June, 2020 PAGES 80 ` 20/­ .pexels.com Image credits to www The Evangelical Fellowship of India offers its deepest condolences to the family of Dr. Ravi Zacharias - Margie, his wife of 48-years; his three children; Sarah, the Global CEO of RZIM; Naomi, Director of Wellspring International; Nathan, RZIM's Creative Director for Media; and five grandchildren - and to the staff at the Ravi Zacharias International Ministry. As we celebrate his life so well lived, we see in him a champion of the Christian faith and a defender of the gospel.

Dr. Ravi Zacharias, the founder of Ravi Zacharias International Ministry, died of cancer on May 19, 2020, at the age of 74. And though he has left us, to meet his Lord, his legacy will live on – through his writings, speeches, and the organization he founded.

His first major public speech was when the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association invited him to be a plenary speaker at the inaugural International Conference for Itinerant Evangelists (“Amsterdam '83”). Here he addressed a gathering of 4,000 other speakers. That became a turning point in his life, and he began to seriously consider the critical need of apologetics to remove the intellectual and existential barriers that had led many to question a rational and scientific basis for Christianity. Hence, in 1984, he founded the Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM).

In 1990 he wrote his first book A Shattered Visage: The Real Face of Atheism. This was followed by many popular works – Jesus Among Other Gods: The Absolute Claims of the Christian Message, Can Man Life Without God, The Grand Weaver: How God Shapes Us Through the Events of Our Lives, Walking from East to West: God in the Shadows, The Lotus and the Cross: Jesus Talks with Buddha, The Lamb and the Fuhrer: Jesus Talks with Hitler, etc.

Though the mantle that Dr. Zacharias carried was no novel an idea, yet he gave a new dimension to the motto that St. Anselm of Canterbury formed – “faith seeking understanding.” His life reminded us of the task that early Christian apologists like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, etc. undertook. While we know less of the persona of these early Christian writers, Ravi's messages – writings, travels, speeches, and debates – have been extensively recorded. Millions have been impacted through his life, his books, his videos, his podcasts, and his personal interactions.

What was endearing about his delivery of a message was the fact that in his effort to engage with philosophy, he was never divorced from the practical. While he poignantly drew a sermon to a close, every bit of the logic and philosophy would make sense to the audience. No wonder, RZIM's Michael Ramsden candidly said of him, “Ravi saw the objections and questions of others not as something to be rebuffed but as a cry of the heart that had to be answered.”

Dr. Zacharias was laid to rest in Georgia on May 21 in a casket built by the prisoners of the Louisiana State Penitentiary, widely known as Angola Prison. He had ministered at the prison many times over the years including 11 months ago in June 2019.

He holds a special place in the hearts of Indian Christians who will forever remain proud of him. Born in Chennai and raised in Delhi as a cricket loving boy, he remained lovingly connected to the land of his birth. He often stated, “Mein Hindi walahoon” (I am a Hindi man). He was a good friend of Evangelical Fellowship of India. We will miss him.

In his obituary to Nabeel Qureshi, Dr. Zacharias had quoted Wadsworth Longfellow. These words ring true for him too, who has now entered an eternal rest, from a tiresome, yet passionate journey:

Life is real! life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal. Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul.

He is with his Lord, about whom he so passionately talked about. May his legacy live on. Vol. 49 / No. 06 AIM Annual Subscription for India, Nepal & Bhutan Rs. 200/- (Other countries $ 20)

A monthly publication of EFI Publication Trust Editorial Molech Is Still Around Rev. Vijayesh Lal ...... 4 Rev. Kuruvilla Chandy ...... 43

Child Labor - Disdaining New Commandment Fathers who imitate the Son Bishop Dr Joab Lohara ...... 7 Rev. Dr. David Mende ...... 48

Parenting in 21st Century Let Us Not Chill When It Comes To Children! Mr. Hansraj Jain ...... 12 Rev. Dr. Duke Jeyaraj ...... 52

A Happy Father's Day 2020 Faith or Fate Chacko Thomas ...... 17 Ms. Rachel Shristi Jacob ...... 55

World Day Against Child Labour Playing Flute in Beirut Mr. Guithuilung Daimei ...... 21 Ms. Jessica Joel ...... 57

Father - A love letter from God Radical generosity Mrs. Vinita Shaw ...... 25 Rev. C B Samuel ...... 59

World Day Against Child Labour Torture and the way of Jesus Mrs. Aashima Samuel ...... 30 Dr. Shantanu Dutta...... 63

Why do we care for God's creation? He loves the foreigner residing among you Mr. Salathiel Nalli...... 33 Mr. Jude Simion ...... 66

Understanding our Times - The Hidden Crisis Father's day - Internal Migration Mr. Hansraj Jain...... 70 Mr. John Amalraj ...... 37 Prayer ...... 76 ADVERTISEMENT RATE Editorial Committee Centre Spread (Color) : Rs. 7000/- Rev. Vijayesh Lal : Hon. Editor-in-Chief Back Cover (Color) : Rs. 5000/- Front Inside (Color) : Rs. 4000/- Mrs. Sara Chonghoikim : Associate Editor Back Inside Page (Color): Rs. 4000/- Dr. John Dayal : Editorial Consultant Ordinary Page (B&W) : Rs. 2000/- Mr. Manish Walter : Design Consultant Half Page (B&W) : Rs. 1200/- Mr. Hansraj Jain : Nagpur One third Page (B&W) : Rs. 900/- Quarter Page (B&W) : Rs. 500/- Mrs. Sonia Daniel : New Delhi

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3  June 2020/AIM Editorial

Rev. Vijayesh Lal Covid has not peaked; the threat to children has The world is reeling from the shock way from Punjab to Jhansi. Or the of the COVID-19 epidemic. Even as video footage of the girl child entire countries are on lockdown, the limping and crying because of injury numbers of the infected continues to but trying to keep up with her family grow. This is also true for India. As as they made their way from Delhi to this is being written, the number of Kanpur. A recent heartbreaking confirmed cases of infection in India twitter video from @azizkavish, a has crossed the figure of 1,50,000. journalist with the Amar Ujala We have lost close to 4500 lives to newspaper, shows a child at the this pandemic which has the world Muzzafarpur railway station in worried. Bihar, trying to wake up his mother by playing with her, not knowing The major impact of the economic that she has already passed away. shock due to COVID-19 would be on the poor and the vulnerable. Unfortunately, this also means that The story of the 13-year-old Jyoti children may be one of the worst Kumari who cycled with her injured sufferers of the aftershock. father as the pillion rider for more than 1100 kilometers, from The impact that COVID-19 and the Gurugram to Darbhanga in Bihar, ill managed lockdowns in India have did capture national attention and had on the poor and particularly their resulted in some token praise from young is for the world to see. One politicians and mainly photo ops , cannot forget the image of the but any concrete action to address exhausted little boy asleep on a the problems faced by such children suitcase as his mother pulled it during this pandemic remains to be across a deserted Agra road on her seen.

4  June 2020/AIM The real crisis may be in the making conditions and not having enough as the poverty resulting from this reserves or support from the pandemic may push tens of government, may be forced to push thousands of vulnerable children their children to work for survival. into child labour. According to the International Labour Organization, Even though India has seen a “Already, there are an estimated 152 decrease in child labour in the last million children in child labour, 72 two decades, there are still an million of which are in hazardous estimated 1,26,66,377 child work. These children are now at labourers in the country. Uttar even greater risk of facing Pradesh is the state where maximum circumstances that are even more number of child labourers are found difficult and working longer hours.” i.e. 19,27,997 or almost 20% of all For children who may be orphaned child labourers in India. The other by this pandemic to those who would states where the problem of child be forced to drop out of school, to labour is rampant are Bihar, those whose guardians may hand Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and them over to traffickers who often Maharashtra. lure with smooth talk about opportunities of education or work, This, in a country that has laws that the number of child labourers could aims to protect children below 14 multiply. years of age from child labour. The Child and Adolescent Labour A full 90% of India's workforce is (Prohibition and Regulation) Act part of the informal sector. was passed in 1986 and was According to figures released by the amended in 2016. The amendment Centre for Monitoring Indian was criticized by experts in the field Economy's (CMIE), the urban who felt that the child labour act was unemployment rate has already being diluted. The employment of escalated to 30.9 % because of the children below the age of 14 in impact of this pandemic. The same factories, mines, and other figure was 8.21% in March 2015. hazardous employment is prohibited According to the International under Article 24 of our Constitution Labour Organization (ILO), as many and free and compulsory education as 400 million Indians, including to all children between the ages of 6 migrant workers and daily wage and 14 is promised by Articles 21A earners, are at risk of being pushed and 45. The Right of Children to Free deeper into poverty because of the and Compulsory Education Act covid-19 pandemic. (RTE) was passed in 2009.

All the above can spell doom for the And despite these laws, it is future of the children whose parents disappointing that the violators of when impacted by the harsh these laws often go scot-free.

5  June 2020/AIM According to a written reply by the compensation, as they will not fulfill Indian government in February 2019 the technical definition of being in the Parliament of India, only bonded labourers. As per the 10,826 cases of violation of the definition only children rescued Child Labour Act were reported from their workplaces are entitled to across the country in the preceding receive state compensation. four years. Of these, only 56 % cases Unfortunately, once the industries (6,032) went to the stage of start again, the traffickers would take prosecution and only 25 % ended up these children back to the same convicting violators. condition that they were in.

