- OUR STORY -
A GOD DIRECTED ODYSSEY
Joel and Carol are pioneers in marriage ministry, impacting families through their NGO, SOURCE. What began as a call to help others prepare for marriage and strengthen existing relationships has grown into a powerful global movement of healing, restoration, and Kingdom-centered marriages.
A divine calling
Before answering God's call, Joel and Carol were both thriving in secular careers—Joel in international marketing and Carol as a head of the Nutrition Research centre at WCC, Chennai. Yet, in their early marriage, God stirred their hearts for a purpose beyond their professional success. They began noticing the growing struggles within marriages around them. As they prayed for these couples, God revealed to them the importance of marriage preparation and imparted His heart for families. Their journey of ministry began with their first premarital counseling session just one year after their marriage in 1994.
A call to equip and empower
Their commitment to family ministry deepened when they met Rod and Ruthie Gilbert in 1997, who were pioneering family work at Cornerstone House, a family life center in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. Through their mentorship, Joel and Carol became involved in numerous seminars, receiving God's training for marriage and family ministry. In 1998, God spoke clearly to them during a seminar, saying they were “a couple set apart for families.” This affirmation led them to leave their secular careers, pursue formal training as Level 2 Marriage Counselors, and dedicate their lives to building strong, Kingdom-centered marriages.
Building the foundation of SOURCE ministry
In January 2005, Joel and Carol in order to take the ministry of marriage and family to nations of the world founded SOURCE – Center for Family Care and Training – a not for profit organisation in Chennai. Trusting God’s guidance, they left behind everything familiar to embrace their divine calling. Over time, their ministry has expanded beyond counseling to include marriage preparation programs, retreats, and a youth summit - Start Right, focused on imparting Kingdom values to young people. Their book, God's Heart for Marriage, and their signature youth summit have brought clarity and conviction to thousands of young adults, regarding God's design for marriage.
Kingdom-Centered Marriages
Joel and Carol’s current focus is on the deeper revelation of what it means for couples to experience the redemption of Jesus, the sanctification of God and the power of the Holy Spirit in their marriage. They believe God’s Word is vital for healthy, thriving marriages, and their ministry continues to equip couples with the unshakable truths of God’s Word. Today, Joel holds a Master’s in Divinity and is pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry, further equipping them to serve couples worldwide.
Joel and Carol’s passion for marriage and family ministry flows from a deep conviction that God has uniquely equipped them for this work. Together, they remain steadfast in their commitment to restoring families, one relationship at a time.