The Council for World Mission Partners in Mission Unit
CONNECTED
A BIMONTHLY NEWSLETTER
| NOVEMBER TO DECEMBER 2021
s i h t e d i s n I e u s s i Page 4 - Greetings from the Moderator, CWM Page 6 - Thematic Reflection: Rise to Life Page 8 - Stories and Prayers from PIMs Page 9 - If you believe, you will see the glory of God - Dr. Zohmangaihi Rokhum Page 15 - A prayer for PIMs from a PIM – Rev. Wezi Manda Page 16 - Family Relationships in the Pandemic - Mrs. Hsu Su-Fen Page 19 - A prayer for PIMs from a PIM – Rev. Robert Gama Page 21 - Upcoming Events
Stay CONNECTED with CWM GREETINGS FROM THE MODERATOR Page 3
Dear co-labourers, It gives me great pleasure to bring greetings to you from the CWM family and the Board of Directors who are residing and serving in various parts of the world. Immediately, I want to congratulate all our Partners in Mission, both current and incoming, for either staying the race or joining the race of God’s service through PiM at such a time as this when world conditions appear at their least favourable. Travel has been difficult, relocating has been impossible for some, COVID-19 is continuing to be a force to reckon with, conspiracy theories are in abundance, and personal safety is at the bare minimum. Yet – a big yet - our Partners in Mission choose to continue to serve under these conditions that have been described by some as V.U.C.A. conditions – the Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous environment that we live and work in. Thank you Partners in Mission for serving in these “volatile” times of unexpected and sudden changes in all aspects of life, from volatile politics, climate crises, plummeting economies, and fast changing technologies. Yet mission partners have buckled up to continue to work towards the CWM strategic goal of developing life-affirming communities in the middle of the volatility. Thank you Partners in Mission for persevering through the “uncertainties” that have rendered the lives of people unpredictable, fluid and full of grey areas. Many, in various fields of work, have thrown in the towel and given up because the uncertainties bring with them significant levels of emotional and mental health pressures. But our PiMs are pressing on and serving with commitment and excellence through the uncertainties. Page 4
Thank you Partners in Mission for standing strong in the “complex” conditions of your places of origin and your places of service. The complications and interconnectedness of one’s personal life and one’s working life have made it such that we are operating at multiple levels at all times. It is now not just complex in business and religion – it is now ‘multiplex’ and to serve and survive in such conditions is applaudable. Even the technological complexities our PiMs have to work under are not easy because the people they serve are not necessarily at those same levels. Thank you Partners in Mission for ploughing on through the “ambiguities” that have become the order of the day even in theology and culture. Life is having to be lived in contexts where information is abundant but the meaning of the information is unclear. Mixed meanings and double meanings are the order of the day. And the potential of misreading the times and misinterpreting the information is high. Yet – a big yet – our Partners in Mission are prepared to serve in these Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous conditions through their amazing resilience, adaptability and resourcefulness. CWM is proud to be associated with these humble yet outstanding servants of God’s mission. May the Lord abundantly bless them as they continue to serve where God has placed them.
Rev. Lydia C. Neshangwe
MINISTER - Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA) MODERATOR - Council for World Mission (CWM)
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Rise to Life Reflection on CWM's Theme The Pacific is waiting to receive Rev. Melanie Smith and Rev. Mark Meatcher as Partners in Mission at the Pacific Theological College (PTC). Melanie and Mark are both ordained ministers of the United Reformed Church in the United Kindgom. Melanie will be working as the Director for the Women’s Development Centre. The aim of this centre is to train and empower women for leadership across various spectrums of life, and not just in the church. The intentional focus on women empowerment and leadership is an attempt to invite all Pacific peoples to define and decide the region’s future. This is my reflection on what 'Rising to Life' means for Pacific women as CWM facilitates the sending of long-term PIMs in Melanie and Mark. In recent yesteryears, women have begun to play important roles in making decisions pertaining to the political and economic development of the region. But the region has yet to see the church providing such a platform for equal footing for women. Women ordination has been introduced to the region, although some churches find excuses as to why women cannot be ordained without negotiating a way forward. But the evasion of the issue of women leadership in the church remains a problem. Yet 'Rising to Life' is not something CWM introduces to the churches and world mission. It has been an intrinsic part of the Christian faith. Yet, for many Christians’ ‘Rising to Life' is conditional. In the case of the Pacific where women leadership in church is not an issue for discussion, culture and biblical interpretation play a vital role in this stalemate. Contextualizing theologies and liturgies have been part of the Pacific church journey for over half a century, taking into consideration that Christianity in some parts of the Pacific is less than 100 years old. But the church has begun to contextualise its theologies, yet the same church cannot bring itself to be in conversation with culture outside the academic hallways.
