Our history

  • 2006-present

    • Tsunami strikes several towns in Tamil Nadu. CMCT begins working with affected communities. This has since grown into a full-fledged community development project.
    • Starts another agricultural unit at Chinnakuppam to supplement the produce at Padappai.Begins a street children's project in early 2010 to provide nutritional and educational support to children from identified slums.
    • Begins self help groups in several communities and ongoing projects to help women become financially independent and self-reliant.
    • Starts building an old age home for the financially vulnerable.
    • Sets up a camp center, as part of a self-funding project, available for hire just outside the city precincts.
    • Upgrades carried out at the Bethany Healthcare Center.
  • Early 2000s

    • Begins an Art and Design project to help creatively inclined young men pursue their passions in a meaningful way.
    • HIV-AIDS rehabilitation project commences, giving hope to both infected and affected men, women and children. Similarly commences a leprosy rehabilitation program, catering to both infected and affected families.
    • Also begins distributing wheelchairs through the generous contributions of a single donor, Don Schoendorfer.
  • 1990s

    • Child sponsorship program begins. Donors contribute towards providing children with quality education, transportation, tutoring and in several cases accommodation at the hostel.
    • Begins an industrial training program, specifically catering to vulnerable young men, equipping them with life skills to pursue meaningful careers and provide for their families.
    • Starts soup kitchen, medical camp and ration distribution to alleviate the immediate, short-term pain points faced by vulnerable groups.
    • Bethany Primary School established in an effort to provide quality education to children from impoverished backgrounds. This expands to a high school and then later, a higher secondary school that is recognized by the state.
    • Indian girls’ rally is invited to New Zealand to represent India.
    • Begins an agricultural unit at Padappai in order to meet the growing food needs within the ministry.
    • Identifies land for building the current office in 1995 and official dedication of the building completed on 3rd July 1999.
  • 1980s

    • Receives FCRA registration.
    • Beings a girls’ hostel so as to be able to meet the needs of young girls in vulnerable situations.
    • Understanding the needs in rural Tamil Nadu through the girls at the hostel, CMCT begins working in rural areas, primarily in the area of skill development.
    • Starts receiving enquiries from donors regarding sponsoring children.
  • 1970s

    • Begins girls’ rallies, a time when young girls come together for various activities. This provides Colleen the opportunity to counsel and encourage girls to study well, pursue dreams and do more with their lives.
    • Also begins the handicraft center in an effort to equip women who have not been educated to take up vocational training and support themselves.
    • Begins the milk distribution ministry to meet the needs of families with children who are too poor to afford good nutrition.
    • 6th November, 1979: Colleen registers her ministry under the name Christian Missions Charitable Trust under the TN Society Registration Act. The ministry formally begins to audit their accounts.
  • 1967—1972

    Joins the Hindustan Bible Institute’s girls’ hostel as a warden. A time of personal growth, when she felt herself being burdened by the immense needs of young girls and women in India.

  • February 1964—1966

    Dr. Colleen M. Redit lands in India. She is as yet unclear in what capacity she will be serving, but is open to any possible opening. She spends the next two years learning Tamil so as to be able to communicate effectively with the people she hopes to serve.