One must be careful how to define What would the Church do to child labour. Normally, it refers to address such an enormous issue in any activity that can harm children the post COVID-19 scenario? This is and is mentally, physically, socially a question that must trouble us and or morally dangerous or interferes move us to prayer and action. God with their education by depriving has called us to, “Speak up for those them of the opportunity to attend an who cannot speak for themselves, educational institution or requires for the rights of all who are destitute. them to combine their education Speak up and judge fairly; defend the with excessively long and heavy r i g h t s o f t h e p o o r a n d work. needy.”(Proverbs 31:8-9).

As a result of the lockdown because While the Church has been of the COVID-19 pandemic, some intervening to address this issue newspapers have reported a “reverse through many initiatives, it is time trafficking” of child labour in India. that the worldwide Church including As buses and trains have resumed the Church in India joins hands in a operations but factories remain global effort to eliminate the root closed, “traffickers are returning causes of child labour and slavery, hundreds of children, who they had poverty being the chief cause. earlier trafficked to be used as child labour in sweet shops, back to their The Church must use her voice to villages,” give inputs into policy especially in the fields of education and labour At least 58 children were caught laws so that the future of the children from Madhubani, Bihar and parts of may be protected, and justice and Rajasthan, with fake Aadhaar cards, equality would be facilitated. This by authorities and activists. would be a good goal to strive for in a Interestingly, not a single trafficker post COVID-19 world. was arrested. Tragically, none of these rescued children will be e l i g i b l e f o r g o v e r n m e n t Rev. Vijayesh Lal

6  June 2020/AIM Child Labor Disdaining New Commandment Bishop Dr. Joab Lohara

While visiting the mighty pyramids Organization states in its World of Giza near Cairo, Egypt a few Report on Child Labor (2013), that years ago, I asked my friendly guide there are 265 million children in the if there was any evidence in world under the age of 18 – some as Egyptian history about the Hebrew young as 5 – who work as laborers slaves building these pyramids in the because the survival of their family days of Pharaoh. depends on it. Of these children, 126 million are involved in works that He paused and shrugged off a are dangerous to their safety and response. health.

The guide was wise in avoiding In our country, Campaign against conflict. No sensible person would Child Labor (CAC) study reveals a be interested in digging into a record number of 12,666,377 child reproachable past to his own laborers. Most of these children chagrin. work in textile factories, Dhabas (wayside restaurants), hotels, or as It would be the same case with child domestic workers. Conditions at labor. Since the Government Act some workplaces, such as against Child Labor is in force, no firecracker and matchstick factories, employer would ever reveal his are quite hazardous. indulgence in the act of enslaving children. Many a society working for the welfare of children has difficulty But the International Labor differentiating between a child at

7  June 2020/AIM work and a child laborer. According Act-1986 have been enacted to to UNICEF, children around the provide a basis to identify, prosecute world are routinely engaged in paid and stop child labor in our country. and unpaid forms of work that are not harmful to them. However, they But apparently, the laws alone are classified as child laborers when cannot do the job. The innate nature they are either too young to work or of man often stands out in disdain of are involved in hazardous activities the law to satisfy his own interests. that may compromise their physical, When a man becomes self-oriented, mental, social, or educational h e c a r e s l i t t l e a b o u t t h e development. consequences of his own action.

Most of the child laborers work full- As you may be aware, there are more time. The worst form of child labor than one thousand commandments includes slavery, prostitution, in the Holy Scripture, over and bonded labor, drug trafficking, child above the Ten Commandments. Man trafficking, and recruitment for is expected to keep these armed conflict. commandments to be right before God. But he is so fragile that he is According to the Child Abuse totally incapable of meeting the Publication of the Government of divine standards. India (2007), two-thirds of the child laborers have been the victims of Therefore, Jesus set before us a new physical abuse. About 50% of them commandment which is also known have faced sexual abuse and are as the Great commandment. He said, broken emotionally. “A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I Some sections of the society have have loved you, that you also love dealt with children in cruelty and one another” (John 13:34). The meted out ill-treatment in a newness of this command is downright uncouth manner. But the immeasurably way beyond the old nation has not been a mute spectator. command – “Love your neighbor as In addition to the constitutional yourself.” The new commandment prohibition of hazardous child labor, directs us to love our neighbor, not as various laws such as the Juvenile ourselves but as Christ has loved us. Justice (care and protection) of children Act-2000 and the Child Matthew 22:36 points to the other Labor (prohibition and abolition) part of the Great Commandment,

8  June 2020/AIM “You should love your God with all As Nelson Mandela once said, your heart, with all your soul, and “There can be no keener revelation with all your mind.” of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children.” Jesus further said, on these two commandments hang all the law and I remember working among street the prophets. In other words, if we children in the city of Vijayawada, kept these two commandments, it Andhra Pradesh in the 80s. I would would equate the fulfillment of all of visit the railway station at night and God's law. find hundreds of them sleeping anywhere they could lay their heads Human civilization has passed on: parking lots, platforms, through radical changes in most staircases, tunnels, etc. parts of the world. If the civilization of man is founded on these two Early in the morning, I would go and principal elements – LOVE GOD, buy them breakfast. They would LOVE ONE ANOTHER – there receive those food supplies like would be no human slavery, the least hungry wolves. the slavery of children. I have talked with them about their Man would realize that his fellow daily routine, their food, their man is created in the same image of education, and their difficulties in God in which he himself is created. life. Sometimes, they would get He would cultivate human dignity angry with their parents; they would and refrain from abusing them. He resent being bullied by hooligans. would esteem others equal with him. But I have never seen any child that I He would not withhold his blessings have talked to who felt sorry for from others and would not hesitate to leaving home. Alas! Streets have identify with fellow humans who are become better homes for them than less fortunate. their own homes.

It is disheartening that even Their deepest inner bruises have Christian citizens are not free from taught them some finer elements of the guilt of enslaving children. It is life in a strange way though – Never time to look around and see who is cry for a person who hurts you; just helping in our homes, in our offices leave them behind, thanking them or factories at the cost of their for giving you a chance to find childhood, education, and dignity. someone better than them. In this

9  June 2020/AIM case, a street under the open sky, time I travel in the West and witness safer homes for millions of children. it in Christian homes. Not only stepchildren, but these families have On one of my visits to Kathmandu, adopted some other children with Nepal a few years back, I found a full legal coverage. group of street children rummaging through foul and toxic trash. I know of a friend in the state of Illinois, USA who adopted a girl Their clothes were dirty and torn. from Bhubaneswar, Odisha. She They had no warm clothes in that went to the USA at the age of 6. She bone-biting cold season. I visited has now graduated from senior high their street home every day for a school, a beautiful teenage girl, week and bought them food and loved and cared for by the clothes and woolen blankets. They McFarlanes in the same way their cheered up every time they saw me other children are nurtured. I go up with packets of food. I have happened to meet with this young engaged in discovering their tales of girl, Lily, last July. She has forgotten woe. Their sorrows cannot be easily her mother tongue, Odia, but her measured. The context of them American English is perfect and choosing streets for mostly sweet to hear. everybody is a broken home, poverty, or abuse. What a beautiful reflection of the new commandment – Love your Some children have been pushed out neighbor as I have loved you! If only of home because another man that 12 million people of the 1.3 billion married their mother would not people in our country take this allow them to be nurtured in his commandment seriously, there will home. be no child labor. The throwaway, destitute little ones will find a better What a tragic diversion from the world – free from slavery and child Great Commandment of Christ! abuse – to live in.

I am afraid, the sin of banishing As the Psalmist says, “The dark stepchildren is committed by places of the earth are full of the Christian parents as well. habitations of cruelty” (Ps.74:20). Everything from another culture is The adverse conditions wherein not adoptable but loving and caring children are put to labor damage for stepchildren is something that their development—physical, fills my heart with admiration every social, emotional, intellectual, and

10  June 2020/AIM spiritual—and deny them of their the firm base of “Love God, Love most fundamental human rights. your neighbor”, the hurting children would find rest in the comfort of our They are abused, despised, and homes. Neighbor-loving society deprived of once-in-a-lifetime would make provisions for child opportunity: just to be kids. As laborers to grow in love and safety at Theodor Seuss Geisel says, “A a time when they need it most – The person is a person, no matter how Childhood. small.” We must show them love, respect, and dignity as Christ has demonstrated.

As followers of Christ, we must not ignore the injustice of child labor or remain apathetic.

Children are a reward to the parents and a heritage from the Lord, sang the Psalmist joyfully (Ps 127:3). A heritage is not to be dumped into the Dr Joab Lohara trash. A reward is not to be discarded is a Bishop in the Free Methodist on the streets. They are precious! Church of India and currently serving as International President If our family values are founded on of Free Methodist World Council.

