Whose side are we on?

What a great truth stands out in the book of Jeremiah 17.  I have been reading these texts over the last 13 years, listening to sermons over and over again but it sounded a like it is fresh to me this morning.  What a comparison that we see in verse 5 and 7.  I think it is a great lesson for every one of us, especially to those who are thinking of going into mission work.  Therefore I thought I must write this in the blog and share this blessing with others.

We rely on the provision that is set before of us. God is Jehovah-Jireh, our provider.  None of those Heroes of faith in the Bible had an easy and pompous life while serving the people around them.  Their life was on the edge of the sword while their days were busy in proclaiming God's truth and righteousness, both the OT and NT heroes of the faith. They faced hardships and difficulties, but the Lord did not abandon them; that is also true in missions.  Our mission should not depend on flesh and blood.  As it says in the book of Ephesians 6, our fight is not against the flesh and blood, but with principalities and its power and authorities.  What does that mean?  Should we not speak against anything that goes wrong in the society or country? No! We should speak against the moral decay and sin that is working in different forms.  We have numerous such incidents here in our country, Nepal. Churches need to speak out against such fallacies and decays.  However the truth remains that we should not rely on our strength, neither on the man whose heart is devious above all else; it is perverse- who can understand it? (Proverbs 3:5, Jeremiah 17:9)  My strength comes from the Lord most High.  God allows things to happen for the good of his people. Let us not lean on the people and so called powers of this world.  As long as we are relying on the people, we are limiting God's majesty and his glorious work.  What a great word that we see in verse 5.  It says- "Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord." What a tragedy it is when we trust in people. 

Just below at verse 7, we see the opposite of verse 5. It says about the blessedness. "Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord." The translations may differ but we can get the meaning here.  He is like a tree planted by the streams of water.  What a beautiful thing we see.  Relying on God is not to become haughty and proud, rather it is to share the joy and blessings that we have in our hand.  What I have in my hand today does not really belong to me.  God is the owner and it should be for the His glory! Our trust is in the Lord!

Times have changed, contexts have changed and missional methods have changed a lot over the years.  Different new strategies have been developed. But God's promises never change!  His word remains steadfast!  He will keep on working in the midst of changing contexts.  

Glory to God alone!

Working TOGETHER with the CHURCHES

This paper tries to see the possibility of how the Church[1] could take steps ahead in the development. First the paper will try to bring the concept of Church inside out, albeit this subject may not be covered amply. Along with this, it tries to explore the same argument on how important it is to empower the local Church in order to see the bigger transformation of society. And, finally, it aims to provide the possible reasons on why Christian Organizations are needed to partner more with the local Churches; so as not to see the possibility of establishing one more organization, but rather building a network to bring the changes from the local Churches. After all, it is the Church that exists for a longer run, not NGOs/INGOs.

To begin the paper, let me ask you all. What exactly is meant by a Church anyway? This is disturbing to some extent as it seems that I had been trying to grow without knowing what it means. While a seminary student, I was given a list describing the Church, such as a group of believers who are called out, has elders, agreed on set of doctrinal beliefs and evangelistic purpose etc. What is missing in the description? Let us look at it more precisely. What drives us to think that we are the Church? Who do we believe? The answer comes - Jesus. Well, where does he present in the definition? Someone tries to argue that it is not necessary that we need to include Jesus when the believing communities are present. This spontaneously provides an assumption that Jesus is present. But the fact of the matter is; Jesus is the reality of the Church, active and alive in the Church. When we assume His presence, we are somewhere on the wrong track.

Jesus Agenda            

There is a great danger that sometimes Church tries to be more appealing than witnessing? It is as if we need to boost up His rating. He does not need anyone’s approval or grading to protect his dignity. …I AM WHO I AM… (Exo 3:14a) A better question is

‘“Where is Jesus seen at work in our midst?” Where do we see lives changing, and communities transforming simply by the power of the gospel? Where do we see fathers restored to a life of holiness and responsibility? Where do we see daughters reconciling with fathers? Where do we see addicts who no longer live under the bondage of chemical dependence?  Where are wealthy businessmen making restitution for past crimes that went unnoticed? These are the questions that lead people to recognize the living presence of Jesus, loving and governing peoples' lives as their king.’[2]

The development that we strive for has a complete package. It looks at the root of the problem. In the modern days, we have come across to organizations that fight against poverty and advocate for the development. Nevertheless we have perceived that the issues do not seem to be changing; rather we notice the same cake on the plate even today. Any organization you take it into Nepal or India, what happens on the page, does not really transfer to the ground. The cost of management goes three times higher than the cost that is allocated for the target group. Some people may not like such a statement but these are the facts of the organizational life styles, although people may disagree. I think the Church needs to have a different approach and INF should also ruminate differently to some extent, no matter if situation allows losing the identity. 

