About Sanctuary Ministries
Sanctuary Ministries exists to support Christian work in India and to share the message of Christ while showing compassion to people the Lord places in our path. The ministry grew out of relationships between believers in the United States and India who desired to serve the Lord and encourage one another in the work of the Gospel. Our ministry is rooted in Scripture.
Our work is concentrated in southern India, in the states of Andhra Pradesh (in red) and Telangana (in green).
How the Ministry Began
The work that would eventually become Sanctuary Ministries began through a relationship between Christians in the United States and India. Amanda, a Christian in the United States who would later help establish the ministry, first came to know Isaac through her church. Isaac was preaching the Gospel in India and receiving support as an evangelist through that congregation. Through this connection Amanda and Isaac stayed in contact as he continued his work.
A sign from the early days of the children’s home in Tenali, India.
At one point Amanda had accumulated a small amount of money and asked Isaac how it could best be used. His answer was simple: help children. In 2005 Amanda and a group of people from her church formed an organization with a board of directors so they could begin supporting a children’s home in India.
The work began very humbly. Five children were cared for in Isaac and his wife Mary Margaret’s home. As sponsorships slowly grew, more children were added and the ministry expanded. Over time a separate facility was obtained so the children could have a proper place to live and grow.
How the Work Grew
As the children’s home grew, other opportunities to serve began to appear. Through relationships in the surrounding communities, Isaac and those working with him encountered widows in difficult circumstances, families without reliable access to clean water, and congregations that needed encouragement and support.
Over time these opportunities led to additional areas of work. Efforts began to help Christian widows, provide clean water wells for villages, deliver daily meals and education for children living in a nearby slum community, place Bibles into the hands of believers and churches, and support preachers and evangelists who are sharing the Gospel in places where many have never heard it.
While the children’s home remains a central part of the ministry, these other efforts have allowed the work to grow into something broader. Over time the ministry also expanded to include a dedicated children’s home campus and additional facilities to support the growing work. What began with caring for a few children has developed into a ministry that now touches many lives through other ways, as God has opened doors to help people and share the Gospel.
How the Ministry Is Organized
Sanctuary Ministries operates through a partnership between Christians in the United States and India. In the United States, the ministry is overseen by a board of directors who help guide the work and ensure that the ministry operates responsibly and faithfully.
In India, the work is led by Isaac Palaparthi — a man with a kind heart for children, for those who need Christ and for people who are suffering. As an evangelist, Isaac has preached the Gospel for more than 35 years and has helped establish over 125 congregations across the region.
When the organization was first established in 2005, it was founded under the name Sanctuary Home for Children, reflecting the original focus on caring for children. As the work expanded, the name International Sanctuary Ministries was adopted to better reflect the broader scope of the ministry. Today the ministry is commonly referred to simply as Sanctuary Ministries.
In India, the work operates through a registered nonprofit organization called Truth Ministries Social Organization, which was established so that the ministry could meet government requirements and receive support legally. This organization also has its own board and oversees the day-to-day work in India.
Through this partnership, Christians in the United States and India work together to support the ministry and continue the work that began with caring for a small group of children many years ago.
Learn more about the leadership of the ministry on our Board Members page.
Continuing the Work
What began with caring for a small group of children has grown into a ministry that now reaches many people through several different areas of work. Through the efforts of those serving in India and the support of Christians in the United States, the ministry continues to care for children, encourage widows, strengthen congregations, and share the message of Christ in places where many have never heard it.
Sanctuary Ministries remains focused on the same purpose that guided the work from the beginning: serving the Lord by helping others and sharing the Gospel. As opportunities arise and doors open, the ministry continues to follow where the Lord leads.
We are grateful for those who continue to pray for and support this work.
Sharing the Love of Christ Through Many Ministries
Through the ministries of Sanctuary Ministries, we work among some of the poorest people in southeast India, many of whom come from the lowest levels of the caste system. Each of our ministries meets practical needs while also opening opportunities to introduce people to the message of the Gospel and to the hope found only through Christ.
If you have questions, feel free to contact us.