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The real problem in the fear to fully provide an environment for women leadership to thrive in the church is the issue of power. Beginning from the family, men have yet to come to term that decision making at the family level is a shared responsibility. The same attitude is carried forward to the church setting. The stark separation of roles according to gender is a matter of fear, fear that eventually become power. Sadly, power in turn becomes violent and unjust. And this is translated into the defending of culture and church polities that prevent women from reaching the helm in the Pacific church. But I want to make something really clear, sometimes we think that it is only men that prevents women from rising to leadership. It has been identified that even women in church vouches for men to remain in leadership. Sometimes this comes from women with privileges. Those who are wives of ministers and sees the elevation of other women to ministerial posts as a threat to the privilege they enjoy. What is more daunting is the intrinsic instilled culture of gender discrimination that is the result of over a century of biblical interpretations that has influenced Pacific culture. The line between this connection of biblical interpretation and what is now considered Pacific culture is invisible, and many today thins that culture as it is what we practiced during pre-Christian era.
So, when we speak of rising to life, as a Pacific church, there is a need for this area of ministry to be considered. Yes, women have been ordained. What we need now is a recognition of their calling to ministry, a calling equal to their male counterpart. When this is realised without prejudices, then I can say that women have been treated as equals, otherwise. Nikotemo Sopepa (Rev) Mission Secretary CWM - Pacific Region
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Stay CONNECTED with other PIMs STORIES AND PRAYERS
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IF YOU BELIEVE, YOU WILL SEE THE GLORY OF GOD
Dr. Zohmangaihi Rokhum,
Zohmangaihi, ICWM Covenor
For my visa renewal I left Myanmar on 18th March, 2020 and reached home after two days; that was the day before the Government of India called for Janata Curfew (a nation-wide lockdown) as a measure to curb the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the Janata Curfew, the state of Mizoram also imposed Total Lockdown for almost the whole year of 2020. I was completely lockedup with my family; in one way, it was a blessing in disguise, but, on the other hand, I was away from my station, Tahan Theological College, and I could not perform my mission work. However, the outbreak of Covid-19 has also spread among the people of Myanmar; hence, our College has to be closed and we have to introduce online studies. By receiving God’s continual guidance we could have our online classes smoothly and conducted semester exam as well. While we were following the new normal life introduced by the Covid-19 pandemic, the most heartbreaking, shocking and saddening incident of military coup took place in Myanmar on 1st February 2021. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, thousands of un-armed protesters were killed, thousand others were detained by the military and a year-long state of emergency was declared. In such tragic situations, our College has to be closed for the new academic year of 2021-22. Page 9
My hometown Aizawl is the state capital of Mizoram, one of the states in India. Mizoram is a landlocked state of North East India. The southern and eastern parts share 722 kilometers long international borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh, and the northern parts share domestic borders with Manipur, Assam and Tripura. Historians believe that the Mizos are a part of the great wave of the Mongolian race spilling over into the eastern and southern India centuries ago. Their sojourn in western Myanmar is estimated to last about ten centuries. Before the British moved into the hills and made a geographical boundary between India and Myanmar, the Mizo people in India and the Chin people in Myanmar were known as the same community. Due to the British ‘divide and rule’ policy, the Mizos settling in and around Mizoram states were divided and separated by international boundaries. Till today, we have had a strong and indestructible connection and relationship between the Mizos and the Chin people in Myanmar.
The Connection
Source: mapsonline.com
Shortage of Oxygen in Myanmar
After the outbreak of peoples’ movement and protests in Myanmar against the military coup, the deadly Covid-19 virus has deeply penetrated into general public where more than 1000 people have died in a day. The death toll rises each day where a number of pastors who were destined to perform funerals were among them. In the mean time, one of the most tragic things which has taken place all over Myanmar was no oxygen supply. The military juntas have controlled the oxygen plants and restricted the supplies.
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Hundreds of people queued in front of the plants and agents for 24/7 to buy oxygen for their dear and loved ones who were struggling for life.
