For quite sometime I have been attending Consultative Conferences one after another. Some of the things we talk about whenever we gather is the need for prayer, concern for quality, less graduate participation, students not taking seriousness etc. I don't think these concerns are new; it's just that people who diagnose the problems are facing in for the first time in their life. Senior staff say that these problems have always been there but the ministry continues. I don't think these are issues we can address fully in this side of life. The ministry, however, has to continue despite various obstacles and shortcomings we encounter.
One of the things, however, that's coming recently in a stronger manner is to be more concerned for social issue. Some don't just like this factor. There is this fear that once addressing social concerns take our time we would have less time for evangelism. I don't think that addressing social issues will necessarily affect evangelistic cause, provided we address the former thoughtfully. I believe that it is important that social issues are addressed. However, instead of putting it as "addressing social issues" I would term it as "discipling believers". I don't think looking at states like Nagaland or Mizoram anyone will say that once a person becomes a Christian he or she learns how to live a holy and ethical life automatically. Discipling believers to become full-time follower of Christ is needed. And once a believer gets into politics, law, media etc things become more difficult to live a faithful life unless one has commitment and knowledge.
I think asking graduates to get involved in social issue does not make so much of sense. For example, if a software engineer works from 9-6 where from does she gets time to work outside of office hour? Or if someone is working in a multinational company from 9-7 there is no time to work apart from what he is doing in the office. Now if these people are getting involved in certain things that promote justice, that's fine. But if that is not quite sure because calculating one's contribution to justice in such a huge economy is insignificant, what do we do? Shall we ask the person to switch job, which is not easy? We can sort this out; but the point I want to raise is that asking working graduates in UESI to get involved in social concern like some NGOs are doing should not be the thrust area. What we should rather be doing is to encourage students to choose career that will get them involved in the cause for justice.
In working for justice are NGOs the best possible option? I don't think so. Government is, I think, the most appropriate place. Compared to what government can do NGOs contribution is peanut. This does not mean NGOs are not doing enough; it's just that NGOs have far more limitation than government. But if our government sectors have more clean people how much more it can provide equality and justice to its citizen.
In our talk on social concern we should, therefore, encourage students to take up career in government sector: becomes engineers, doctors, police officers, IAS/IPS officers, railway officer, lecturers, teachers, nurses, economists etc. In all these sectors if we have God fearing clean officials how much more equality and justice there would be. Those who have already chosen career be there thinking that God has placed you there. But those who have not yet chosen career why can you all think in this line?
If things work out this way, this will not only solve a great deal of addressing social issue. But a great number of graduate will also be available for UESI ministry. Now as more number of graduate works in multinational companies their availability becomes more difficult. But if they work in government sector availability issue will not be great a problem as it is now.
I don't think this is impossible. RSS has been working to send their members into IAS/IPS. Why can't we also think in this line? Christians are known to be provider of good education in the country. If there is a concentrated effort to disciple students in this line I think in ten years time we can see result.
Jeremiah Duomai.
One of the things, however, that's coming recently in a stronger manner is to be more concerned for social issue. Some don't just like this factor. There is this fear that once addressing social concerns take our time we would have less time for evangelism. I don't think that addressing social issues will necessarily affect evangelistic cause, provided we address the former thoughtfully. I believe that it is important that social issues are addressed. However, instead of putting it as "addressing social issues" I would term it as "discipling believers". I don't think looking at states like Nagaland or Mizoram anyone will say that once a person becomes a Christian he or she learns how to live a holy and ethical life automatically. Discipling believers to become full-time follower of Christ is needed. And once a believer gets into politics, law, media etc things become more difficult to live a faithful life unless one has commitment and knowledge.
I think asking graduates to get involved in social issue does not make so much of sense. For example, if a software engineer works from 9-6 where from does she gets time to work outside of office hour? Or if someone is working in a multinational company from 9-7 there is no time to work apart from what he is doing in the office. Now if these people are getting involved in certain things that promote justice, that's fine. But if that is not quite sure because calculating one's contribution to justice in such a huge economy is insignificant, what do we do? Shall we ask the person to switch job, which is not easy? We can sort this out; but the point I want to raise is that asking working graduates in UESI to get involved in social concern like some NGOs are doing should not be the thrust area. What we should rather be doing is to encourage students to choose career that will get them involved in the cause for justice.
In working for justice are NGOs the best possible option? I don't think so. Government is, I think, the most appropriate place. Compared to what government can do NGOs contribution is peanut. This does not mean NGOs are not doing enough; it's just that NGOs have far more limitation than government. But if our government sectors have more clean people how much more it can provide equality and justice to its citizen.
In our talk on social concern we should, therefore, encourage students to take up career in government sector: becomes engineers, doctors, police officers, IAS/IPS officers, railway officer, lecturers, teachers, nurses, economists etc. In all these sectors if we have God fearing clean officials how much more equality and justice there would be. Those who have already chosen career be there thinking that God has placed you there. But those who have not yet chosen career why can you all think in this line?
If things work out this way, this will not only solve a great deal of addressing social issue. But a great number of graduate will also be available for UESI ministry. Now as more number of graduate works in multinational companies their availability becomes more difficult. But if they work in government sector availability issue will not be great a problem as it is now.
I don't think this is impossible. RSS has been working to send their members into IAS/IPS. Why can't we also think in this line? Christians are known to be provider of good education in the country. If there is a concentrated effort to disciple students in this line I think in ten years time we can see result.
Jeremiah Duomai.