When the priority gets diluted, our goal and mission gets jumbled. Therefore the priority needs to be identified. Christ comes first and he leads us into His mission. This means that we need to plant Jesus, and He then builds his Church, and works through His Church. Our command is to connect people to Jesus. We, however have– many strategies to do this task.

Let me begin with an illustration here.  I believe that there are a number of challenges for the development, partly because the government does not provide a clear framework or the development agencies primary concern is not for the people; rather they first want to see the paper work.

“Last year, the government of Nepal initiated its ‘Literate Nepal Mission’ as per the Nepal’s global commitment to eliminate illiteracy by 2015 as envisioned in the Millennium Development Goal.”[3]

However what confounds me is that even though they initiated it, conducted three months classes for the adults, I have personally visited the study group, and found that the learners had barely met the indicators which LNM had set for it. I could never understand how an adult would ever become literate in just a three month time frame, while at the same time engaged with a lot of responsibilities at home. Therefore, most of the non-government agency’s development work does not instigate from the core of the heart; rather it is mostly relies on the project fund. You may wonder why the Far west is most neglected region in Nepal as far as the fund allocation is concerned, be it the government aid or the foreign aid.  The underlying reason is that those ‘who implement the projects do not reach there.’^[4] This is not to underestimate the NGOs/INGOs capacity to bring the development. I, however, see the alternative possibility for the faith based organizations such as INF and others. Meanwhile, I would like to present how India Migrants Initiative (IMI) is working together with the Nepali Churches in India in order to transform the Nepali migrants in India.

IMI is a part of the INF’s Diaspora programme which precisely works in India with the Nepali Churches. IMI seeks to create improved support structures for Nepali migrants which reduce their vulnerability and increase the effectiveness of migration as a livelihood strategy. In line with INF’s vision for Nepali migrants and for working with Nepali Churches in meeting migrants needs, IMI has worked steadily since 2005, together with the Nepali speaking Churches which hold a similar vision. Church Core Groups participate in planning activities each year. Generally INF facilitates the projects if the plans are deemed reasonable given the context, human resources and funds available. We strongly believe that the Church and community cannot be divided. As a faith based organization, there is a firm requisite that the vision needs to be implemented, not just on the wall or calendar only.

Why with the Church?

          One of my favorite advocates on the Church, Warren puts that the Churches can do incredible things, but working together in networks can do even more. There are three points that Warren illustrates are needed to contemplate on why development must come via the Church.[5]

• ·        The Church provides for the largest participation and widest distribution.
• ·        The Church provides the highest motivation.
• ·        The Church provides the simplest administration.

This is how IMI is running in India having networks with the Nepali speaking Churches. As we have already defined that the Church is not limited to inside the four walls; rather, it tackles the issues that the community encounters. IMI is trying to empower the local Churches so they could address the needs of their community which would strengthen their capacity , experiencing fullness of life in Jesus Christ, and finally resulting in peace and harmony with God and His world. IMI facilitates the small scale programmes together with the Nepali Churches in New Delhi, Kotdwar, Dehradun and Shimla. The local leaderships have been empowered, the information regarding migrants’ rights has been disseminated through the local Churches, the local Churches are taking ownership, and Migrants' children now have a platform to get good tuition classes. IMI’s skill training such as tailoring for migrant women has given a tremendous sense of confidence in them so that they feel empowered to earn income for the family. This is what IMI is doing through the local Nepali Churches in India. It’s the local Church who decides what they can do looking at their capacity and strengths and needs of their community, and IMI are just partners in terms of facilitation. This module is bit different than working together with partner organizations. I do not underestimate that module. Nevertheless, I see the excessive funding is being required in that, and also it seems that relational mode becomes weak too. Let us look at what one of the Church members said when his Church involved him in the safe migration outreach last October in Dehraun.

"All these years I went to the Church, and never was highly motivated to do anything. But now we as a Church and as individual discover our gifts and potential and how we can be used of God."