11  June 2020/AIM Parenting in 21st Century:

Mr. Hansraj Jain

Not, too long ago, when a crisis hit a in the 21st Century" says, "The last friend, he went through the dumps. hundred years have been especially "I am a hypocrite and a liar. I have tough on manhood in general, and been anything but a good father to fatherhood in specific. Men are not my children. I have failed my God*", men anymore, and fathers are he pronounced judgment on himself. definitely not in the space they need (*Josh.24:15b) to be with regards to the family. Apart from not knowing how to be His son went through a divorce. dads, they have also largely My friend's experience is not abdicated their responsibilities as uncommon among us, especially men and fathers." those of us who make our home in the urban world. The world around How did we, men, come to this? us (globally), like a pandemic, is filled with broken lives and E P H E S I A N S 6 : 4 c f . especially with devastated and DEUTERONOMY 4: 1-4; Chp:6. broken Dads and husbands. This is not to say that women are exempt Well, we believe that Paul's from this experience. However, in instruction to the fathers provides us this article, we keep our focus on with a glimmer of light. Paul, men. exhorting men said, " Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming Gerhard van Eck writing on "Dads down hard on them... [Instead], "take

12  June 2020/AIM them by the hand and lead them in responsibility to the mothers, the way of the Master", (Eph.6:4 - caretakers, relatives, and grand- The Message). parents. They are too busy making a living - a comfortable life which will The New International Version of the give them recognition, prestige, Bible reads: "Fathers, do not honour, power, privileges, and exasperate your children; instead, influence. Perhaps, they hope that bring them up in the training and contentment would follow, instruction of the Lord".(Eph.6:4). naturally. Nothing could be further from the truth and realities of life. PARENTING PER SE! But then the 21st Century is nothing but chasing after our mirages! Parenting children is the most significant human experience. This While Paul's instruction has hit the is one relationship that demands of nail on its head, there is a converse the parents their very best, and more. side to this teaching. That is to ask Sacrifice, perhaps, is the word that this question: "Do the kids not describes it well. exasperate their fathers (and mothers)?" Paul's instructions in Ephesians 6:4 Viewing it from our 21st Century is precise. It is to the fathers. They perspective, one wonders if Paul's are instructed not to exasperate their suggestion would align with modern children. Freudian thoughts.

TWO PERSPECTIVES: Modern psychology built on Freud's thoughts promotes human behaviour There are two ways to respond to theory that speaks of non-directive this. The 'traditionally', and parenting. Unfortunately, it totally contextually, it would be appropriate negates Biblical perspective in to read Moses' instructions to the discipline and corrective steps. It Fathers in Deuteronomy 4:1-4 and calls Biblical view as being the entire sixth chapter alongside primitive and archaic art of Paul's teaching in Ephesians. Paul parenting. rightly reminds of the importance of being Father to our children. So, what gets children's hackles up Gerhard van Eck, as quoted above, with their parents that they feel reminds us that the fathers in the 21st exasperated by their parents? Century seem to have abdicated that

13  June 2020/AIM DEFINING THE TERM: and decision-making process by the children. Never say 'no' to your It is appropriate at this point that we child. Do not correct a child by look at this term "exasperate" for it telling him that he is wrong. means. 'Exasperate' is a mid 16th Mistakes are great teachers and century: from Latin 'exasperat'- trainers. If you feel that they are 'irritated to anger'. about to do something wrong, let them learn by experience. Withhold The term 'exasperate' implies: to or withdraw from giving advice to annoy, provoke, irritate, or to cause your child. Instead, encourage and an increase in the intensity of leave the child to decide for self and violence to ones' feelings. learn from experience.

Modern psychological thought All negative communication is seen would analyse behaviour born of as restrictive, suffocating and exasperation as being non-aligned to smothering of the spirit of adventure, behavioural-sciences and methods and experience. Directive form of as being directive, stifling, teaching a child is considered as a controlling, and power-playing. no-go form of child-rearing. Such a They would have parents know that format, even if done by a teacher, is today children are exposed to the interpreted as controlling, stifling modern, scientific and secular, (read the child's growth in their thinking, as Freudian human behaviour learning and creative abilities. norm), thinking and living. Experience is considered as the most potent form of education and healthy These modernist would reason and growth and the best way of parenting say that modern children need to be our children. handled in a contemporary way. The parents, by-and-large, need to The target group are the Christian unlearn in order not to exasperate parents in particular. The Christian their children. parents are being challenged with the need to learn to assimilate our WHAT DOES IT MEAN IN information base in line with the REALITY FOR PARENTING? modern behavioural pattern constructed on the science of Instead, they ought to be more psychology. This pattern applies to freedom driven encouragement, work-place, marriage, friendships, non-directive, independent choice communities, and of course, in

14  June 2020/AIM parenting our children. Biblical stake without turning it into a feud, if information needs to dispensed with not a mini-war between them? as being archaic and non-relevant today. There are several common aspects involved when conflicts take place Examining the tone of the between parents and children. Some instruction that Paul gives the of these include expectations, Fathers, it appears that atmosphere is presumptions & assumptions, poor one of conflict between the Father c o m m u n i c a t i o n o f p r e c i s e and the children. There is nothing instructions, distrust, domineering new here that would make us frown. and controlling or indulging and However, if we read Paul aright, then poor listening abilities on the part of it appears to highlight that it is the both the parties involved. In our Children who are the source of this case, the two parties are the parents aggravated parental behaviour. The and their children. children, by default, then become its recipients too. As for children, they need to discover that manipulating the trust, The Fathers are exasperated by the generosity, and indulgence of their children. As a result, it appears that parents is no license to that would Father's response is one of a driven ever justify their rebellion and wilful father to his unwarranted aggressive defying the limit of the boundary set behaviour, offending, violent, and by mutual consent. The children also perhaps abusive angry outburst and need to know that they cannot be adult's intrusion into the lives of their inconsistent in keeping to their children. promises, thus repeatedly testing the limits of the parental patience, Here, we need to stop and consider if demand their trust without expecting we need to ask one's self (and be consequences when they indulge in ruthlessly honest with self), this such antics. question: “what cause has brought a b o u t a b r e a k d o w n o f As it so often happens, fathers often communication between Fathers and display aggression and intimidating children? Why has this been allowed behaviour when they feel threatened to result in aggravating the situation or challenged. The atmosphere and turning it into a conflict? Could becomes alarming disquieting the two parties (Fathers and their because theygo into a rage driven by children) have resolved the issue at their hearsay, ego and face-saving

15  June 2020/AIM mode, presumption, assumption plus the above correctly describe why their feeling to reassert their today our children are living double- authority and leadership. lives – one before their parents and another when among their friends? Unfortunately, children's behaviour Whatever be our answer, it would is no better either. They choose to make Paul's directives to Fathers respond to their parents with anger meaningless if not downright and rejection thus making lopsided, if we did not spend some themselves incommunicado! quality time studying God's word, modern reality in which we are It is a tragedy that rejection, putting growing our children and together down and belittling by both the building a healthy, strong, and godly parents and children against each home where Jesus is Lord of every other, continues to line up the stream life by choice. that flows out in torrent out of their open gutter like mouth. As for the passages given above, we have not done justice. For true Speaking to Fathers, Paul is justice to Pauline instruction to basically saying, “please, fathers, do Fathers in Ephesian 6:4, we need to not act from those emotions which dig deeper with an open mind, are a product of presumptions, prayerful spirit and a teachable heart inconsiderate, opinionated, that prays, FATHER GOD, MAKE stubborn, or plain dictatorial, biased ME MORE LIKE YOUR SON, perspective, unverified accusations. JESUS. PLEASE. They only help drive children away from home and especially from you, Fathers.”

That's why, we so often hear the children feel exasperated when they tell us saying, "My, Father (and mother), they just do not understand me, or want to understand me or will ever stand me."

A QUERY: RELEVANCE? Mr. Hansraj Jain is the Managing Director of Is the above a reality today and does Inheritors, Nagpur

16  June 2020/AIM Chacko Thomas

A Bible verse that needs to be widely my hosts, a young American family, circulated throughout India(second and I went out for a meal. In the car, only to John 3:16 for me) is Matthew their four-year-old son quickly 7:7. “Ask, and it will be given to you; jumped into the front seat. But the seek, and you will find; knock, and it father said to him, “Sit in the back will be opened to you.” seat”. I interrupted the conversation by saying, “That is OK, let him sit in How I wish someone had told me the front, I can sit in the back.” But that“being a father is a tall order, ask the mother said to me, “No, Chacko, your heavenly Father for guidance he has to obey his father.” Then, she and help.”Although I prayed told the son to sit on the back seat. He fervently for my children, I never climbed down, without any drama, prayed for myself as a father. I and went to the back. struggled a lot on the inside. Let us admit it, we need help, we need it Of course, fathers must also return from God, from our respective the favour and teach the children to wives, from our children, and from obey their mother (Exodus 20:12). friends. And how we need to be Children are not to be used to settle continuing students of “father- scores between a husband and his ology” all our lives. wife. It is healthy for children to watch their father respect their Mothers, teach your children to mother. “Respect” is one word that honour their Father. Some years s u m m a r i s e s a l l t h e T e n ago, I was in Kathmandu for a season Commandments. This makes for a of ministry. At the end of the visit, God-fearing family.