In such a heart-breaking situation, I have also heard the news about the death of our beloved outgoing Principal of Tahan Theological College. Not only that, every day we came to know the saddened news about the death of our friends and fellow members in the church because of the shortage of oxygen supply. The double agony of pain and loss in the midst of fear and terror and the situation of Myanmar has made us cry and mourn along with them. Oxygen for Tahan campaign Being a part of the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar, serving at the Tahan Theological College, the terrible condition of Tahan (Kalaymyo) urges me to do something from Mizoram (India). With the help of my friends from the Aizawl Theological College (ATC) Alumni we initiated a campaign called Oxygen for Tahan all over Mizoram. God’s miraculous intervention is witnessed from the beginning to the end. People from different parts of Mizoram even from abroad have contributed money for the people of Myanmar. The campaign is backed up by the Mizo Theological Association (MTA) where Mizo Theologians from various denominations are the members; they have contributed more than 1 lakh (Indian rupee). The total amount collected was more than 13 lakhs (around 18,000 USD). Page 11
Through this oxygen campaign many people who were in need of oxygen support were able to receive oxygen in time. Along with the refilled oxygen tubes, thousands of Covid-19 test kits, PPE sets and medicines have been sent and distributed free of cost to various Covid Care Centres within and around Kalaymyo city. Many people have benefitted through the campaign which started from a small beginning.
The Refugees As people of the same traits, having common history and ancestry, the international boundary could never be enough to disconnect the peoples of Mizoram and Myanmar. Thousands of people, especially people from the nearby Myanmar villages, have entered Mizoram for shelters and protections from the atrocities of military juntas in Myanmar. It is estimated that more than ten thousand refugees from Myanmar have entered who are currently residing in different parts of Mizoram. There are a number of refugee camps in the border villages where hundreds of refugees are residing and settling for the time being. The government of Mizoram has allowed refugee children to continue their schooling in the local government schools. The people of Mizoram, the various NGOs and the churches have provided their basic needs by supplying foods, medical needs and social protection. It is interesting to note that the refugees are also included in the Covid-19 vaccination drive and have received full doze vaccination. Among the refugees, a few of them have been infected with Covid-19 and suffered from its related health issues. However, they are given equal treatment; some of them have even been admitted at the Covid-19 dedicated Hospitals and provided care and treatment.
Donations for Myanmar Refugees
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A Campaign for Myanmar Refugees On 1st October, 2021, the Indian Christian Women’s Movement (ICWM), Mizoram Unit has conducted an online meeting discussing about the project for ICWM. In that meeting I shared about my thoughts and concerns for the Myanmar refugees, how to help them survive in the coming winter. The meeting has resolved to organize a Campaign for Myanmar Refugees in relation to collecting bedding materials and winter clothing. The campaign was very successful and there have been many interesting stories which later brought spiritual enrichment to us.
The initiator, the ICWM, is a newly formed women’s forum with few members aiming to involve in addressing the contextual challenges. But we learned that we were too small to take big challenges. However, God has given and provided us like-minded women in every locality who are more reliable and effective than us. Through the commitments of those respected women, we were able to collect uncountable number of goods – blankets, quilts, bedspreads, bed sheets, pillows, different kinds of medicine, various kinds of winter clothing, sanitary pads, face masks, Bible story books for children, different kinds of utensils, rice, sugar, cooking oil etc. In addition, some people have also contributed money which amounted to more than 1 lakh (Indian rupee). Such numerous contributions were handed over to the Myanmar Refugee Relief Committee (MRRC) on 27th October, 2021. The MRRC later on distributed those goods to various refugee camps within Mizoram according to their needs.
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Donations collected by the ICWM
My Reflections
I am thankful to our God who guided me to participate in such big campaigns, giving me those good friends who have wholeheartedly joined me in my deepest concerns for the people of Myanmar. I was surprised to witness their commitment and dedication for the success of the campaigns. I know that God has opened their eyes and hearts, and helped them to have the sense of knowledge of being involved in God’s mission. Their enthusiasm gave me the opportunity to reflect on my faith and commitment to God in times of crisis. I have acknowledged how precious and valuable it is to be involved in God’s mission, and I have experienced afresh how miraculous our God is! I have realized again how trustworthy and powerful our God is! Jesus’ words to Martha, “Did I not tell you if you believed, you will see the glory of God?” is still effectively working with us. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Let us recommit ourselves again to our God and we will see the glory of God.
Dr. Zohmangaihi Rokhum is a Partner in Mission serving with the Presbyterian Church in Myanmar as a Lecturer at the Tahan Theological College.