Isn’t it wonderful when a person in the Church realizes the needs of the surrounding community! This is why I think the Church should not aim to bring the people to the Church; rather the Church should go to the people. Finally I would like to close this paper with a missional thought. There is always a danger in the mission as sometime the social needs of the community and to respond with acts of charity is what is needed for the transformation of a society capable of living in harmony with God and others. I am not advocating the social gospel as a means of spiritual transformation unless the crucified Christ gets into the center of our heart. Everyone who experienced such a transformation does a good work. Why the Nepali churches in India has to get involved in the community? Because they have experienced the full of life in Jesus. 

(Note: Thank you aunty Anna for your inputs and help)

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[1] It is God’s primary agent of transformation in the world.

[2]  Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne, ed., Perspectives; on the World Christian Movements: A reader, (California: William Carey Library, 2009), 643.

[3]  Binod Ghimire, “Illiteracy to remain only in 39 districts,”  [cited 24 July 2014]. Online: http://www.ekantipur.com/2014/03/11/development/illiteracy-to-remain-only-in-39-districts/386552.html

[4]  “Far-West  most neglected,”  [cited 24^th July 2014]. Online: http://www.ekantipur.com/2014/04/27/business/far-west-most-neglected-by-government-donors/388828.html

[5] Ralph D. Winter and Steven C. Hawthorne,  Perspectives; on the World Christian Movements: A reader, 620.

INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS DAY; A CHALLENGE TO NEPALI CHURCHES

International Migrants Day is an internationally observed on December 18. This date was chosen because it was on December 18, 1990 that UN adopted the International Convention on the Protection of all Migrants Workers and Members of their families. Since year 2000, the international community has used December 18, International Migrants Day, to highlight the human rights of the migrants community across the world (The United Nations).

Migration has been considered one of the defining global issues of the twenty first century as more and more people are on the move than any point in human history. The issue of migration has been on the zenith as we read migrants news in every day’s newspaper.

This paper tries to extract the role of the churches in a changing society where people’s movement is on the climax in this borderless age. How the churches should undertake the mission in this age? This has been the alarming question in this generation.

Why Migration?

The Migration is an undeniable fact as this trend will accelerate more and more in the years to come. In fact Marshal MacLuhan was right to bring the world in a global village and it is more shrinking due to the ever-increasing connectedness of human beings. Therefore we are not isolated from others. Now, Christianity is surviving in this generation. The question is how can we tackle with the mobile world? Precisely speaking, how the Nepali churches would see this phenomenon from the Kingdom growth perspective? Dr. Rick Wood throws question in the Mission Frontier’s editorial heading; can the church cope with Mobile Mission fields? I will give a pause for a moment.

Looking at Nepali migration, there are certain things that we have to see it very precisely here. I never opt to give an exclusive statement saying that Nepalese should stop migrating to abroad. On what base can I say so? Our government has been utterly failure in sustaining development of the country. In fact I should be ashamed to address such a statement here.  However, we have crossed the limit to put the trust in our leaders who have devastated the economy of the country due to the unresolved political crisis. The Nepal Migration Survey carried out by the World Bank in 2009 on 3,200 households shows that around 77 percent of the returnees were interested in going for foreign employment again. (The Kathmandu Post, 29-06-2011) Why? They know that they do not see any future here in Nepal expect political unrest and bandh every now and then. Now, the trend of migrating to abroad especially to gulf countries is on high.

According to the Department of Foreign Employment, around 2,000 people at present are seeking permission to go abroad every day.  Official government data show around 2.2 million people—7.30 percent of the total populations—are working in various countries. However, the actual number is said to be much higher than that. A majority of these workers are between the age of 20 and 23. The contribution of remittance to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is said to be above 20 percent, as no exact figures are available. According to the National Migration Survey Report, Nepal received Rs 260 billion—19 percent of the GDP—in 2011. (The Kathmandu Post, 2012/02/06)

The Government has been in benefit from migrants. Can we put this statement in other way around? International Organization for Migration and the Ministry of Labour and Transport management reported a fact that 40 to 50 percent of the total migrant workers went abroad through irregular channels. These workers are more likely to suffer more.