17  June 2020/AIM Fathers, God is our model.“Father” can tell you what to do and you can is God's favourite designation for cry out to him with your needs.” I Himself. It is a little embarrassing never had a better leadership course for us, failing fathers. Please look up than that. the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7) to see how many times Why not ask, seek, knock for God's the term “Father” comes up. I was help in the role of a father to your surprised. I was even more surprised children. Is it a matter of providing to see how the Lord referred to God for our children? Has He not told us as“Father”in one evening. (John: 13- to ask Him“for our daily bread”? 17.)An astonishing 67 times in both (Matt.6:11.) Is it for a supplement sections. Amess age that the Lord you need for some areas you lack as a does not want us to miss is that “God parent? I needed that. I thank God for is a Father.”Knowing God as our a Filipino couple who had no Father must be the first step in children of their own, who took becoming a good father. special interest in my children. We were serving together in South Fathers, God has not left usalone to America, on the OM ship Logos. our devices. Just as trees are planted They often took my children and my in soil and depend on it or as fish are wife for picnics and sightseeing. created to live in water, so God has God is not only our model, but also created human beings to live in Him our help inbeing a father. He loves and depend on Him. “In Him we live our children. and move and have our being.”( Acts 17:28). We are dependent on him, God gives children to parents. God not only for our life but also for our has appointed us fathers as their responsibilities. Pray about pastors. One of our roles is to impart everything. Bible knowledge. See Deuteronomy 6: 4-7. Children are specifically I r e m e m b e r t h e f i r s t mentioned here (and in many places leadership“course” I was given in the Psalms.)God is interested in when I was asked to lead an OM the next generations. My wife and I team, way back 1968.I had no idea had a practice with our children. It that I would be ever be asked to lead. was a short time of prayer in the George Miley, the Leader for the morning and the evening. My main area covering UP, Bihar (including interest was that they would get to Jharkh and), Bengal and Orissa, told know God and love Him. During the me that “… I want you to lead a day I would pray and keep my eyes team.” When I protested, he said. open for an appropriate Bible “Just stay close to God, so that He passage for the next morning's

18  June 2020/AIM reading. Usually it was a short given the government of the world, reading. which would have included shepherding their family. Would I remember reading Psalm 103 one God give a task without being morning, and my seven-year- available to help us with it. We can oldlooked interested in that Psalm. look to him for help with parenting. So, I read it again the next morning. That day, he walked past the ship's The other side of the coin is that, clinic, and saw an American young since Adam failed God, and sinned man coming out of the clinic with his against Him, we must contend with fist all bandaged up. In answer to his the devil in all our tasks, including enquiry the young man replied, the task of a father. It is interesting to “Sunil, I was so angry, that I hit the note in the Garden of Eden, the devil ceiling with my fist.” Sunil, replied, defied the role of husband. How? He “I think, what you need is Psalm by-passed the husband and went to 103.” The young man went to his the wife. He tried to turn their roles cabin and read that Psalm, later around. But God would not have it. testified, how the Lord used the When He came down to reclaim Psalm in his life. them for His own, He went straight to the husband. He re-establishedhis Proverbs.22:6 is a proverb, not a role at home. We can trust the Lord promise. Only God knows how our against the enemy. How I wish that I investment in our children would knew this in the 1980s. bear fruit. That famous verse about training up a child is no guarantee. I Parent- child relationship is have met more than few grieving important to God. It is more than a parents. Invest though, we must. social matter; it is a spiritual matter. God expects it of us. Do not leave God even promised to send “Elijah” this pastoral role of our children to to turn the heart of the fathers to their our church or Sunday School. children and the heart of the children Church has its own role. They can, to their parents (Malachi 4:6, the last however, build on the foundation we verse of the Old Testament). Fathers lay in our children. are specifically told not to e x a s p e r a t e t h e i r c h i l d r e n A Fathers' Day Sunday! I think God (Ephesians6:4) and children are would like that. He created the commanded to honour and their father-to-be first. Adam and Eve parents (Eph.6:1-3), in the Lord. were mature human beings capable (there is another side to this coin, of ruling (governing, shepherding) they are to love the Lord more than when He created them. They were their parents. This is equally

19  June 2020/AIM important.) Children, please respect also equally the case of mother and your father, if not for his character, children. We need to demonstrate the but for his position as your father. difference our faith in the God of the Bible would make on our distinctive God wants a society made up of roles. Let it begin with us fathers. We mutual respect. I mentioned honour are weak, but He is strong. and respect earlier. The Bible commands, “honour all people” (Romans 12:10.) Respect people, as persons made in the image of God. This is important to God. It is not about respect for the person's state according to the Indian society. We are part of a bigger story.

Our Lord Jesus is a good example. He grew up in a society much like ours. But for Him, there was no out casteor untouchable. His society had Chacko Thomas them all, but he resisted such norms. is presently a Minister-at-large with Operation Mobilisation. He served Touching a leper did not make him for 15 years on the OM Ships Logos, unclean, rather it made the unclean, Doulos, and Logos II. His ministry clean. He healed them. May the Lord has taken him to 107 countries in six grant us all grace and blessings. continents. One of his few passions is to see the earth filled with the Fathers, mothers and children, let us knowledge of the Lord and His trust God for our respective roles in values blessing the nations. He can life. Family is God's idea. The b e c o n t a c t e d o n 'father' for children is God's idea. It is [email protected]

20  June 2020/AIM World Day Against Child Labour Mr. Guithuilung Daimei In 2002,the International Labour being considerate are some crucial Organisation (ILO) established June social skills.“A good person leaves 12 as the World Day Against Child an inheritance for their children's Labour to highlight the crisis of child children, but a sinner's wealth is labour, projecting the need to stored up for the righteous.” Psalm overcome any form of child 13:22(NIV).I am not delving into exploitation. The International this verse theologically, but one Labour Organisation (ILO) is the thing is very clear, that the verse United Nation's agency whose talked about the future generation. mandate is to advance social and The Bible is concerned about the economic justice through setting future generation, and they are international labour standards. children.

One of the most important aspects of God gives us the responsibility to a human being is building our train up children for the future. society, and presumably raising Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child children is the most essential key as in the way he should go, And when these children will become our next he is old he will not depart from it.” generation. Developing social skills (NKJV). We don't need to limit in children prepares them for a ourselves to only children of our lifetime of healthy interactions. immediate family, or we might even Building and improving social skills be completely blank about raising up is an inherent constituent to improve responsible children; there are many society. Empathy, expressing institutions and organizations that genuine concern for other issues, as cater to need of children deprived of well as helping to solve them, ability family environment. You can be a to express effectively with others, part of these groups which will respect others, ability to listen and enlarge your contribution in various

21  June 2020/AIM ways – skills, encouragement, they be welcoming us?” I realized praying, monetary, volunteering etc. that those who have power control what we need to pass through in our According to data from the 2011 endeavour to serve. Didn't our census, the number of child Master go through the powerhouse labourers in India is 10.1 million, of the leaders of his time? “Tell us by (1.1 crore) of which 5.6 million are what authority you are doing all boys and 4.5 million are girls. A total these things,” they said. “Who gave of 152 million children – 64 million you this authority?” (Luke 20:2. girls and 88 million boys – are estimated to be in child labour Kailash Satyarthi is a Nobel globally, accounting for almost one Laureate of 2014 and also a founding in ten of all children worldwide. member of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an organization with a That's a whopping 1.1 Crore children vision to end child labour in India. in our own backyard itself being “People asked me whether I've ever deprived of their childhood, rights to felt like giving up on my mission. education, proper nutrition and But I asked them if they would never had chance to develop their expect me to wait even for a day if social skills. Do we call ourselves my son or daughter was kidnapped, Christians and Believers and not before swinging into action. How concern about these children? can I ignore the pleas of a mother who has asked me to rescue her I might disappoint many of us to child?” asks this Nobel Laureate bring up the fact that helping others who won the peace prize in 2014. is going to involve a lot of inconvenience, difficulties, It is crystal clear that child labour is a sacrifices and sometimes even huge issue everywhere. We need to threats. Any organization working be concerned and respond to this for the poor will agree with me; that problem. Some may think that there to help the poor, we request, we beg are more pressing issues in the and we run from pillar to post. I still church. We need to understand that remember that during the Super working against child labour should cyclone 2009 relief response in not be just within the confines of a Odisha, we had to request and beg legalistic framework but should the authorities and leaders to allow stem from genuine care and concern us to help the affected people. It was for the well-being of children. Psalm my first assignment in social work, 127:3 says, “Children are a heritage and I was thinking “it doesn't make from the Lord, offspring a reward any sense that we have to request and from him.” The word “heritage” beg so many leaders and authorities refers to something handed down in order to extend help, shouldn't from the past. God gave us heritage

