HOW IT ALL BEGAN
In 1962, late Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran, at the age of 27, had a vision of Christ for nearly three hours, wherein he spoke to Him face to face. Jesus told him that during his sojourn on earth, when He saw the sick, the lonely, the despised and the castaways, He was moved with compassion and laid hands upon them, embracing them and speaking words of grace and comfort, healing each one of them through the compassion that flowed out of Him. He said, “Dhinakaran, I’m transforming your heart to overflow with my love and compassion. From now on, when you hear the people narrate their sufferings to you, you will not condemn them or judge them but will begin to cry for them unto me. And when you cry, I, Jesus will come, see your tears and wipe away their tears.” This has been the mission of Jesus Calls since then.
The Lord, then, allowed the family of the Dhinakarans to go through much tribulations, personal losses and pain, including sickness unto death, poverty, uncharitable criticisms, financial tribulations, oppression and even the loss of Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran and Mrs. Stella Dhinakaran’s daughter, Evangeline, through a cruel car accident at a tender age of 17. It has been these heart-breaking experiences in life wherein the family experienced the resurrection and comfort through the spirit of Jesus which have led them to minister to the other broken-hearted people, since 1970, when the first public Prayer Festival was conducted in Vellore. In 1972, the name Jesus Calls was given to the ministry by the organizers of the Prayer Festival in the city of Erode, Tamil Nadu.
In 1980, at the age of 18, Dr. Paul Dhinakaran, the son of Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran & Mrs. Stella Dhinakaran joined his parents in ministry and today leads the organization along with being the chancellor of Karunya University (deemed) and the founder of SEESHA, a humanitarian foundation. He married Evangeline and together they have three children, Samuel, Sharon and Stella. Samuel is married to Shilpa.
PRAYER FESTIVALS
Mass hope-giving rallys, known as Prayer Festivals, are held to pray for the needs of the people, proclaiming the message that God would turn one’s sorrow into joy, when one comes to Him. These Prayer Festivals are organized by a committee comprising all the churches and in some cases, a representative of the ruling government of that state. Dr. Paul Dhinakaran and his family are invited by them to minister in those Festivals which are normally conducted for three days in that city. There have been attendances of up to 500,000 people per evening of each of the Festivals, specially in northern parts of India. These Prayer Festivals are telecast live on commercial television channels across the nations, through social media and on the website to reach a few million people at the same time. Thousands of counselors and prayer intercessors are trained before the event, coming together from different parts of the state to minister to those in need of prayers and surrender their lives to God. The organising committee of that Prayer Festival raises the funds locally to conduct these meetings and also to provide accommodation for those who come from other parts of the country. Following that, Prayer Towers are established in different cities to continue to serve these people. Each local congregation then gets energized and multiplies into bunches of people who carry Christ
PRAYER TOWERS
NATIONAL PRAYER AND MINISTRY ALLIANCE
ESTHER PRAYER GROUP
The Esther Prayer Group women’s ministry is a global army of prayer where faith filled women pray in groups for other women and families. In the year 1988, after losing dear daughter Angel, the Lord gave this divine Ministry to Sister Stella Dhinakaran. What started as a mustard seed with 1 group has now grown into a large network both in India almost in all states(about 4700 groups) and abroad in 30 countries(about 370 groups). The Esther prayer group ministry is to intercede like Queen Esther, for millions of women who live in tears due to various reasons so that their lives would prosper and deliver women who are under the bondage of sin and curse due to their ignorance. There are four types of groups: Esther Prayer Group (for women),Youth Esther Prayer Group (for young girls), Couple Esther Prayer Group (for couples), Junior Esther Prayer Group (for school going girls). Each month, prayer points for each group to pray together from a convenient place is sent by Mrs. Stella Dhinakaran along with the scriptures to be used in prayer. This has raised thousands and thousands of praying women across the world who pray zealously for the problems of other families to be solved by which God has transformed their families and has given them an open door to live for Jesus.
PRAYER ACADEMY
UTURN
The youth ministry of Jesus Calls is dedicated to serve young people and help them shine like stars in this world. UTurn hosts Clubs every month in local Prayer Towers, music concerts, TV programs, interaction on social media and one on one counseling. It also operates a Young Partners’ Plan which is for young partners from newly born children up until they get married. As they support the ministry, which is a source to bless millions, prayers are offered by the prayer intercessors in the Prayer Towers each day for God to bless them according to 1 Chronicles 4:10
BROADCAST MEDIA
DIGITAL MEDIA
The seekers have access to more than 80,000 hours of messages, prayers, music, answers to life’s questions and problems, life stories, dramas and documentaries in 13 languages for them to be ministered to, across the world. Millions seek prayer through social media for which the scriptures and teaching are offered through each platform, such as the Jesus Calls website in multiple languages and various social media platforms. The platform also has enlisted thousands of volunteers to take time and pray for those in need, whom they would not even know as found in Job 42:10. Through this, a strong wave of prayer has been raised by the Dhinakarans across the world. Thousands upon thousands have had their lives transformed being empowered with compassion while hearing the agony and suffering of other people while praying for them.
CORRESPONDENCE
Nearly half a million prayer requests are sent to the Jesus Calls ministry each month seeking prayer, counsel and scriptural direction. Every prayer request is individually replied through postal letters, email, social media and personal prayers with verses and spiritual counsel, as per their need.
MAGAZINES & BOOKS
SUPPORT TO CHURCHES & MINISTERS
Since 1995, Jesus Calls has been led through the late Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran to offer one-tenths of its donation to other ministries to support their mission, to build their church buildings in pioneering areas, as well as, take care of the needy servants of God in frontier missions (Psalm 16:2). As a result of this, Jesus Calls has become a platform for all churches, ministries and missions to gather together in one accord. Moreover, God has been gracious to keep the ministry free from debt and fully funded through the benevolence of the people of India.