Hypothesis: the Divine Maestro

From socio-culturally speaking, there are lots of factors behind the migration. In fact it is a complex matter of different elements such as war, economy, poverty, freedom, justice and so on. However the church should understand the riddle in midst of these chaos that how people have been moving along with the circumstance. Now my point is, therefore to make the church much wider, flexible and bring them out of the surface and letting them to watch the horizon. I would put this framework into two different contexts. Firstly, the government’s failure to sustain the development and find an opportunity to the returnee migrants is the main issue to upsurge the emigrants more rapidly. Secondly the movements of people is just not a happenstance rather it softens their heart to hear the good news (Acts 17:26-27). This seems that migration has been a positive factor in achieving God’s mission. Someone may have query on how the Mission of God backs up to the migrational trend! To understand this phenomenon, we have to get into the crux of the Mission that the creatures cannot be isolated all alone and, it inherits an assimilative nature to incline with the creator and vice versa. Throughout the history, this had been a trend of the Mission that God used to fulfill his grand plan. Be it Israelites wandering on the wilderness or captivity of Babylon and Persians over the Holy land, the scattering and gathering have been a part and parcel of the Kingdom. Therefore, we do not need to surprise to hear that God is on the move and it is important to consider migrants as an important part of the Mission. Putting this hypothesis in mind, I draw a line that assimilates the migrational and Missional trend as in the parallel position.  Hitherto, the God of the ages is still in control while all of creation groans for his return (Romans 8:22).

Nepalese Migrants and God’s scheme

The heading seems to be astounding for some of you. I have been pondering a thought that Bosch has unveiled in his book “Transforming Mission,” where he says that the church is privileged to participate in Missio Dei and this “enunciates the good news that God is a God-for-people” (David Bosch, 1991). This leads me to contemplate that people’s movement also carries God along with. This strategy is important for the church as we strive further in reaching to people. Last week, I was interpreting a sermon in one of the church where the speaker was lamenting and crying for the favor of God over USA. He even urged the local Nepali church to send at least two missionaries to USA within the next five years.  This is the urgent need that Nepali churches should come up and think of sending missionaries to abroad. This is with two motives; 1. Flow of Nepali migrants is at rise, 2. Need of evangelism to the ethic Americans. I was quite convinced with the speaker’s strategy as the church should not THINK about the gathering the people rather it is the time to send away their crème that would impact others.

Therefore, this is also a reminder to the Churches and Christian organization as we remember International Migrants Day, we need to realize the opportunities for the Christian organizations and churches what we can do for the migrants that reside in the next door.

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of International Nepal Fellowship; A reflection on Missional Impact in Nepal

50-60 years ago in Nepal the words “Christian,” “Bible,” “Church” was not found in the usual vocabulary. Now almost a generation has passed by and, here we all stand together with a grateful heart, remembering the legacy of our heroes of faith who endured hardships and struggles, despite the government’s opposition and hostility at that time.  They established a platform from which those who came after could follow in the tracks they had set. How marvelous is He who has saved wretches like us!

 

This paper tries to give a brief history of International Nepal Fellowship and its impact in the country and finally tries to evaluate the strides of Mission from the early days until now.

A BRIEF HISTORY:

The history goes back to 1936 when Dr. Lily O’Hanlon and Hilda Steele arrived in Nautanwa for medical work, since Nepal at that time was closed to the gospel.   However, it would be unfair to overlook the legacy of Dr. Kathrerin Harbord, who had worked for many years in Nautnwa, before the arrival of Dr. Lily and Hilda. Therefore, Nautanwa can be considered as a springboard for early Nepali missionaries to prepare for a greater height. People like Philip Gurung, Daud Masih, David and Premi Mukhia (from Darjeeling), Tir Bahadur, Buddhi Sagar and Putali Gautam were the pioneers and the heroes of faith who counted “Prayer” and “Trust in the Lord” as their tools for the Missions. Tom Hale vividly writes in his book “Light Dawns in Nepal” that “It is essential to emphasize at this point that the INF story and indeed the development of the entire church in Nepal has not been the worked solely or even primarily of foreign missionaries.” The work in India continued even though it was not registered with the government. The group consisted of a team of ten expatriates and nineteen Nepali volunteers by the end of 1940. Eventually the team took up the name as 'Nepal Evangelistic Band' which was registered in Lucknow on the 22nd February 1943. The political scenario in the world was changing. There were two major historical events occurring during the early of 50s. Firstly, the Rana’s rule in Nepal collapsed in 1951 and, secondly Britain subsequently granted independence to India. Of course by then the World War II had just concluded. Into this perfect timing, the whole team of Dr. Lily and Hilda along with Buddhi Sagar trekked into Pokhara, Nepal on November 10, 1952. The Christian mission in Nepal was then started by Buddhi Sagar and Putali with the five Nepali members of the Band, forming the first early church (Ramghat Mandali) in Nepal. A transition took place in 1972 changing the name from Nepal Evangelical Band to International Nepal Fellowship, officially for three main reasons; 1. It reflected the increasingly international flavor of the mission, as not only from English-speaking world and Europe; but also from Asia, 2. There was a transition in the leadership of the mission and, 3. The mission was becoming more and more involved in cooperative ventures with the Nepal government. (Tom Hale, 2012)   

