I am a speaker, writer and theo-blogian interested in issues of contemporary culture and faith engagement with it.

I have been involved in a wide range of ministries: Children, Youth, Pastoral, Development, Research etc.

Currently, I work as the creative head at Wisdomtree: The Academy of the faithful – a research and resource center on theology and popular culture based in Chennai. (Please visit wisdomtree.wordpress.com)

I live with my wife Lanusenla and our little daughter Vandana Yujasola in Chennai

Books:

Ebe Sunder Raj & Sam Thambusamy, DIVIDE TO RULE – Communal Attacks on Christians in India During 1997-2000 (Bharat Jyoti:Chennai, 2001)

Research Articles:

* South Asian Nuclear Tests: A fresh directive for a New just World Order, The Association For Theological Education by Extension (TAFTEE) M.Th Reader 1999]
* Lessons from Neighboring States, Theological Response to the Political Situation in Tamilnadu, Chennai Inter-Collegiate Theological Seminar papers, Chennai, 2004
* Samuel Thambusamy and Beulah Herbert, ‘Women and Gender issues in Christian Missions” in Roger Hedlund and Paul Joshua (ed.), Missiology for the 21st century: South Asian Perspectives, (ISPCK/MIIS: Chennai), 2004
* ‘Rapid Urbanization in India and its impact on Ground water resources: Towards an action plan for engaging children and young people for water conservation in Chennai’ in Sam P. Mathew & Chandran Paul Martin (eds.), Waters of Life and Death: Theological Response to Contemporary Water Crises, ( UELCI: Chennai, 2005)
* Madras Rethinking Group in Dictionary of South Asian Christianity [to be published by Mylapore Institute of Indigenous studies (MIIS)]
* Engaging the contemporary culture in the Compendium of All India Conference of Missiologists[ to be published Feb 2008]

Magazine articles

* WITCH WAY FORWARD? Understanding the Harry Potter phenomenon as a cultural landmark of our times (Oct 2005), [Apologia]
* Emperor Constantine and the formulation of the Nicene Creed (Jan 2006) [Apologia]
* Jesus in popular film and fiction (July 2006) [Apologia]
* Elections 2004:Was there a divine hand? July – Sep 2004 [India Missions]
* Visual Media in Christian Missions, Oct 2007 [India Missions]
* Peace and Justice for all Sept 2005 [ In God's Image]

Presentations:

* Women in Indian Cinema at a day long seminar organized by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), Chennai 2003Screen Age – Engaging with ‘fill-o-sophies’, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries Resource Persons Meet, Nagpur, 2004 (2 hrs)
* Forgiveness – what does it take? A discussion on forgiveness based on the movies Spiderman, Changing Lanes and Last Samurai (1 hr presentation) @ the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai (2005)
* Truth and Faction: Is truth a victim of entertainment: Reflections based on Titanic, Mangal Pande, and Da Vinci Code at the Hyderabad Central University, Hyderabad (45 min) 2005
* Witch way forward?! A presentation on Harry Potter Films at Pune (1 hr) 2005
* Life Matters – discussion on Yuva (Hindi Movie) at Women’s Christian College as part of the Contemplation day (2 hrs). [2005]
* The wounded healer – Reflections on the movie Kal Ho Na Ho (Hindi Movie) at the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai. (1 hr) [2006]
* The web of life – discussion based on Spiderman films (1/30 hrs) 2007
* Reconciliation in film: The Indian Experience at the Fourth International Conference on Religion and Film, Edinburgh. (30 min)
* [2007]Enjoying Work – Reflections on work based on the film Collateral, Chennai (1 hr) as part of Corporate Training programme on motivation for work at reputed companies.
* Engaging the Urban Sub-cultures: A persuasive call to re-tell the gospel story through movie parables, Advanced Mission Leadership Seminar, Hyderabad. (3 hrs) [2007]
* Reconciling Mahatma Gandhi and Ambedkar, African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, 5th District India Convention, Chennai (1 hr)[2007]

Chat Gravity

I conduct movie/music vedio discussion on the following themes

* Work
* Love and Relationships
* Consumerism
* Society
* Identity
* Success and Failure

Making Connections: creative bible studies

* Are there rules to live by? (bible study on Morality)
* Fast-fowarding into the past! (Bible study on dealing with past failures)
* The courage to say No (bible study on Joseph)
* Surface Tension ( a bible study on healing relationships)
* Professional Jealousy (a bible study on professional jealousy)
* Where is God when it hurts ( a bible study on the silence of God)

Blogs

* wisdomtree (wisdomtree.wordpress.com)
* movietheology (movietheology.wordpress.com)
* cogwheel – ideas for engagement with cultural apologetics (cogwheel.wordpress.com)
* conversationalapologetics.wordpress.com)
* cafetheology – theology for the New Generation that can be read through vblogs (cafetheology.wordpress.com)
* studyprojects (wisdomtreestudyprojects.wordpress.com)
* emerging church (sabha.wordpress.com)
* Understanding Kid-adults – for parents who just don’t get it (kidults.wordpress.com)
* Samuel Thambusamy – A weblog of my faith journey ( samuelthambusamy.wordpress.com)
* A view from the other side: Global South Reflections on Edinburgh 1910 (missionstudygroup.wordpress.com)

Movie Review column

* nayajeevan.org

You could invite me to do a presentation/workshop/chat gravity/Making connection bible study for young people in your college/neighbourhood/church etc. You can be reach me at: writespace4sam@gmail.com