22  June 2020/AIM in the form of children. It doesn't after school hours or during matter if a child is mine vacations. (biologically), children are God's  Matrimonial laws such as given heritage: shouldn't we take Prohibition of Child Marriage care of them? Act, 2006: It states that a male cannot attain majority until he is The term “child labour” is often 21 years of age and the defined as work that deprives corresponding age for a female is children of their childhood, their 18. potential and their dignity, and that is  The Motor Transport Workers harmful to physical and mental Act 1961 defines a child as a development. person who has not completed 14 years of age. It refers to work that:  The Juvenile Justice (Care and  is mentally, physically, socially Protection of Children) Act 2000, or morally dangerous and any person below the age of 18 is harmful to children, and considered as a child.  Interferes with their schooling  Section 2(d) of The Protection of by:depriving them of the Children from sexual offences opportunity to attend school Act, 2012 states that, “child requiring them to attempt to means any person below the age combine school attendance with of eighteen years.” This Act excessively long and heavy simply aims to protect the work. children from sexual offences and harassment. In our country, identifying a child seems to be a confusing task. We So we see that “child”, as we know, should be clear with the legal term seems to take quite a complicated “minor” and “child.”Both the terms turn. This is just another example are almost the same, but the Indian that shows how we thrive naturally law defines according to the in the fuzzy world of thoughts, but if situation and needs: we want to achieve something we  Child Labour (Prohibition And will have to be precise. Grey areas Regulation) Amendment Act, will have to be replaced with 2016 Of India 15 June 2017, a precision. It will be best for us to complete prohibition has been stick to the 1989 United Nations imposed on employment of child Convention on the Rights of the labour (i.e. a person below the Child, which defines a child as an age of 14 years) in any individual who has not attained the establishment whether hazardous age of 18 years. or not. A child is permitted to work only to help family, in The underlying cause of “child family enterprise or as child artist labour” is poverty. History has

23  June 2020/AIM shown us time and again that when religion and region if we want to we are faced with a life and death build a better society, we will have to situation, we can do unimaginable help those who are struggling. things, even cannibalism. “Religion that God our Father “So, we cooked my son and ate him. accepts as pure and faultless is this: The next day I said to her, 'Give up to look after orphans and widows in your son so we may eat him,' but she their distress and to keep oneself had hidden him,'”(2 Kings 6:29). from being polluted by the world.” Sometimes, it is easy to blame the (James 1:27) poor parents- why do they allow their children to work instead of We should form alliances with sending them to school? We need to secular and other faith groups as long empathize with them. We also have as the objective is for the well-being to recognize that desperate of children. It is pretty much a choice circumstances can lead people to that is in our hands -- whether we engage in desperate acts—acts that want to preserve our God- given we consider dreadful. In this fight inheritance or not. But collectively against child labour, there are two we need to do our bit if we choose to pronged approaches – preventing preserve it. child labour through poverty alleviation &education, and rescuing & rehabilitating those children who already are forced into child labour.

The important point for us is to remember the meaning of “child labour,” and we need to actively engage in helping children to experience their childhood and their Mr. Guithuilung Daimei development. As we observe World is the Executive Director, NEICORD Day Against Child Labour, let us (North East India Committee on take a step to take care of our Relief & Development) that works inheritance we received from God. for wholistic development of We need to look and act beyond community focus in North East family, relatives, community, India.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Labour_Organization 2. https://www.unicef.org/india/what-we-do/child-labour-exploitation 3. Https://www. Thebetterindia.com – by Meryl Garcia, Feb.6 2016 4. https://www.ilo.org/ipec/facts/lang--en/index.htm 5. THE PROHIBITION OF CHILD MARRIAGE ACT, 2006 6. https://www.ncib.in/pdf/child-law.pdf 7. POCSO Act 2012

24  June 2020/AIM Father- A love letter from God

Mrs. Vinita Shaw

Extended time of quarantine late Father. A teacher turned writer, following national lockdown due to it is from my father that I have drawn COVID-19 has forcibly pushed us much as I have parented and into time alone zones, away from the mentored many young ones over the excruciating work schedules, years. agonizing travelling and demanding socializing. We can actually have It is a well-known fact that there are uninterrupted family times of vices and gifts that we inherit from talking, cooking and eating together. our Fathers while others that we During these days of extended choose to acquire/not acquire as we silence, when the pleasant sounds of grow into adulthood and have birds has been louder than the clamor families of our own. of traffic and human activity, I have found myself often taking a walk “The apple does not fall very far down memory lane. from the apple tree” or “Like Father like son” are adages that have come Each day surprises me with a collage down generations which is why the of fresh memories that come forth role of a Father is crucial in raising from the hidings of the crevices of Godly offspring. my brain's memory bank; some to make me laugh and others to make In the world that we live in today, we me cry. see/hear of men who coerce abortion on the woman instead of taking If something has taken the lion's responsibility for the unborn, so the share of my fun filled happy child does not know who his/her memories, it is the memories of my father is or are wounded because

25  June 2020/AIM their fathers abandoned them in wicked ways, then I will hear from childhood. There are other Fathers heaven, and will heal their land. who are occupied with their personal ambitions or excuse their long I share below some Bible verses, absence for providing for the family which I saw my Father live out in his needs. daily life, all through my growing years. Either way, one wonders if they are aware of the exponential damage Trust in the Lord with all your heart, they are inflicting on an entire and do not lean on your own generation. understanding-Proverbs 3:5

The result is evident in broken My Father was what those in people who perpetuate damage on to ministry would refer to as a “secular the next generation, with more and person”. A professional, he used to more young folks shying away from write for a leading national daily life-long marriage to a person of very well known in his days. opposite gender and having children. Tall, big built and muscular, he sported a big moustache giving the The tragedy of our times is that the impression of someone to be feared, world's culture has entered the yet his heart was tender, and he had a Church instead of the Church child-like faith in God. influencing the world. Whether it was losing his mother at Similar absent and irresponsible the tender age of seven, the partition, fathers abound in the Christian the wars, the communal riots, ministry world as well; those who national emergency, cardiac arrests hide their personal ambitions behind followed by surgery- he had seen it the garb of ministry. We are losing all. In spite of having had his share of more and more of our young to the disappointments, stumbling blocks world as we helplessly quote the and setbacks, he did not allow story of the prodigal son. himself to be drawn away from his steadfast faith in God or allow Where are we failing is the question, frustration and bitterness to dampen I believe God wants to ask of us as his smile and love for people. He led the mandate has been given to the us in prayer times, along with our Church in 2 Chronicles 7:14. mother.

If my people, which are called by my He took us regularly to Church name, shall humble themselves, pray where we actively participated in and seek my face and turn from their Sunday school, youth fellowship,

26  June 2020/AIM vacation Bible schools and personal ambitions on us. Gently volunteered at Church just as he did but firmly, he would discipline even the same. as he taught us to respect all people and by demonstrations taught us We saw him smile and laugh often, good etiquette. forever looking for opportunities to lead us into fun times – indoors and Husbands, in the same way be outdoors. considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as Don't do anything from selfish the weaker partner and as heirs with ambition or from a cheap desire to you of the gracious gift of life, so that boast, but be humble toward one nothing will hinder your prayers- 1 another, always considering others Peter 3:7 better than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3) My father was a one-woman man. He remained committed to my My father's gift of the gab made him mother till he passed away. He loved a great conversationalist and he her and cared for her. could chat over any topic under the sun, thanks to his being very well He was our Provider and in a read. I never saw him boast or show responsible manner, managed the any kind of pride or attitude that he resources along with my mother. was better than someone else. They took joint decisions.

From the maid, to the vegetable Whether it was household chores or vendor, to the postman, the teaching us, never did I see him shy neighbours, the young and the old, a w a y f r o m h o u s e h o l d with a warm happy smile and a wave responsibilities. Whether it came to of hand, he had a good word of say to feeding, bathing, teaching us—he anyone and everyone, he came was doing it all equally. across. Train up a child in the way he should My father was far-removed from go: and when he is old, he will not manipulation, scheming and depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6) politicizing. He was a simple, straight-forward person who Our Father treasured us; his three preferred to mind his own business daughters. He demonstrated gender and take care of his family. equality.

He was there to guide us through He gave us who listic life skills – He every stage of life; never pushing his taught us himself, very patiently and

27  June 2020/AIM cultivated our love for English against a person, even those who language and honed our God–given willfully wronged him. gifts into skills. Be alert and of sober mind. Your During summer vacations, he would enemy the devil prowls around like a send away the maid so we would be roaring lion looking for someone to trained in all household work(so we devour.- 1 Peter 5:8 would learn to clean, mop, wash, fetch groceries, vegetables, cook, Our father was always alert and budget, pay bills and do bank work). watchful. A keen observer, he understood human nature very well. In those days of no television, his story telling skills kept us Be it the young boys who came entertained while they also taught us loitering around our house, keeping lessons for life. Early in life, he an eye open for a glimpse of us or be began to teach us Christian ethics a nosey neighbor or a church which included being faithful, just, member who would come to visit kind, trustworthy, hardworking and each time Father was not home- he honest. was alert and ensured that we were well protected and guarded. My paternal grandfather lived with us, till he passed away and my My father believed that friends have maternal grandmother often came a great influence on children, which for long durations to live with us is why he ensured that we invited our which is how we learnt to love, friends to our home so our parents honor and take care of our elders. could meet them.

