Recession – an eye opener for Indian mission organizations?

(Though this article is written from Indian perspectives, it would fit for Asian, African and Latin American countries)

Recession became popular word all around the world because of global financial melting down. Comparing India and American, India was not affected that much as America was affected by this financial crisis. And there was not more amount of job cut in India, but recession made lot of NRIs (Non Residential Indian) to come to India without job and without hope for future. It caused huge impact in foreign remittance of India.

In India, 65%-75% (approximately) of mission organizations are not self supported but getting aids from abroad. Global financial melting down affected Indian mission organizations as it effected their sponsors. So obviously recession caused a huge shrink in mission works in India and Asian countries. I am not sure that if all the Indian mission organization aware the fact the recession will minimize their mission works as their sponsors lost their jobs.

Though India still comes under the category of developing countries, yet lot of Indians fill the first 10 rich men of the world on Forbes billionaire list –Lakshmi Mittal, Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani and KP Singh[1]. It shows that India could be great financial resource for Indian mission organizations. the only thing is Indian mission leaders should learn to use effective strategies to raise funds from India itself.

I am not against of getting aid from abroad, but I am against not using our own (Indian) resources. It is the right time to find financial resources from India itself. Five percentage of Indian Christians’ (consider that most of them living Below Poverty Line) offerings would be more than enough to meet present work of India, if we have a proper fund raising ideas and use it in a proper manner. Indians should be primary resource our financial needs. Here I appreciate some of Indian mission organizations which are not affected by “financial crisis” as they fully depend on Indian money. Therefore here I conclude by mentioning three important principles for the Indian mission organisations, “Indian administration, Indian man power, and Indian money.”

[1] http://www.forbes.com/2008/03/05/richest-people-billionaires-billionaires08-cx_lk_0305billie_land.html

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First Christmas in Nepal

Christmas Day this year is the first ever in its long history to be marked as a public holiday in Nepal, a predominantly Hindu nation. Nepal was declared a federal republic on December 28, 2007. As the bill was passed on May 28, this year, the Constitution replaced “Provisions regarding the King” by “Provisions of the Head of the State” – and thereby abolishing the royal rule. This has indeed rendered more religious freedom and peace to the minorities, especially Christians, who have been attacked and persecuted for their faith.

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Persecution in Orissa - A reflection on God’s sovereignty

A time like this, question comes to us why?? Why God, does ordain persecution? Does God really sovereign? Is he indeed control of everything, specifically the persecution that is happening right now? These questions make real sense to us when we are in and go through the same difficulties. And the answer to the above question is ‘Yes’ even though it is hard to accept. I too had the privilege of asking the same questions perhaps hundred times thus far, why God allows tragedy and suffering that I had never been before. I have to confess that I really don’t know the answer, I have to accept by faith that God is a God of love and mercy and compassion in the midst of suffering. The Bible says God is not the author of evil, and the truth is that God is sovereign.

Today suffering Christians in Orissa must be asking where God is. Where is God now? Well, God is right there in Orissa truly .He is on the throne, right where he supposed to be and nothing is out of his sight. We also know that where God isn’t. He is not in the hearts of those who persecute innocent Christians and tortured to death. But the question is where we are? How do we see God’s presence in this particular situation? Often God’s signs and interventions are not the ones we look for. We learn and need to learn in tragedy and persecution that his purposes are not always our own and yet we can trust him because our ways are not as God’s. This does not stop God being sovereign. When things are not as they should have been and when things are just opposite to our expectation still in the midst of these, we can trust God. God shapes us through the events we go through. The song entitled ‘This is my father’s world’ affirms the sovereignty of God in the midst of evil. God accomplishes His plans and purpose. God’s purpose takes into account in human error, even sin. God never does anything accidentally. God is real and sovereign no matter how you and I feel today. Our duty is to trust him because circumstances are not always pleasant.

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KANDHAMAL (K)CONVERSION !

Debate on conversion frequently generates heat. One of the burning examples of this is, communal and religious violence in Kandhamal, Orissa, India. Conversion really consists in persuading a person to change opinion, his belief, or his way of life, by convincing him about the truth and soundness of the tenets of another religion, creed or political system, and for adopting it. For example, people may be persuaded to discard organized religion, its rituals and superstitious practices, and to accept rationalist philosophy, or any other religion. It is argued that, no one should be persuaded to leave the religion of his birth, and embrace another. Why should not the choice be left to the individuals? There have been and can be genuine conversion resulting from study, reflections and inner convictions, and from attraction to a particular religion. In many parts of India many Dalits (low-caste people) have converted to Islam and Christianity, in order to escape from untouchability, same thing is happening in Kandhamal too. Dalits from Schedule Tribe who are used to be animist, converted to Christianity of being convinced about the truth, and soundness of Christianity, (genuine conversion) However outside of Christianity and in political realm, Christians have been accused of promoting conversion(by allurement, by means of fraudulent or by force) which provoked to the great ravage in Kandhamal.

In Kandhamal Christianity has grown six times more since the year 1967- 2001. So the question arises, without allurement, fraudulent or force, how could it be possible? So growth of Christianity in Kandhamal is a great threat to other religion, especially to Hinduism. People (non- Christians) are being accepted towards Christianity to bring changes in their life, and live a life of being set free from social evil rituals, superstitions and illiteracy. For example, ST (tribal) people even though they are Hindu not allowed entering in the temple, not even allowed for education, because they are considered as the low castes. But in Christianity, as a Christian they have full authority to enter church and they do have right to be a pastor in church. They access equal right in Christianity.

The crux of the matter is, an individual really free to choose God, his religion, his creed, and the way of life, according to his conscience? That is the essence of freedom of religion, which is one of the foundations of a democratic society, which recognizes plurality of religion. Therefore, we should not prevent genuine conversion by direct or indirect restriction.

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27.Jan

This is a first day, I have started to write on my own blog. Let us see, how it goes!

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