country.
The Young Men's Christian Association Kerala Region seeks to unite young men, women, boys and girls for the development of their physical, social, intellectual and spiritual manhood/ woman hood, to inspire them with the ideals of Jesus Christ and to lead them to His discipleship and co-operate with the Church and other organizations working for the welfare of India and to stimulate the formation of movements for the highest advancement of humanity. The YMCA Kerala Region that was formed in 1954, contribute greatly to the development of sports and youth welfare in the state. A number of development project in the state such as Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Integrated Tribal Development Project, Development education and empowerment of people, Boys Homes, School for the disabled, Summer Schools, Camp Center etc. have been initiated by YMCA.
"When I give food to the poor;
they call me a saint.
When I ask why they are poor;
they call me a communist."
Why are you running away when a Wave of the sea that bare thee earth?
What a pleasure to the eyes! When you look at the sun rising
As much joy when the tilt of the Head in the lap of mother.
Son! Why are you downcast?
The youth need to be
enabled to become
job generators from
job seekers
