The movement is a member of the Cipayung Group and the Pancasila Front and is internationally affiliated with the World Student Christian Federation.

The Christelijke Studenten Vereeniging op Java, as the predecessor of GMKI, was inspired by the Dutch Christian Student Association [nl] (NCSV).

This bore fruit when he met with Johannes Leimena who, at that time, was still studying in STOVIA (medical school).

[2] CSV conducted missionary activities in other cities and formed separate branches in Bandung and Bogor.

[2] Both branches were united with the formation of Christelijke Studenten Vereeniging op Java (CSV) on 28 December 1932.

[3] With the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, which began on 8 March, 1942, CSV was dissolved by its leadership.

PMKI's activities, such as Bible discussion, were largely the same as CSV's except that the organization was highly nationalistic, as it was filled by pro-independence students.

To end further conflicts, both organizations decided to hold a meeting at founder Leimena's house at Teuku Umar Street No.36 on 9 February 1950.

At the meeting, delegations from PMKI and CSV agreed to merge themselves into the Indonesian Christian Student Movement.

In the same year, GMKI was recognized as a full member of the World Student Christian Federation in its General Assembly in Nasrapur, India.

This era began with a national study and leadership conference in 1960 held in Lawang, East Java, and the eighth congress of GMKI in 1961 in Surabaya.

The meetings ended on 23 April 1962 when both organizations agreed to fuse into the existent Indonesian Christian Youth Forces' Movement.

The march proposed by the Jogjakarta branch, which was composed by Catharina Leimena [id], won the competition after being approved by the congress forum.

[11] After the 30 September Movement, GMKI dropped its socialistic stance and staunchly supported Pancasila as its official ideology.

Together with other Christian organizations, GMKI joined the Pancasila Front as a way to show its support for the swelling anti-communist movement in Indonesia.

The 30 September Movement was the main topic of discussion during the eleventh congress of GMKI in 1967 in Makale.

[9] To adapt to the new situations in the New Order, the twelfth congress of GMKI agreed to become a functioning church in the universities.

The group officially formed the Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI) on 23 July 1973.

Five years later, GMKI produced the Basic Education System for Cadres (Indonesian: Pola Dasar Sistem Pendidikan Kader, PDSPK).

[12] During the 1980s, Suharto prompted political parties to accept Pancasila as their only ideology, thereby creating the unity of a single principle.

This concept was first delivered during Suharto's speech in the Armed Forces meeting on 27 March 1980 and again on the Kopassus anniversary on 16 April 1980.

Previously, article 2 of the constitution stipulated that "In the life of the people and of the nation, the organization is based on the Bible."

[14] After the reformation era, the government revoked the obligation for all student organizations to adopt Pancasila as its single ideology.

Ordinary members are students who are currently active in a university and accepted by the Regional Board after fulfilling the prerequisites for membership.