Our extended families and friends He taught us how deceptive people were often in our homes for meals can be, borrowing from tales from and spending holidays, which gave his own childhood. us strong teaching of family bondings, and Christian hospitality. Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in Our father also taught us to keep the training and instruction of the short accounts- to forgive and move Lord.—Ephesians 6:4) on. One day we would see him getting upset, and the next day, it Encouragement is oxygen to the soul would be forgiven and forgotten like and the antonym of exasperating our an innocent child. We never children as fathers usually have the heard/saw him bearing a grudge habit of doing. In our family prayer,

28  June 2020/AIM he would often say, “Thank you Lord It's with a purpose that God arrested for giving us good children.” us in our homes with our families during this time of COVID-19. I believe that prayer went a long way Fathers, take a long hard look at your in encouraging us on Godly path. handiwork which is visible in your children and while there is time, It was when my Father almost died make amends. Do not lose heart. and God did a miracle and extended his life by nine years, that we all There is always room for encountered Jesus at a deeply introspection and repentance. personal level. It's not always the prodigal to be I realized how much my father has blamed. role modelled God the Father by always being there for us, providing Sometimes, it could also be the for loving us through all the stages Father's absence that turned the child of life, protecting, disciplining, into a prodigal. guiding and totally dependable and trustworthy. It is time to consider what legacy one is leaving behind. Yet, my father never preached a single sermon. He was God's love I pray your children's memories of letter to his family which we read you would be as happy as my each day. memories of my Father are, and may they continue to guide your children Such is the legacy, my father left long after you are gone. behind that not a day passes, when I do not find myself quoting him to some child or a young struggling parent.

At this age that I am today, I know he must not have been the perfect man that he seems to me. He must have had his failures and shortcomings which I am not aware of. What Mrs. Vinita Shaw matters is the wonderful memories is a mother, wife of Pastor Timothy etched in my mind and the rare Shaw and CEO of Disha legacy, he left behind. Foundation.

29  June 2020/AIM World Day Against Child Labour EFIC@R, Delhi

Every year on June 12, the World forced to work under the threat of Day Against Child Labor is observed violence or death. to raise awareness of the plight of child laborers world-wide. States with highest number of Hundreds of millions of girls and bonded labourers rescued from till boys around the world are affected. 2019 are given below: What is Child Labour? Child labour is an exploitation of children through Many of them were children. any form of work that deprives them Children who are expected to attend their childhood and affects their educational institutions are forced to mental, physical and social needs work in hazardous sectors and many and performances. Children are are abused as a commodity (child trafficking).

State No. of bonded labourers No. of bonded identified and released labourers rehabilitated Karnataka 66,281 60,029 Tamil Nadu 65,573 65,573 Odisha 51,441 48,313 Uttar Pradesh 42,279 42,279 Andhra Pradesh 38,141 31,687

30  June 2020/AIM Child labour and exploitation are the soon, see exploitation of lives as result of many factors, including traffickers. Getting cheap labour is poverty, social norms condoning expected to push-up the growth of them, lack of decent work the country without providing opportunities for adults and enough services to these people. The adolescents, migration and trafficker will be waiting to exploit e m e r g e n c i e s . O n e o f t h e the situation and the most affected emergencies are the times we are will be the children who will stand to living in today. These factors are not be abused and exploited even more, only the cause but also a and will be sold for cheap labour as consequence of social inequities the demand of cheap workforce will reinforced by discrimination. Child increase and the voices of the weak trafficking is also linked to child and powerless mostly in the rural labour and it always results in child a r e a w i l l b e s q u a s h e d . abuse. Trafficked children face all forms of abuse-physical, mental, We as a church, can contribute and sexual and emotional. Trafficked stand together to free the country of c h i l d r e n a r e s u b j e c t e d t o India from child labour. We do not prostitution, forced into marriage or have the law in our hands but what is illegally adopted; they provide important is to be able to identify and cheap or unpaid labour, are forced to have the courage to report such a work as house servants or beggars. crime. Trafficking exposes children to violence, sexual abuse and HIV 1. Let us begin with ourselves: infection. Let's accept that the people who employ children at their homes or 2020 has been a year of challenges places of work in the name of giving and emergencies. COVID 19 has them an opportunity to earn a living sprouted more problems for people and sustain themselves need to be living both in rural and urban outed. They benefit greatly from the settings. The lockdown 4.0 has put a children they look upon as nothing hold on the economic growth. more than cheap labour. As now, 80-130 million people go back to villages and reverse 2. We n e e d t o e d u c a t e migration happening that have little ourselves on law. resources and in any absence of any form of social security being 3. Use the fear of retribution available for them, we will very for good : Bringing awareness on the penalties laid down by law, for the

31  June 2020/AIM protection of children, has a better chance of keeping people from destroying childhoods.

4. Be vigilant and report abuse: Be aware of any kind of child abuse or exploitation happening around you. REPORT!! One can approach NGO's and call up on helpline numbers listed out. Aashima Samuel National Director 5. Keep interacting within the EFI-Children At Risk (EFICAR) church and communities: Keep learning and spread awareness.

Your prayers count.

References: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/it-s-2020-bonded-labour-still-reality-india-here-s-why-116977?amp (Statistics chart) https://www.thebetterindia.com/69863/ten-ways-can-stop-child-labour/Prayers (Church contribution)

32  June 2020/AIM WHY DO WE CARE FOR GOD'S CREATION?

Mr. Salathiel Nalli

The World Environment Day is being created by God. Hence, instead of celebrated around the world every environmental protection, we lovingly year on 5th of June. This year the call it as 'Creation Care'. environment day will be unique, as the earth started showing signs of healing, Why is the world worried about? while mankind was locked inside their homes due to the scare of coronavirus. With the ever-increasing per capita I n t h i s c o n t e x t , a s g l o b a l consumption rates, the earth's environmental debate gets hotter, its resources are depleting faster than important for the Church to ever. Keeping in view of the current understand why Christians need to consumption rates, it was estimated care about these issues. that the earth has capacity to feed 10 billion people only. In just 35 years 'Environment' or 'Eco-friendly' are the from now, the world population is favorite words for everybody- estimated to touch 10 billion, pushing Christians and non-Christians, rich its inhabitants to fight for survival. and poor, student and an executive. Indiscriminate use of earth's resources For many, environment means- no s i g n i f i c a n t l y d e g r a d e s t h e plastics, water saving, switching off environment, leading to various lights, no littering, organic food, tree ecological issues. plantation and many more. For scientists, it is about climate change, Though we exactly don't know how ozone hole and raising sea levels. many species exist, it is estimated that What is it for Christians? every day, up to 150 species are becoming extinct due to severe O f c o u r s e , ' E n v i r o n m e n t ' changes in the earth's ecosystems. In encompasses all these- animals, birds, the next 20-30 years, 34,000 plant, trees, oceans, mountains and 5,200 animal, 1/8th of bird species will atmosphere- which are passionately become extinct.

33  June 2020/AIM On the other side, we have already fifth of the world's population. destroyed half of our forests, and continuing to do so at the rate of 7.3 The global warming is changing in m i l l i o n h e c t a r e s p e r y e a r. climate, which is responsible for Desertification and land degradation increasing the frequency and are threatening nearly one-quarter of magnitude of natural disasters, erratic the land surface of the globe. Over 250 monsoons, cyclones, floods, affecting million people are directly affected by millions of people. As we are not desertification, and one billion people protecting our planet adequately, we are at risk. n e e d t o r e a p t h e n e g a t i v e consequences of the same. Not only the land, we are destroying our oceans also. Around 9 million tons God saw it was 'Good' of plastic enters oceans every year, Creation story is repeated with the meaning one garbage truck each word 'good' five times and minute. This plastic waste takes summarized with the word 'Very thousands of years to degrade, causing Good' (Gen 1). Everything which God severe harm to many aquatic created- the animals, plants, birds, creatures. mountains, seas, rivers- and the profound relationship between them Indiscriminate release of pollution is, very good. What God sees as good, into air through motor vehicles, mankind who are made in God's burning, industries, coal firing is likeness, would also see it as good. causing severe air pollution across the world. Nine out of ten people in the God is neither part of creation, nor world are living in areas with high equal to the creation. He is the creator levels of air pollution, which is who toiled and meticulously responsible for the deaths of 7 million constructed, beautifully designed, people. with so much of fervor and love. Scientists keep discovering how eco- Due to the release of harmful gases system works in a fascinating way, and into the atmosphere, earth is becoming how living and nonliving beings of the hotter day by day. It is estimated that universe are delightfully interrelated the earth is hotter by around 1 degree to each other. Celsius compared to pre-industrial era and would be 3 degree hotter by the However, this good creation suffers end of the century. This increase of due to the mismanagement of its temperature results in around 2 mm of caretaker- mankind. It is currently sea level raise per year, making low groaning with pains and is waiting for lying areas to gradually submerge. An its redemption along with the mankind estimated 2 billion people may (Rom 8:19-21) become displaced from their homes by 2100 due to climate-driven sea level Creation Care is God’s Command: raise. That amounts to roughly one- Many people in the world are involved

34  June 2020/AIM in the conservation and protection of knowledge of the past, responsibility environment. Some of them are for the present, and hope for the future. passionate advocates, and sincerely demonstrate environmental principles The three ecological world views through their firm lifestyles. As M o s t o f t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l Christians, do we also need to spend negotiations at the global level are our precious time on this? centered around economic and social impact on human beings. For example, Creation is very important for God, as the annual economic cost due to global we see that the Bible itself begins with environmental damage is estimated at an account of creation. Though God is $6.6 trillion. This world view called separate from creation, he is deeply 'Anthropocentrism' considers involved it. mankind as the supreme being in the universe, while the whole creation is Mankind is part of creation, but they designed to be used exclusively by are unique and special creation of humans, and to serve the needs of God, who are made in God's Image humanity. The people who believe this and Likeness. Along with the special view are encouraged to care for the status, mankind got a special environment, because it is beneficial responsibility to care for God's for us, for our lifestyles, our Creation (Gen 2:15). Mankind is not livelihoods and for our children. equal to God but possess his character of Love and responsibility towards F r o m a m o r a l d i m e n s i o n , creation (Ps 8:4-8). They alone are anthropocentrism explains that, any created in the Image of God, and they harm to the environment can cause alone are given the authority to rule severe damage to the communities, over the creation. especially the poor and the marginalized. Hence, for the welfare Creation Care and Eschatology: of the mankind, especially the poor, Many missiologists who are not this planet needs to be cared for. convinced about God's call to creation care point out that the earth is going to A s o p p o s e d t o t h e a b o v e , burn away (2 Peter 3:7,10), hence 'Ecocentrism' considers the whole question the need for creation care. nature, including living and non-living organisms and human beings, all Yes, God is going to make everything carrying equal importance. They new (Rev 21:5), new earth, new believe that there is no special heaven, new Jerusalem (Rev 21:1,2), significance of humankind, as they even glorified human bodies (Phil have also evolved along with nature. 3:21). However, that doesn't nullify Every living and non-living beings the present responsibility towards self, have some intrinsic value in the eco- our family, our society and the system, hence, the whole of the creation. The uniqueness of ecosystem gains prominence over Christianity is that we have the individual entities.