IMPACT OF THE MISSION IN THE RURAL NEPAL:

INF arrived in Nepal at the exact moment when there was a need for somebody who could perceive needs. Fortunately, the NEB was just waiting at the door step and looking forward to seeing the doors opened. The International community invested in the development of the country as a whole. Due to the link with Buddi Sagar, Dr. Lily O’Hanlon and Hilda Steele and the team landed in Pokhara. I wish Buddhi Sagar’s home would have been further West of Nepal. However, INF did not confine its territory to the developing cities but instead ventured into the remote parts of Nepal. Recently INF is pioneering in Bajura as well.   Moreover INF plans and objectives have not strayed far from those first ideals as it looks to help those who are in need as physically and spiritually both.

History tells us that when there was no organization in western Nepal, INF missionaries could see the needs of the people. Having based themselves in Pokhara, they reached out to Kaski, Kapilbastu, Dang, Banke, Surkhet, Jumla, Mugu, and Bajura as well. Health, Human Development, rehabilitation and community development were some of the projects that INF has been doing in the Western and Mid-Western parts of Nepal. Therefore, we cannot forget the contribution that INF has invested in the lives of poor and marginalized people in West Nepal.      

MISSIOLOGICAL STRIDES: Then AND Now

Missions were vivid and fresh then. Those young women had never searched for a comfort zone. There were no vehicles, no internet and computers, no transportation, yet people had a passion and a zeal for service and could not withhold the God’s unfailing Love. Their hearts were restless for the gospel. They were always desperate for people. I always use two key words whenever I talk about community development work, viz., People and Relationship. This is the essence of the INF organisational set-up.

I however find difficult to equate such things to this generation. There are two great pitfalls that I have observed among the National workers as we undertake the job cycle; starting at 10 o’clock in the morning and ending at 5 o’clock in the evening. We are more concerned with salary than with the service we provide. We are very worried about our rank or post and, give much priority to the hierarchy which is not positive at all, as far as we are concerned, for the Mission. In fact, this is not limited to INF employees only but in general with other Christian organizations, be it World Vision or United Mission to Nepal. Secondly it was due to the lack of the heart of God. I do not believe that we serve better when we are ignorant of the heart of God. And this detracts from the motives of working with INF or any other christian organization. Why do we work with INF? Is it because I would have better serving opportunity and God wants me to be there? Or is it because my career is safe and sound. This is a challenge to the national workers.

Let us look back at the history for a moment. What sustained INF? “It was prayer more than money that sustained the Band during those difficult days, and the same has been true of INF ever since.” (Tom Hale, 2012)

Evaluation: 

What can we do then? We should remember our history now when we celebrate the 60^th anniversary. The International community has always had a positive concern for the Nepali churches. However it is wrong to say that Nepal’s churches were dominated by foreign missionaries, unlike India where church administration and leadership were controlled by foreign missions. Nepalese churches have had their independence from the earliest stages. Moreover, Churches of Nepal had their freedom in leadership and decision making from the time the missionaries came to Nepal after Nepal became accessible to foreign nationals. However the International community assisted and empowered in terms of the capacity development in both the secular or and spiritual.

By highlighting this, I would like to suggest to the International community to encourage the churches to engage in the community more. The fact is, that in the most of the organizational set up, more than 50-60% of the finance goes to the administration costs and only 30-40% towards the community work. I think this is neither fair to the donor agencies, nor to the target groups. I assume that this can be improved if we apply the aspect of partnership with the national churches and let the churches take the mission to the community, rather than being a separate entity or body from the community development work.

In conclusion, I marvel at looking the beginning phase of NEB and current phase of INF. NEB mission started with the Nepali migrants who were in Nautanwa and now, INF is reaching out once again to the Nepali migrants in India. INF’s India Migrant Initiative (IMI) serves among Nepali migrants in partnership with the local Nepali churches in Delhi and NW of India. I think we are also on the right track today.

 

Note:  The idea expressed in the paper belongs to the author himself and he is responsible solely. This has nothing to do with INF.