Founder of Good Samaritan School in New Delhi to Visit Asbury

March 20, 2018

In 1989, college professor Dr. Ananthi Jebasingh opened her front door in Northern India to a child begging for food. It was in that moment that she heard from God who instructed her to provide food, education and love for the child. The following week, the boy returned with 25 more local children who wanted to enroll in Jebasingh’s “school.” Now, The Good Samaritan School is educating, providing medical care and nutrition to over 2,000 students annually.

Jebasingh is one among many amazing speakers invited to lecture at Asbury University’s Global Engagement Office GEOtalk seminars each semester. Students have the opportunity to learn from those serving on the mission field and others who are engaging culture on a global scale.

Drawing from her own experiences as a teacher, founder and school director in New Delhi, Jebasingh will speak at GEOtalk seminar Breaking Cycles of Poverty Through Education on March 21 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Kinlaw Library Farm Boys Room. The seminar is free and open to the community.

“When you’re able to give people a proper education, it impacts them on many different levels,” Jebasingh said. “They’re free of financial bondage. They don’t have to beg anymore and are economically independent. It helps them on the social level because society in India is so divided through caste, creed, gender, etc. Education cuts right through these differences and elevates them to a different playing field.”

Jebasingh’s Asbury connection comes from Krista Clements ’17 who works for Friends of The Good Samaritans, Inc., a non-profit organization that raises funds for four of Jebasingh’s schools in India. Since beginning her position as Executive Director of FOTGS, Clements has gotten to know Jebasingh, who is lovingly referred to by many as “Mummy-Ji” which means “honored mother” in Hindi, and learned valuable ministry lessons from her.

“If God gives her the green light on something, there’s nothing that holds her back,” Clements said. “She’s just like, ‘God told me to go here. It doesn’t make sense but I’m going to trust him.’ That’s how it all started, with a kid knocking on her door and saying yes to that. That’s a large part of ministry, just saying yes to the Lord and walking in obedience. That’s something that she taught me.”

Earlier in the semester, students had the opportunity to attend GEOtalk seminars on topics such as engaging in short-term missions and welcoming refugees to the United States. Next week, a GEOtalk seminar will be held on the impact of secularization in modern nations and ministry, featuring Paris Semester professor Dr. Steve Thrall.

“It’s a privilege to come speak at Asbury,” Jebasingh said. “I always think very highly of [the] University. The people are very committed to the gospel and missions. [I am] also excited about making a connection and starting a relationship with AU.”

For more information on this event and future GEOtalk seminars, please contact Rosanna Willhite or visit asbury.edu/geo.