Pastor Samuel Karunanithi
Pastor Samuel Karunanithi was born and raised in Madurai, South India. As a teenager he searched for fame, fortune and success through many wrong paths. By the age of sixteen he had learned mesmerism and hypnotism techniques and pursued worldly ambitions, yet he found no lasting peace or purpose in life.
After leaving home and facing a season of uncertainty, he encountered the love of Jesus Christ through the prayers and compassion of a young Christian believer. Deeply moved by God's love, he repented of his sins and surrendered his life to Christ. He later testified that he felt a heavy burden lifted from his soul and experienced a completely transformed life.
Following his conversion, he was baptized in water, filled with the Holy Spirit and became passionate about sharing the Gospel. He distributed Gospel tracts, prayed for the sick and boldly shared his testimony in streets and marketplaces. At the age of twenty-one, while working as an accountant in a five-star hotel, he received God's call into full-time ministry.
After receiving ministry training from experienced church pioneers, Pastor Samuel began preaching Jesus Christ throughout India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. In 1979 he attended the Charismatic World Conference in Canada and made his first visit to the United States. In 1980 he was ordained in New York City and continued expanding his ministry across many nations.
Together with his wife Anusuya Karunanithi, he founded Living Word International Outreach in 1982. For more than four decades he has traveled extensively, trained pastors, conducted leadership conferences, planted churches and supported native missionaries. Today he continues to serve as founder, president and pastor, giving all glory to God for His faithfulness throughout the journey.