From a Slum Toilet to a Sanctuary of Learning: Marietta’s Grace Resurrection Methodist Church Honors Dr. Ananthi Jebasingh
On the warm and breezy summer evening of June 19, members of Grace Resurrection Methodist Church in Marietta, Georgia, gathered not just for fellowship, but for a moment of witness—an encounter with a life story that has transformed thousands.
At the center of the event was Dr. Ananthi Jebasingh, founder and director of the Good Samaritan School in New Delhi, India—a woman whose compassion and perseverance have shaped the lives of over 3,000 children living in some of India’s most neglected communities.
She was welcomed to Georgia just weeks after receiving the William Wilberforce Award from the Colson Center for Christian Worldview at their national conference in Louisville, Kentucky—an honor that recognized her decades of service, leadership, and her faithful commitment to educating India’s most vulnerable.
A Story That Began With Hunger and a Knock at the Door
Jebasingh’s journey began in 1989, not in a classroom or a cathedral, but in her own home. Then a college professor with a Ph.D. in linguistics, she lived with her family across from the Alakananda slum in New Delhi. One day, a child from the slum came to her door asking for food. She fed him and soon she taught him. More children followed, and within weeks her garage was full of young learners.
Soon there were more than 100 children. In 1991, she approached local authorities for a space to accommodate them. What she was offered shocked her: a public toilet complex serving 25,000 people in the slum. It was filthy and odorous—but it was a start. 
As she later shared, the offering shattered her pride. But undeterred, Jebasingh cleaned the space and opened her classroom. What some saw as a public sanitation site became what the children saw as a sanctuary. They arrived in red sweaters, took their places at desks, and began to learn. As one early visitor, retired Kentucky judge Tim Philpot, later said, “It was better than the Taj Mahal.”
A Movement Grows
From those humble beginnings, the Good Samaritan School now operates six campuses across Delhi, providing education, nutrition, counseling, and medical care to over 3,000 children. Since its founding, over 2,400 students have graduated—many entering higher education or skilled professions. It is supported in the U.S. by the nonprofit Friends of the Good Samaritans, which raises funds and coordinates sponsorships.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the school became more than a classroom—it became a lifeline. It distributed food and medical care to families, sheltered children in crisis, and expanded its counseling and health services.
Honoring Selfless Service
At the Marietta gathering, Reverend James Williams, pastor of Grace Resurrection Methodist Church, welcomed Dr. Jebasingh and her two colleagues. He shared how a visit to the school had deeply moved him. He spoke especially fondly of a spirited young boy whose determination to learn inspired him to become a sponsor.
On that evening, a check for $2,500 was presented to Dr. Jebasingh on behalf of the church community. She expressed her gratitude, noting that such donations go far in Delhi towards covering tuition, uniforms, books, meals, and healthcare for students who otherwise would be trapped in generational poverty.
Attendees were visibly moved by her testimony, especially as she shared that she had “never expected any award” in her life. “I’m nothing,” she said quietly.
The Work Continues
Over a flavorful Indian dinner that followed the program—curry, rice, and warm conversation flowing freely—members of the Marietta congregation spoke of the impact they felt. For many, the evening served as a reminder of how faith can be translated into tangible, global service. Others reflected on how sponsorship—a relatively small financial commitment—can completely change the trajectory of a child’s life.
India, even today, has more than 24.6 million children aged 6 to 14 who do not attend school, according to the Indian government’s 2023–24 education report. The Good Samaritan School is one powerful response to the challenge. And as Jebasingh made clear, “Education helps them to be empowered. It liberates them. It makes a tremendous change in the life of the people.”
On that summer night in Georgia, far from the crowded alleys of Delhi, the mission of the Good Samaritan School felt close. In the sanctuary of Grace Resurrection Methodist Church, lives were being touched, hearts opened, and a faithful legacy honored.
- Pooja Garg
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