35  June 2020/AIM Stemming out of 'pantheism', with an His Image and His likeness, and influence of science-based culture, entrusted the creation to his care. this view encourages to care for However, mankind is misusing God creation from an ethical point of view. given responsibility, and damaging the In case of a clash between humans and creation for his greed. ecosystem, preserving ecosystem gains prominence. Human needs, like We are called to care for creation, the needs of other creatures are without any relation to its advantages. secondary to the needs of the earth. For Mankind should care for the earth, not example, building a dam across the for their own benefit, but for the godly river for agricultural purpose is not character they possess in loving God's ethical, as it disturbs the ecosystem of creation, with the same love and the river. compassion, they received from God. Being said that, we should not refrain As against the anthropocentrism and from utilizing the resources of ecocentrism, 'Theocentrism' stems creation, and use it in a judicious way, from the biblical thought, putting God as a loving and caring ruler. And God as the central aspect of the whole will not only ask us about loving our creation, including mankind. All neighbor, but also loving God's Creation, including the mankind exist creation. for Him (Col 1:16,17).

Mankind should look after the creation, not because its beneficial for them, not because its ethical, but because God wants them to do so. God wants the mankind to utilize earth's resources in a loving and caring way. For example, we conserve water, not because we will run out of water in the future, but because it is the resource God has given to us to utilize it judiciously for our basic needs. Mr. Salathiel Nalli is a Hydro-geologist, working with Conclusion: UNICEF based in Hyderabad. For the last 30 years, he is closely God created this universe and associated with several christian proclaimed that the Creation is very agencies like EFICOR, UESI and good. He specially created mankind in Transbiblica.

Salathiel Nalli works with UNICEF and lives with his wife and two children based in Hyderabad. He is currently associated with 'Transbiblica', a Christian thinktank for global transformation. He can be contacted at [email protected].

36  June 2020/AIM Understanding Our Times The Hidden Crisis: Internal Migration and Pandemic Mr. John Amalraj

The images of poor people along a strict lockdown has brought to the with their families walking home surface the inherent socio-economic from the bustling cities to their structural governance issues that villages will remain with us for a have never been addressed due to l o n g t i m e . D u r i n g t h i s lopsided priorities for many unprecedented pandemic, most of us decades. More than anyone else, the are constrained within the safety of pandemic has hit the poor, our flats and walled communities vulnerable, disadvantaged, rural conforming to the orders of the people who had migrated to the cities authorities to stay inside for fear of serving the aspirations of the the contagious virus. We have middle-class urbanites. become armchair commentators and spectators watching the news From the perspective of these poor entertainment twenty-four hours. If people, they are as fearful as the rest the reports of people run over by the of us are about the unknown virus trains or the overcrowded truck with and ignorant of the consequences of women and children killed in a road the pandemic. These simple-minded accident and the police mindlessly people have just one desire and they using force to beat the desperate say: “We want to go back to our crowd does not move our hearts, home village and be with our nothing else will. families.” Having migrated from their villages to the cities, to provide COVID 19 Pandemic and the for their families, they now have no response of the government through job, no source of income and no

37  June 2020/AIM guarantee for the future as the people due to disasters and conflicts lockdown seems to be extending with around 2. 7 million only in aimlessly. Being homeless and 2018. The report cautions that India hungry they are desperate, willing to is one of the countries that declines risk their lives by, defying the to provide information on internally lockdown orders, negotiating the displaced people. It is interesting to police with the anxiety of finding note that Indian census gives us their way home by walk, cycle, statistics of the reasons why Indians trucks, bus, train, or any other means migrate internally – which in the blazing summer. corresponds with the popular perceptions such as education, Statistics on Migrants: The current employment, and business while estimated population of India is 1.38 marriage is another major factor (a Billion as of April 2020, while the cultural trend as women move to Indian Census 2011 reports that their husband's home), while there were 453 million migrants, ignoring all other socio-economic with a 44% decadal growth during factors. 2001-2011. Extrapolating these figures – the migrant population Who Are They? In the past, when today could be around 650 million or we talked of internal migrants, we more. One of the scholars analyzing assumed them to be college students, this comments that the importance of p r o f e s s i o n a l s , g o v e r n m e n t migration as a livelihood strategy employees, army personnel, traders, contradicts official statistics such as and business persons. The pandemic P o p u l a t i o n C e n s u s t h a t , unveiled the hidden crisis of the underestimates migration flows invisible migrants who are the poor such as temporary, seasonal, and unskilled workers, trafficked circulatory flows, both due to women, and street children among a conceptual and empirical difficulties few others. The unorganized sectors (Srivastava 2016,14) The official include workers like the electricians, census no longer reports the plumbers, carpenters, taxi/cab numbers of people who migrate drivers, construction workers, because of natural calamities. grocery workers, courier/delivery boys, security guards, maids, The World Migration Report a cleaners, cooks, restaurant servers, United Nations body, rates India as barbers, beauty salon workers and thethird-highest among the Asian many more. The migrant women are countries in terms of displacement of usually domestic help, construction

38  June 2020/AIM workers, and the sex trade. The street its head again in a new India, that has children are usually seen in city become divided on communal, traffic junctions, railway stations, linguistic, and ethnic identities. The bus stations selling flags, tissue response to the pandemic by the boxes, colouring books, and snacks. government, the media, and the T h e u n s k i l l e d l a b o r e r s a r e public have fallen on these fault unofficially estimated to be around lines. 80-100 million of women and men (Srivastava 2016,14). The trafficked Second, it is about people's socio- women are unofficially estimated to economic status that is linked to be around1.25 to 3 million women. ethnicity. The gap between the rich The street children are unofficially and the poor has widened beyond estimated to be more than 1 million. anyone's imagination. Since these A recent BBC report estimates that people originate from rural areas, every eight minutes one child is they have little or no formal being trafficked in India ending up in education or skills. The neoliberal forced labour and sex trade and some globalization of production has of them on the city streets created the informal sector in the (Vaidyanathan, BBC, 2020). industrialized cities that attract cheap labour from rural areas (Haas Why is this the Hidden Crisis? 2014, 256-258). The green There are three major factors to this revolution in the agriculture sector hidden crisis. The first is about and the recent economic woes of ethnic identity. These invisible farmers suffering from huge loans people are the marginalized drives them out of their villages to untouchables, and the lowest caste s e e k s e a s o n a l t e m p o r a r y groups in rural India. It is rather employment in cities. They become unfortunate that there is widespread part of the unorganized sector and xenophobia – the darker their skin are the floating population having no colour, they are associated with identity documentation. They are those among the untouchables most vulnerable as their working and (Myambo 2019).There is a growing living conditions are poor and they indifference to the needs of the poor have no access to basic protection, untouchables among the affluent amenities, or welfare schemes. They people who generally seem to be have no insurance, health care, occupy a higher position in the social security, annual leave, hierarchical caste system. The ugly minimum wages, or any other head of the caste system has raised protection from the labour laws.

