The Ashram is a ‘home for all’, a solitude space for those who wish to spend quality time in prayer, meditation, self-study, silence, yoga and spiritual rejuvenation. The Ashram imparts inter-religious dialogues, seminars and conferences to study religious dialogues, seminars and conferences to study religions and prepares a forum to discuss and relate to religious faith. ‘Spirituality beyond Religiosity’ is the main objective of these Ashrams. People who belong to any religion irrespective of their caste, creed or gender are welcome here. Everyone is considered equal here and there is no discrimination. The Dhyanam (Meditation), Jepam (Prayer), Yoga etc conducted here observed free to all. Establishing Christian Ashrams is another important work of GMI. ‘Giving living water in Indian cup’ is the approach of the Ashram ministry of GMI. The first such Ashram named ‘Kristukripa Ashram’ was established at Kattakada in the year 1993. Kattakada is a small town situated 20 km from Trivandrum city (State of Kerala, South India). Now, Kristukripa Ashram has become a centre of comfort and blessing for thousands of people. There are several spiritual and social services held here. The Second Saturday meeting is an important gathering held at the Kristukripa Ashram. Kirubai Ashram, Chidambaram, Tamilnadu, Shanti Ashram, Chappara, Madhya Pradesh, and Shanti Ashram, Nagpur, Maharashtra are the other three Ashrams of the GMI. For more information, please visit – www.kristukripaashram.com

Activities of the Ashrams

Sat Sanghs

This programme is an indigenous style of worship. The participants huddle together on the floor and sing bhajans and songs in Indian heritage to glorify the name of the Lord. The Acharya (Teacher/Speaker) also sits on the floor and teaches the word of God in the local language and style. Acharya Daya Prakash Titus who was known as the father of Christian Sat-Sanghs in India was the chief Acharya of Kristukripa Ashram for two years (2008-2009) in the Kristukripa Ashram of the GMI. He had been the Chief Acharya of the Sat-Tal Ashram (Utharkhand) which was founded by the Rev.Dr. E. Stanley Jones.

Hannah Prayer

Everyday a team of prayer partners takes part in intercessional prayer in Ashram. They pray for the daily prayer requests that are received in the office. They pray with great burden, meanwhile systematically by keeping prayer files for all the GMI Missionaries and different activities of GMI. They are also for different missionary organisations, revival of the churches, salvation of the perishing souls and peace of the nation.

Counselling & Prayer

A regular programme for Counselling and Prayer is also conducted at Kristukripa Ashram. This programme enables many families to reunify their broken relationship. Those who are addicted to drugs, alcohol and other social evils are also getting delivered through this ministry.

Lydia Tailoring School

The free educational courses imparted through vocational training at Lydia Training School and Gratia Computer training centres are operational in Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhyapradesh and Tamilnadu.  We have Annai Tailoring School being operational in Chidambaram. Tailoring school under the name Lydia is functioning in Maharashtra and Nagpur. In all these training centres apart from Tailoring, computer training to women from under privilege families are being imparted free of cost and they are given help to find placements for job too. This is a one year tailoring training was started out of a deep concern for the plight of the unemployed girls and poverty stricken housewives. This course was intended entirely for the economically weaker sections of the society as it was made free from payment. After the training, proper follow-up is being carried out for their self-support and empowerment.

Gratia Computer Training Centre

This is free computer training programme started for the empowerment of economically backward girls and house wives. Arrangements are done for their proper placement for the candidates those who successfully complete their training.

Gurukulam Vidya Peetam

Free tuition centers have been opened for the less privileged and downtrodden sections of children in villages. The main objective of this project is to give improved access to qualitative education for the slow and sluggish children. Most of the youths in the rural areas without getting proper encouragement and guidance in respect of their studies, often cut short their learning in the middle of the high school education. Some of these dropouts usually take to drinking alcohol, smoking, using drugs and becoming depressed in their life. In order to curb these social evils, we attach much importance to give them personal care and guidance on their studies even in the grass-root level. Gurukulam Vidya Peetam is a full- fledged tuition centre functioning with a requisite number of staff (about12) for about 100 students from primary to secondary levels. The children attend in two sessions- mornings and evenings. Apart from giving free education, uniforms, books, stationery items are also provided free.

Manna Food

Mid day meals are provided every day for the inpatients and their bystanders of the government hospital, Kattakada from the Ashram.

Elim Medical Aid

In order to deliver preventive, curative and rehabilitative care for the rural population, frequent free medical camps are arranged in and around the Ashram area. This is also an initiative where there is mobile medical service to the villagers giving palliative care with free supply of medicine.

Ecumenical Fellowship

Under the Kristukripa Ashram, Ecumenical Fellowship and Inter church Dialogues are conducted at regular intervals. All major church leaders participate in this function. This ecumenical fellowship is a step towards bringing unity among church leaders.

Rehoboth Drinking Water

It is a rainwater harvesting programme. To overcome the scarcity of drinking water especially during summer, this programme has been installed at Kristukripa Ashram. Here, rainwater is collected in huge water tanks, filtered scientifically and stored in overhead tanks. The people from the neighbourhood areas are also benefited by this programme.

Inter-faith Dialogue

Inter-faith Dialogue is arranged in regular intervals in Ashram. Leaders from various religions participate in this programme. It gives a cordial relationship with all the religions and the leaders.

School of Major Religions and Indian Christian Theology (SMRITY)

The SMRITY, a oneyear course, in particular, is a school for sympathetic study of principal religions of India conducted in the Ashram. This school is open to all believers in Christ, the Lord and Saviour, regardless of any denomination. Preference is given to Pastors and Seminary Graduates, men and women. The curriculum includes a short course of studies in elementary Sanskrit. The SMRITY will help not only for giving insight into the major religions but also equipping the candidates to present the gospel in indigenous, indianized and contextual way. Acharya Daya Prakash is the founder of this programme.

Sauhradam :This is programme of sharing of used clothes which are useful to others. The used dresses are made available at a place where the needy collect them from there on their choice.

Thanal :Thanal is a programme of building houses for the homeless. Maintenance of damaged houses is also under taken in Thanal.

VidyaHastham

Through this programme, educational support to children belonging to under privileged families is given. Presently the GMI supports 74 such children by giving financial assistance every month. The amount is transacted to their bank directly to the pupil.

Meditation and Yoga

Long term and short term courses of Meditation and Yoga are imparted to students. Periodical interfaith dialogues and Seminars are also conducted.

Gnanapuri Library: The Ashram Campus houses a library with more than 6000 books. Gnanapuri Library has a good collection of intellectual and spiritual books, periodicals and journals.