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A
P A R T N E R ' S
Prayer Rev. Wezi Manda, PIM from the UCZ serving with the GCU
God of grace and peace, we come into your presence to worship, honor and praise you for the love you have for the whole world. May your name and not any other name be exalted among us your people. In a world where there’s so much fear, confusion and anxiety we ask for your presence to be felt and your will to be done as it is in heaven.
To you our Great Shepherd, we bring ourselves and all that have responded to your call of leaving our places of origin to serve as partners in mission in different places of the world. Guide and help us in our work and ministry to preach Christ and not ourselves; to speak healing in the midst of disease and weakness; to be the source of strength and courage in lives that lose hope and direction.
Lord God of the Harvest, may you raise many more women and men within and without who shall partner with us in creating convenient environments for Christ to be preached. When the path becomes rough and stormy, be there with and for us like you promised never to leave nor forsake us.
Loving Father, our families are the closest partners we have. We pray that you strengthen and equip them with every good word and deed. Cause them to be our source of inspiration and reason to serve you better. Provide all that is necessary for our families so that we together with them may serve you wholeheartedly without having any worries or complaints. We desire that our lives be living testimonies to them that we preach to and teach.
We also pray for our families back in our different places of origin. Grant them good health and success in all they do. Heal those that are sick and reveal yourself unto them that do not know you. We do not wish that any of those close and dear to our hearts should perish, but they too should come to the serving knowledge and purposes of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
These and many silent petitions, we submit unto you O God with much hope and thanksgiving in our hearts, in Jesus’ Name.
Amen.
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Family Relationships during the Pandemic
Hsu Su Fen
Since March last year, I have made walking a daily activity, to reduce the stress brought about by the culture shock of moving to a new country, as well as to keep myself healthy and lose some weight. For more than a year, except for the two days of rest due to fever from vaccination, I walked 10 km every day. As I stay in Trinity Theological College, I would walk from the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve trail to the small park by the riverbank every evening. Through my walks, I saw all kinds of people who were exercising, just like me. At the start, I observed that there were not many middle-aged women out walking – I assume they were probably taking care of their children after work and preparing dinner? This year, however, there seemed to be a gradual increase in the number of women exercising. Another thing that caught my attention was the increasing number of young men walking dogs, or bringing their babies with them. What struck me was that, after the pandemic hit, the lives of many families would have been affected, and the entire economic structure would be significantly changed. As such, imagine the pressure on the breadwinners of the household, who not only has to support the family, but also shoulder the responsibility of the country’s economy! Perhaps this would help you understand when I say that during this period of time, I have helped to counsel more cases of family conflicts than all other kinds of issues!
Why do families quarrel?
1. In general, salaries and work positions will gradually go up after one works for several years. The young adults that just stepped into the workforce for the first few years, whom are expected to care for the family’s needs and support their parents, would most likely be the first group of people to suffer when the economic structure is reorganized and the ‘cycle’ is affected. 2. For blue-collar workers who already have been receiving lower wages and status due to the nature of their jobs which are nonetheless indispensable, I do hope that the impact of the pandemic will not affect them too much. 3. During this pandemic, faced with income uncertainty, health threats and with everyone cooped up in the house all day long, many tiny disagreements are amplified, resulting in family conflicts gradually surfacing. Page 16
So with this wave of job and income instability, I was wondering if some of these reasons could be behind my observation of more young people pushing strollers and walking their dogs? Of course, going for walks is always healthy. The allocation and completion of household chores: I guess for many of us, when we are all stuck at home, we have more free time and tend to feel lazy, since there is plenty of time anyway, I’ll do it later. So the more free time one has, the messier the home; the quarrels are always about the unclean dishes, the dirty floor and non-supervision of children's homework etc.; sometimes even in smaller details: clothes are not put away in the right places, toilet papers are not properly thrown, the cup is not returned to its place...
So what are the quarrels about?
In the traditional way of thinking, women are usually expected to take care of their husband's ‘face’ (reputation), thus we can quickly uncover a man's inferiority complex covered by violence and bickering in a fight; but where does the inferiority complex come from? In fact, it has always been there all the time, but disguised as ‘responsibility’. During a counselling session, when we attempt to work out the responsibilities the person is unable to bear, all you need is to gently ask: "Do you feel despised by your wife and thus feel terrible?” and that alone is enough to make a strong person teary-eyed.
