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NEWSLETTER October 2006 |
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”(Acts 1:8) We are the witnesses of our Lord Jesus in this World and also the ambassadors of Peace, as our Lord is the Prince of Peace, so we should play our role to be the witnesses of our Lord Jesus.
Dear Prayer Partners,
In our last newsletter, we mentioned about the Peace Connection initiative taken by the Church of Pakistan Youth and very positive response afterward by the CNI youth. Now it is becoming a “Peace Movement”, as the youth of the both countries are now taking some concrete and practical steps towards peace. The youth is exchanging emails regarding the ‘Peace Connection’ and some practical ideas between each other. And recently we received a response from the youth of Sri Lanka, by an email from Bala, the youth coordinator of Colombo Diocese. I am writing some words from the recent emails of the youth leaders of the three countries, for your interest.
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Some lines from the emails on Peace Connection:
1. In July 2006 the NYF-CoP took initiative and facilitated SA Youth to express their viewpoint in regarding the peace process in the Sub-continent. Another purpose behind this was to facilitate the creation of one to one relationship. I am thankful to NCCI and CNI, especially Kasta and other friends who responded swiftly. I have included our Srilankan friends in this sending so we all can contribute, there is a dire need to promote the spirit of togetherness among the South Asian Christian youth and we aim to encourage in our SA youth a love and harmony. (Eric Attique, Coordinator, NYF - CoP)
2. I was wondering if we can organize one campaign regarding the issues that the youth of two nations (India & Pakistan) want to project and through that we can convey the message of unity. I would like all of us to pray together for two nations.
(Moses, a youth friend from CNI, India
3. We are now in position to bring peace and reconciliation in our country, our church leaders are tirelessly working for it. It is also so sad to hear about violence and tense situation in our neighboring countries. I strongly suggest that we must encourage our young people to strengthen the civil society so that it will help people to live in peace and harmony. (Bala, Youth Coordinator, Diocese of Colombo, Sri Lanka)
4. I was thinking, what I can do for this ‘Peace Connection’. I was praying and got a thought, that we must do something through our actions. For this, if we could have a “Solidarity Sunday” on one date, for the sake of “Peace and Solidarity” in South Asia. (Adil Iqbal, a Youth Member, Diocese of Peshawar – CoP, Church of Pakistan
5. I like the idea of observing one particular Sunday as “South Asia Youth Solidarity Sunday”. May be, I would suggest that we observe 10th December as our Solidarity Sunday, which coincides with the Human Rights Day. In South Asia, our concern for peace is due to the escalating violation of human rights which repudiate and negate lives and dignity of people like we are. (Kasta DiP, Coordinator, Youth Concern, CNI)
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South Asian Christian Youth Network
As you all know that this Network was formed after the South Asian Youth Conference held at Colombo in 2002, followed by the 2nd South Asian Conference at Bangalore in 2005. The network has setup a Core Group, which meets every year for the development and promotion of the network and also for future planning. In our last Core Group meeting held in Colombo in last March, we worked on some future plans and recommendations. We also worked on “Network & Mission Action Development”,
the main points are mentioned here:
SA Network & Mission Action Development:
The Network can be sustained and strengthened through:
A: Triennial main conference
B: A membership system, possibly called Affiliates
C: Formation of small groups to give breadth, depth and structure
D: Develop Website and On-line Community
E: Encourage Exchange Programmes and other local activities
F: Focus on specific grassroots & regional mission engagement and advocacy action.
SACYN Website:
Now this network has launched its website, if you would like to get more information regarding the network; for any information, our newsletter and future events, you may visit our website, which is www.southasiayouth.org .
If you have attended any one from the two South Asian Youth Conferences or anyway you have any connection with the network, you may become an affiliate, for that you go to “Became an Affiliate” on our website and fill up the form given there.
Small Cell/Interest Groups:
We have formed small cell groups, according to the area of interest of our participants. In August 2006 newsletter, we mentioned the details and names of our 3 cell/interest groups. And we are writing about 3 further groups here.
4. Poverty:
From India: Banjamin Lalrinsanga, D. Timothy Arul Kumar, Kasta Dip, Rachel Suneeta Paul, Allan Samuel Palanna.
From Nepal: Rabin Tamang; From Sri Lanka: Devashri de Silva.
5. Development:
From Nepal: Tul Bahadur Ale, Rabin Tamang; From Pakistan: Ires Salina
From India: Win Mathew, Suman Biswas, Kasta Dip; From Sri Lanka: Devashri de Silva
6. Discipleship & Lifestyle:
From India: Kasta Dip, Veena Mohan, H. Lalhmingmawia, Paolen Haokip, Ganesh Sahu, Amos Massey, Swoby Mathew
From Nepal: Suraj Bahadur Kathariya, Rabin Tamang; From Pakistan: Ires Salina
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News from CSI:
The Church of South India’s (CSI) Karnataka Southern Diocese organized a Youth Assembly from 4 – 6 September, 2006. Rev. Abraham Premchand, Youth Director, CSI, was one of the resource person during the Assembly.
(Allan Samuel, our core member from CSI) |
News from CNI:
Last month we had a Peace Initiative Camp at KJP Assembly, Presbyterian Church of India, Shillong. There were 40 youth from Church of North India (CNI), Church of South India (CSI), Church of Bangladesh and Presbyterian Church of India. The camp was organized by the South Asia Regional Council of the Council for World Mission.
