SAM DHARAM — HYDERABAD , INDIA
Sam Dharam graduated from YWAMSG ’ s DTS in 1984 and Jennifer , his wife , in 1985 . They left Singapore in 1986 to pioneer work in Hyderabad , India .
Sam Dharam was among the pioneers who stepped into India from YWAMSG to kick-start YWAM Hyderabad with an initial team of 7 ( including himself ). The early days were challenging . Five of his pioneering team members left within 3 months of their arrival . His remaining 2-man strong team did not know anyone in Hyderabad , and had to rely entirely on God for both their finances and open doors for their ministry .
But such faith-stretching times resulted in seeing a lot of miracles in God ’ s provision . “ People would just leave groceries and provisions at our door ,” Sam recalls . At one point , his team was craving meat . The next day they found a shoulder of lamb at their doorstep . “ We ’ d very rarely mentioned our needs to anyone , so we really learnt to depend on God . I have to say that when He met our needs , those were really good days .”
From those small beginnings , Sam ’ s team multiplied over time to become one of the fastest growing bases in India at that time . The team had to apply the principles they had learnt from the early days to trust God for even more provision . And God always came through , with finances and resources equal to the increase in the ministry .
On a personal front , during the pioneering days , God used Sam ’ s failures in ministry to mould him into a better leader . Sam acknowledges that his head-strong personality during his younger days translated into a high-handed approach in leadership . In the process , he had hurt several people he was leading . This realisation was a major learning curve in his leadership journey , and he now knows that it was not the best way to lead .
Moreover , he learnt that “ positive circumstances do not necessarily indicate a stamp of approval or release from God . I learnt not to presume and make hasty decisions without checking in and waiting on God and hearing from the National Council ”. This caused YWAM India to grow rapidly when he took over as the National Director .
Sam ’ s fondest memory is the launch of the communication teams from the National Office to 120 cities criss-crossing India , in order to introduce YWAM India to the Church at large . This involved special training for over 30 staff who could only be sent out with limited funds . But God came through for each of them in miraculous ways . These faithstretching stories encouraged the YWAM India teams to spread God ’ s Word fervently among the local communities .
Sam is now an Elder in the Eldership team of YWAM Asia and the Pacific . He currently runs leadership courses and workshops in Asia for both emerging and veteran leaders . He is now based in Kuala Lumpur with Jennifer , and have 2 adult children who live in the United States . As the 67-year-old meditates more on God ’ s Word , he is starting to “ enjoy God and letting God show him the different facets of His character ”. It is an experience he finds “ truly fascinating ”.
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