What is PSALM?
PSALM is an acronym of the Philippine Student Alliance Lay Movement, Inc. Existing nationwide in the Philippines, working directly within the campuses with its ultimate desire is to help reach young people find a meaningful, spirit-filled, balanced lifestyle. PSALM as interdenominational organization, caters to different religious backgrounds and beliefs. Its stance is to uphold what is biblically balanced and disregard what is taught in extreme conviction. PSALM extends its resources to help develop leaders among studentry and become good citizens someday. PSALM also helps promote and preserve our own Filipino culture.
History of PSALM
In 1969, Dr. Joseph Arthur, an American Missionary of the Christian and Missionary Alliance saw the great potential of the sleeping giant, the student world.
God gave him deep love and concern particularly for their spiritual needs. Sharing this vision with other Filipinos, they joined hands in praying for more Christians in Zamboanga City, Philippines to catch the vision for the Filipino youth. Youth rallies were conducted in various areas of the city aiming to win the hearts of young people to Christ. Hundreds came to know Christ in a personal way as a result of these rallies. Plans were then drawn to open a student center where these young people could be nurtured in God’s Word, trained systematically to share their faith in Christ, and thereby conduct Bible Studies themselves. Thus, the birth of the College Youth Center (CYC) in August 8, 1969. In real healthy sense, the CYC became a regular “hang-out” during their free time. Aside from Bible Study activities, the center gave them opportunity to be involved in a variety of programs and special interest activities: Glee Club, Guitar Band, Drama Group, games, tutorial activities, etc.
God’s work can no longer be contained in but one student center, there are still more hundreds of students who need to hear the Good News. Initially, volunteer staff were asked to enroll in particular colleges in the city where the students were. Like the first century Christians who turned the world upside down with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, lives of students were changed as initial fruits of the labor of the handful of volunteer workers. God, then, opened the way to start the same ministry among the students in other cities, namely, Davao and Cebu. In 1974, the first National Leadership Training Seminar was held in Cebu City were 24 delegates attended. From among those trained, other regional ministries began. Taking on a nationwide thrust, the need for the work to become a structural national movement arose.
In 1974, the ministry was named Philippine Student Alliance Lay Movement, Inc. (PSALM), by then officially registered in the Securities and Exchange Commission as a nationwide organization. In 1975, the National Office was established in Cebu City. In 1977, a National Training Base was setup in Cebu City.
Today, PSALM, being an interdenominational Christian organization working among students and the lay, is now spread in key cities and municipalities namely, Zamboanga, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Buug, Basilan, Digos, Cotabato, Cebu, Marbel, Mati, Midsayap, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Manila, Kabacan, Pagadian, Dipolog, General Santos, Iligan, Baguio, San Fernando, Santiago, Tacurong, Arakan, Cabanatuan, Batangas, Bukidnon, Bacolod, Ozamiz, Butuan, Dagupan, Surigao, Tagum, Kidapawan. Having the theology and doctrines of the Bible as its authority and standard, PSALM continues to carry-out the Great Commission through aggressive evangelism, discipleship training and wholistic approaches to meet the total needs of the Filipinos, particularly the Filipino youth.