Su Fen was a speaker for a talk on “How the Church can support women who are victims of family violence” organised by Synod Women Council (SWC), PCS
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Christ is the head of our family I love the reminder in Joshua 24:15 that “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”. This wave of pandemic is worldwide and no one is spared from it. I found from the experience of serving families who are in conflicts, that the impact of the society at large, coupled with the amplification of traditional thinking, could also make loving couples fight and refuse to give in to each other. This is the time to be reminded that it is inevitable to encounter difficulties in our journey in life, and men all the more should not feel inferior, but know that this is a common problem that we all have to face. Let’s not forget that we have Jesus Christ, the Lord of our household, and pray for each other during such a time. Couples should think early on about the ways to cope with the disaster of this century as a small family, and be reminded that they have already decided to let the Lord be their guide when they made the vows before God - that they would be together through thick and thin until death do them part.
Su-Fen is a Partner in Mission from the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan and serves as a Counsellor and Advisor in the Presbyterian Church in Singapore
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Our Dear Heavenly Father, You are the source and giver of all good things, we thank you for all your mercies and loving care over all creation. We bless you for the gift of life: your protection around us, your guiding hand upon us and your steadfast love within us. We thank you for the opportunity shared to participate in your mission field. We come from afar leaving our homes, families and friends in response to your calling and we are grateful for every experience we face day after day. Time and again, every situation we face, we are encouraged by your tender mercies that are new every morning. We continue to bless you for the publication of this Newsletter “Connected”. Through this platform, we are reminded of your presence even in the darkest moments of our people together with all the Partners in Mission serving around the globe. We pray for the next Newsletter yet to be published that it shall continue to inspire us at a different level as it brings out the stories to refresh our souls for mission. God Almighty, we continue to humble ourselves as Partners in Mission serving in different parts of the world. You have made us no longer strangers but pilgrims together on the way to your kingdom. Guide us closer to you and to one another in the unity of the Holy Spirit and the bond of peace as you strengthen us together in mission and service to your world. Gracious God, you have called us from different backgrounds to still share our experiences of faith with others in a different context at a difficult time like this one; when the world is struggling with Covid-19 pandemic; when so many of our communities are been impacted by sickness, fear or devastation. Sometimes we never know what we may find on our journeys ahead. We cry for your help today to do all things through your wisdom and guidance during this period. Protect us to have full health and help our immune systems to remain strong all the time to come. We pray for your protection, safety and favor as we take every step in obedience to your calling and that the hearts of those we come into contact with would always be open and willing to receive the gospel.
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We pray for our fellow Partners in Mission who may be discouraged in their work based on different and difficult circumstances. You made all the nations of the world to be a family and your son taught us to love one another yet our world is driven apart with prejudice, arrogance and pride. We are reminded in scripture (John 15:18) that the world can at times be cruel and full of hatred. Help us Lord to realize that it hated you at first and give us the courage to cling to the truth that you have overcome the world and we are chosen by you not to be part of this world. Help our inner spirit to feel your comfort and peace with that assurance that our work is not in vain. Hidden God, we have families who have joined us in the mission field and those we left in our homelands. Sometimes this may prove to be a greater challenge in doing mission especially as we get the news on the loss of some family members and friends who are always dear to us. We pray for your comfort upon the bereaved families and a good health on those members who may be unwell. We pray that our families who have joined us in the mission field may be at ease in adjusting to a new context. We pray for the safety and wisdom for the children both in schools and work places, we also pray for safety for everyone accessing the roads, the markets and other areas. God of righteousness, we pray for the peace and healing of the world. Rekindle in the hearts of all people the true love of peace. Guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who at this time take counsel for the nations of the world that your kingdom may go forward till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love through Jesus Christ. We pray for scientists and researchers around the world. We praise you for the knowledge given to them to search out and harness the forces of nature. Grant them with increasing knowledge and wisdom especially at this time of Covid-19 pandemic so that they may use their discoveries and inventions for the welfare of us all and the glory of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Almighty God, you have always promised to hear the prayers of those who pray in the name of Jesus Christ: grant that what we have asked in faith may be granted to us according to your will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Rev. Robert Gama Partner in Mission serving with the Guyana Congregational Union (GCU) from the United Church of Zambia (UCZ)
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Upcoming Event
y r r e M
s a m t s i r h C May the peace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ be yours this Christmas! Merry Christmas and a full and flourishing 2022!
From the Partners in Mission Unit
Proverbs 27:17 (NSRV) Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another.
Let's Stay Connected! Thank you for viewing this issue of CONNECTED! We hope you were both informed and inspired. Share your comments and inputs at vickeisha.burke@cwmission.org. Unless otherwise stated, images and graphics are courtesy of CANVA