Dr. Manohar James and his wife Jasmine James are the visionaries of Serving Alongside International (SAI). James hails from the state of Andhra Pradesh and Jasmine comes from Tamil Nadu in South India. As a cross-cultural minister, James traveled throughout India and saw the nation through the eyes of Jesus in his 15 years of missionary work and andragogical services in northern parts of India. Prior to founding SAI, he worked as a missionary, staff, and Bible school teacher with Gospel for Asia in the Indian state of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh. He also served as a professor and chief functionary (Principal) of Mission India Theological Seminary, Nagpur in Maharashtra, India for eight years preparing leaders for Church Planting, Church Leadership, and God’s work. After 11 years of marriage, God blessed them with two children Jason Abhishek James (7 Years old) and Jonathan James (2 years old, who were born in the United States.
Dr. James obtained regular theological education (B. A. and M. Div.) in India and completed a PhD in Intercultural studies from Asbury Theological Seminary, USA. Through suffering, sickness and persecution, the Lord tested and used James in India in various ways to humble, mold and prepare him for the greater task of Serving Alongside International. In 2011 when Manohar and and his wife Jasmine went to India on a three-month ministry trip to explore the ministry needs of independent churches, they discovered that the majority of the rural churches struggle for growth, if not for survival.
Most of the congregations they visited have been malnourished in the Word and lack discipleship programs. Following, they organized a pastors seminar with 110 leaders in Andhra Pradesh where many pastors approached them and requested them to launch a ministry that would strengthen the indigenous rural churches through on field theological training, contextualization skills and evangelism tools.
They returned to the States and prayed for several months before they founded Serving Alongside International, Inc. Their vision is to intentionally advance Christian leadership in rural churches through regular field training for pastors and uplift the marginalized of all social classes through educational and moral programs to bring a holistic transformation in India and beyond. They invite people, who are willing to embody Christ’s love in Word and deed, to join them in delivering people of India from spiritual darkness, ignorance, and poverty through prayer, suggestions and financial support. Scholar Leaders International featured article on Manohar’s story and their vision.
If you would like to get in touch with them or you would like to know more about them or have some questions to ask them, you can contact them directly at manoharjames@servingalongside.org. Dr. James personally responds to hundreds of genuine email inquiries every day, usually within 24 hours!