In five days of camp, we were given exposures to many issues responsible for fragmenting peace in the region, which I found ‘hard to stomach’. People are struggling for peace in religious, social, economic, political, culture and ethnic realms of lives. It is high time we created an ecumenical network of activists to suppress the trickledown theory of governments ameliorating on the plight of the masses.
I am exploring possibilities of having a Youth Exchange Programme with Church of Pakistan and Church of Bangladesh early next year. Please pray for the required resources. I am short of words to express my feelings on the Peace Connection that is going on and on and on ……………………!
Lakshya: The Synodical Youth Fellowship Committee of CNI is organizing a Youth Festival called “Lakshya” at Kolkata from 10 to 14 December 2006, bringing about 1500 youth from 26 dioceses of CNI and other partner churches and abroad. It will be a time to built ecumenical network.
(Kasta Dip, Coordinator Youth Concern, CNI)
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News from Nepal:
I am so glad to inform you that we are going to organize our youth leaders conference in coming October 22 – 24, 2006 in Kathmandu. And we are preparing for it. You all know that we had postponed our youth conference in February 2005, because of the unstable political condition of Nepal even we had prepared all the things for it. At that time, four days before the conference, the government had declared emergency in the country. So because of that we had postponed the programme. After the emergency, we again tried for it, but because of the Maoist problems and some other problems in the country, we were unable to organize that.
Now by the grace of God, we thought to organize this conference in this October. As in October, because of the Hindu festival Dewali, there would be holidays in schools and colleges. So we are going to grab this occasion for our conference. Please remember our coming conference and the situation of our country in your prayers.
(from Suroj Shakya, our Core Member from Nepal) |
News From Sri Lanka:
Thanks for sending us copies of the book “Gospel & Globalisation” of 2nd South Asian Youth Conference at Bangalore. Our group of the Conference participants will meet up here very soon for sharing and evaluation of the conference, we shall distribute the copies of the books then.
Please pray for our country, as we are now in position to bring peace and reconciliation to every part of our country. Our church leaders and youth are tirelessly working for it. We are still continuing our youth activities in the midst of all these.
(from Bala and Devashrie, our core members from Sri Lanka) |
News From CoP:
1.The National Youth Forum (NYF) - Church of Pakistan (CoP) is in process to hold a consultation, in November 2006, with the theme “Response of Youth to the Church Development: Is the Future within Reach?” NYF also seek to evaluate the progress, and to make Strategic Plans for at least next three years. Through this consultation we are hoping that NYF will be encourage & develop in young people an awareness of their responsibilities to the Church and wider community. (Eric Attique, Coordinator, NYF)
2.The Youth Department of Peshawar Diocese, CoP organized an Inter-faith activity in Peshawar, with Muslim friends through the platform/forum “Youth Faith Friends”, on 8th September, in which the Forum was introduced first time publicly. The programme was presided by the Rt. Rev. Mano Rumalshah, Bishop of Peshawar. Both the coordinators of the Forum, Insar Gohar & Jamait Ali Shah, gave an overview on the aims & objectives of the forum and also on the importance of the efforts towards creating an environment of Peace and Harmony in our region. The future programme is a “Peace-Walk” in Peshawar.
3.The Youth Department of Raiwind Diocese, CoP arranged a “Youth Summer Camp”, from 6 to 12 August 2006, at Khanspur. The theme of the camp was, “Raising Youth Moral Towards Social Responsibility Through Christian Spiritual Awareness and Reflection”. In which 80 Young People (without gender diversity), from numerous congregation of the Diocese of Raiwind participated and learnt to cultivate attitudes of self-discipline and integrity.
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From Jacob Isaac:
The South Asian Youth Network in Bangalore for youth ministries is growing. We are working on a Mission Mobilisation Conference for youth of our city on November 11th 2006. Please pray for the arrangements.
I will also be speaking at another programme organized as a result of a youth ministry network in Kolkatta. The programme CROSSOVER from 19th to 20th of October 2006, will attract over 300 youth from the city. Pray for my wife Sheela and I as we travel along with the three children to minister at this programme.
The EFI Youth Commission, which I am a part of, is planning to bring together 150 youth leaders from across India for a few days of renewal reflection and training in February 2007. Pray and plan to be one of those to be there.
I am writing this from Channai Int. Airport on my way to Malaysia to participate in the Younger Leaders Gathering organized by the Lausanne Movement. I have been part of the planning team and working with 12 others from around the world.
(Jacob Isaac, our Core Group Member, Methodist Youth in India)
From Priya:
I know, this would come as a surprise to you, I have recently (on 26 Aug.) been engaged to Simon. Another piece of news is, after having registered in Bombay High Court as a lawyer, now I am moving to London, UK for higher studies, i.e. my Masters in Law.
Pray for me and my studies. (Priya Masih, our Core Member from CNI) |
Insar Gohar, South Asia Youth Coordinator
Emails: saycinsar@yahoo.com , youthdop@hotmail.com
Ph: +92-91-5279686, 5276519; Cell: +92-300-5837397; Fax: +92-91-5277499
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