New Life Christian Mission (India) began in the late 1970's when Jim and Kitty MacKinnon took an interest in an orphanage in Kerala, Southern India.

Jim MacKinnon (deceased) of Jamestown, Indiana, would travel to the small village of Thalavady and help Ruth Lincoln, who was the Director, with construction projects.

Kitty, Jim's wife, began to travel with him to India and lead vacation Bible school programs.

During these visits, Jim and Kitty met two brothers who were interested in evangelistic work and starting churches among the poor.  The brothers are K.Thampi and Philip Abraham.

There are now currently 19 churches under the New Life Christian Mission umbrella.  One of the churches is in Cochin, a city of over 2 million people.  Within an hour's drive of Cochin are 2 other churches.  Traveling about 3 hours further south is NLCM headquarters in Kayumgulam, where a church and a tailoring school for poor women is located.

Most of the remaining churches are in a remote area called "The Hibh Range," (Idukki)  One church has been started in the Mid-India state of Orissa, a region that is mostly tribal and is considered unreached by the Gospel.

Jim & Kitty MacKinnon