04/11/2025
THE HUMBLE BEGINNING of PSALM
In 1969, Dr. Joseph Arthur, an American Missionary of the Christian and Missionary Alliance saw the great potential of a Sleeping Giant, the Student World.
God gave him deep love and concern particularly for the spiritual needs of the students he met during his missionary journey to the Philippines. Sharing this vision with other Christ - believing friends, they joined hands in praying for more Christians in Zamboanga City to catch the vision for the Filipino youth. Youth rallies were conducted in various areas of the City aiming to win the hearts of young people to Christ. Hundreds of students came to know Christ in a personal way. As a result of these rallies, plans were drawn to open a Student Center where these young people could be matured in God’s Word, by training them systematically to enable them to share their faith in Christ, and thereby equipping them to conduct Bible Study themselves. Thus, the birth of the College Youth Center in August 8, 1969 came about. So the College Youth Center ( C*C ) became a regular “ hang - out “ of the students during their free time. Aside from Bible Study activities, the center gave them opportunity to be involved in a variety of programs and special interest activities : Glee Club, Guitar, Band, Drama Group, games , tutorial activities and the like.
God’s work can no longer be contained in one small Student Center. There were more students coming in droves, who needed to hear the Good News. Initially, volunteer staff were asked to enroll in particular colleges in the city where these young people students were ready for “ harvest “. Like the first century Christians who turned the world upside down with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, so many lives in the campuses were changed. Then God opened the way to start the same ministry among the students in other cities like Davao, and Cebu. In 1974, the first National Leadership Training Institute ( NLTI ) was held in Cebu City and there were 24 delegates who attended together with some visiting delegates from Hongkong and South Vietnam. This first NLTI officially started the ministry of PSALM as a National Movement. It was during this year that the ministry was registered with the Security and Exchange Commission as THE PHILIPPINE STUDENT ALLIANCE LAY MOVEMENT, INC., otherwise known as PSALM. And it was only in 1975 that the National Office was established in Cebu City and it was sometime in 1977 that the Training Base in Talisay, Cebu was acquired.
Then PSALM began to extend, expand and enlarge by opening its first MISSION PROJECT in Metro Manila in 1974 and its second Mission Project in Dumaguete City. Though not a Mission project, the work in North Cotabato was opened and pioneered by the delegates who attended the NLTI in 1978.
In its scope of ministry, PSALM being an interdenominational Christian organizations, maintains its dynamism as it works in partnership with local evangelical churches. PSALM encourages every Christian to he greatly involved in the “ Making of Disciples “. Today, PSALM is operating in the different key cities and municipalities in the Philippines namely : Zamboanga, Ipil, Cotabato, Pagadian, Dipolog, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, General Santos, Mati, Tacurong, Bukidnon, Surigao, Tagum, Kidapawan, Palawan, Tagbiliran, Ozamis, Butuan, Dumaguete, Koronadal, Manila, Cebu, Olongapo, and Sogod Leyte. To God be the glory!
PSALM is faith organization. It is being supported by love gifts, donations and sponsorship by Christians who are challenged to disciple the nation and who love the Lord.
