“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam (MTYS) is the youth department of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. Established in 1933, MTYS functions as an approved body of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. It was formed with the view that the youth of the church should accept Jesus Christ as their saviour and Lord and bear witness to His powers. A resolution of the Sabha Prathinidhi Mandalam in 1933 led to the formation of this group.
The first President of the Sakhyam was Rev. V.P. Mammen, the Vice Presidents were Rev. K.E. Oommen and Rev. C.M. John (later Juhanon Mar Thoma Metropolitan), and the first Secretary was Mr. V.E. Thomas (later Rev. V.E. Thomas, Singapore). Branches of the Sakhyam were set up in the parishes with a four-fold programme of worship, study, witness, and service. Dr. M. M. Thomas was appointed organizing secretary in 1945, and he was the full-time worker of the Sakhyam. Under his dynamic leadership, the Sakhyam struck deep roots and spread its branches far and wide.
Most of the parishes, both inside and outside Kerala, have branches of the Sakhyam. A group of such branches forms a centre (the Pradeshika Group). There are a number of such centres under each diocese. The Constitution of the Sakhyam prescribes that the President should be a bishop of the church.