39  June 2020/AIM They work long hours and suffer context of international migration long term health issues from work and terrorism, but to translate the hazards. They have no permanent same sense of insecurity and fear employment and are under the within a national border is a political mercy of the contractors who are and governance issue. Politicians politically networked and are only use these people in election rallies interested in making more money. and campaigning and then turn a These people are living in a modern deaf ear to their grievances. system of slavery. Wasudha Bhatt argues that migration The third and critical issue in the is not free from being an discussion on factors related to uncontrolled process and is migration is that of governance. In a regulated by perceptions of globalized world where neo- identities given to migrants by the liberalism is fast spreading, the society and the state (Bhatt 2009, ideology of less involvement of the 87). She moans, the fact that even state seems to be more of a theory though there are constitutional rights (Robbins 2017, 105).Robert Munck given to people migrating, related to in an article suggests that migration conditions of employment and basic has become a global governance living conditions these are never problem (Munck2008, 1227). Even enforced. Bhatt further argues that though globalization requires a free most often the poor who migrate are flow of capital, the irony is that the on the lower end of the economic state imposes restrictions on the spectrum and are vital to the sustain movement of migrants on various ability of the economy but endure the spheres. There is a policy paralysis worst treatment due to lack of on understanding the issues related governance intervention. They are to internal migration. Security has labelled and exploited as resources become the focus in governance as for pure economic gains. the resident population feels insecure when they see a stranger in The Indian government's lopsided their midst (Munck 2008, 1232). In policies are reflected in the budget the last ten years, migrant people expenses for 2018which shows that have been violently attacked in they spent 15% of their GDP on different parts of the country and an defense procurement and less than anti-migration political narrative has 1.3% of GDP on the health care taken center stage. The issue of sector. Even as reports of these poor security may be important in the villagers walking back to their

40  June 2020/AIM homes are in the media, the common people for many more government's efforts are geared to years. Having witnessed this huge cater to serving the middle-class reverse migration, we are not sure urbanites' interests. The evacuation how many of these villagers will and repatriation of stranded forgive the urban betrayal, rebuild i n t e r n a t i o n a l s t u d e n t s , their trust, and return to cities to earn professionals, and business persons their livelihood. It is in this context, from different countries seem to be a that we need to examine the Indian priority than the plight of the rural church's response. Our response migrants who were instructed and should not be restricted to only forced to stay where they are. Public providing crisis relief. Building announcements on space projects, schools, hospitals and providing building projects and privatization relief and development in remote for business are the focus rather than villages and urban slums are good welfare schemes for the poor and deeds that needs to continue. We are oppressed. also called to a prophetic role to speak truth to the powers on behalf The Response of the Church: It is of the poor people. Who will raise highly commendable that the the voice against the caste system Christian community from across that continues to keep the oppressed the length and breadth of the country people below the poverty line? Who has responded to this hidden crisis. will raise the voice against unfair Christian young people have taken labour practices that exploit these to the streets, risking their lives, and poor workers? Who will raise the have reached out to provide cooked voice against lopsided budget meals, rations, shelter in churches, policies that neglect the health care Christian schools, and have opened and education for the rural and urban their mission hospitals to cater to the poor? Who will raise the voice migrants and the poor people in their against loan sharks, human neighborhood. The Indian church traffickers, and corrupt officials? has always been exemplary in emergency relief during natural The invisible internal migration will calamities and major crises. Is this continue to be a hidden crisis enough? The COVID 19 pandemic is because it is the failure of the not a short-term crisis. More people government's role whose priority is are dying of hunger and neglect than electoral politics. It may continue to the virus itself. It has adversely be a hidden crisis since it is the affected the economy and impact the failure of the faith community who

41  June 2020/AIM have lost their prophetic and compassionate voice. Prophet Micah gave a clarion call “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).Do we hear God's call to the Indian church to speak up for the Mr. John Amalraj disadvantaged, the poor, the served with mission organizations oppressed? in leadership roles. Presentlyhe is pursuing doctoral research on leadership development.

References:

Bansal, Samrath, “45.36 Crore Indians are Internal Migrants” (blog) The Hindu, December 3, 2016

Bhatt, Wasudha, "The Gender Dimension of Migration in India: The Politics of Contemporary Space in Orissa and Rajasthan", Development in Practice. 19:1, February 2009: 87.

Diwanji, Sanika, “Value of Public Expenditure in India FY 2014-2018”, Statista.com. https://www.statista.com/statistics/684924/india-public-health-expenditure/

Haas, Hein de, Mark J. Miller, and Stephen Castles. The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World. 2020. 256-258.

International Organization for Migration, World Migration Report 2020, New York: UN, 2019,

Migration, Census India, Government of India, http://censusindia.gov.in

Munck, Robert, “Globalization, Governance, and migration: an introduction,” Third World Quarterly, Vol. 29, No. 7, (2008), 1227-1246.

Myambo, Melissa Tandiwe, “Being Darker Makes Being a Migrant Much Harder” in The Conversation, December 15, 2019. https://theconversation.com/being-darker-makes-being-a-migrant-much-harder- 128340.

Robbins, Richard H, and Rachel Dowty. Cultural Anthropology A Problem Based Approach. (Boston: Cengage Learning, 2017), 105.

Srivastava, Ravi & Rajib Sutradhar, Migrating out of Poverty – A study of migrant construction sector workers in India, New Delhi: Institute for Human Development, 2016.

Tatke, Sukhada, “India's Sex Workers Fight For Survival Amid Coronavirus Lockdown”, Al Jazeera, April 12, 2020. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/india-sex-workers-fight-survival-coronavirus- lockdown-200412073813464

Vaidyanathan, Rajini, “One Every Eight Minutes India's Missing Children” BBC News, May 17, 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-south-asia-52685559/one-every-eight-minutes-india-s-missing- children.

42  June 2020/AIM MOLECH ON THE PROWL Rev. Kuruvilla Chandy

Have you heard of Molech? That God ask Abraham to sacrifice was the name of the god of the Isaac?” Yes, but only as an extreme Ammonites. More than any of the test of Abraham's faith and don't other gods of the nations that forget that God Himself didn't let surrounded Israel, Molech was the Abraham go through with it (Gen. god whose rituals demanded the 22:1-19). sacrifice of sons and daughters to gain benefits for the head of the We do have one episode of human house and to ward off evils that “sacrifice” in Israel during the might fall on him. There were other period of the Judges who came after gods too, who, according to their Joshua. There was a man named priests, liked human sacrifices, but it Jephthah, who was a terrific warrior, seems that Molech liked only the but a social outcast as he was the son sacrifice of sons and daughters. of a prostitute. As the other sons of his father didn't want him to have a In the middle of this ocean of people share in the inheritance they threw who thought human sacrifices were him out. However, when Israel perfectly legitimate, Israel needed a leader, they turned to him. w o r s h i p p e d t h e G o d w h o After negotiating that he wouldn't be commanded that they were not to their leader just temporarily but even sacrifice their sons and daughters after the war was won, Jephthah (Deut. 12:31; 18:9-10). agreed to go into battle. “Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Human Sacrifices Jephthah…he advanced against the Ammonites. And Jephthah made a “Wait a minute”, you say. “Didn't vow to the Lord: 'If you give the

43  June 2020/AIM Ammonites into my hands, whatever two months bemoaning her virginity comes out of the door of my house to (v.37) rather than her shortened life” meet me when I return in triumph (Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study from the Ammonites will be the Bible, AMG Publishers, p. 297). Lord's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering'” (Judg. 11:29-31). This is not to say that Israel never Jephthah had the Lord's Spirit. That strayed from this commandment to was enough to move forward. For not sacrifice sons and daughters. some reason, Jephthah felt a little Whenever they were unfaithful to uncertain and wanted to bargain and God, they did embrace the customs bind God to a victory by making a and practices of nations around rash vow. The Law was very clear them, including the sacrifice of sons that if one didn't vow that was all and daughters (Ps. 106:37-38). The right, but if you did, you have to go prophets Micah (6:7), Jeremiah through with keeping the vow (Deut. (7:31; 19:4-6) and Ezekiel (16:20- 23:21-23). His only daughter was the 21; 23:37-39) prophesied against one to come running out to welcome Israel for this sin. him home. According to Scripture, “he did to her as he had vowed” Cultures Against Children (v.39). Down through the centuries of I used to think that Jephthah did human history, around the world, sacrifice his daughter, and he was most cultures have considered wrong to do so because she wasn't a children expendable. There is a “whatever” and he should have notion that the Ancient Greeks were applied the Law that God didn't want the epitome of civilisation, but the children to be sacrificed. Nigerian truth is it was a man's world. Wives Bible scholar Tokunbo Adeyemo could not leave their homes without favours a second view that “suggests the husband's permission or that she was redeemed in keeping husband. The man dined alone with the provision of Leviticus 27:1- entertained by slaves, while the wife 8, but that instead of paying with and children ate separately. Sons money, she was required to forfeit were preferred so that they could the option of marriage. I would argue look after parents in their old age and for the second position on the basis for the continuation of the line. Girls that her mourning for her virginity were married off between 13 and 16 would be uncalled for and to men who were 20 years old chosen meaningless if she was actually by the father. In this Grecian world, sacrificed as a burnt offering” “Abandonment of infants occurred (Africa Bible Commentary, p.309). to a greater or lesser degree “This would explain why she spent throughout the Greek world from

44  June 2020/AIM earliest times, and in the late exploitation, violence and omission Hellenistic Period became, it in policy and welfare schemes. appears, an actual menace and evil. It was legally sanctioned at Sparta in “Save the Children” also reported the case of deformed children. It was ,“In 2013, India was among the top 5 nowhere forbidden by law except countries with the highest rate of possibly at Thebes at a late date…It child sexual abuse. A 2013 report by was nowhere severely condemned the Asian Centre for Human Rights by general public opinion and revealed that sexual offences against feeling, since the Greeks did not children in India were at an have the moral and religious “epidemic” level – citing, over scruples relative to the matter which 48,000 rape cases between 2001 to influenced Christians and Jews” (La 2011, and a 337% increase in child Rue van Hook,“The Exposure of rape cases from 2001 (2,113 cases) I n f a n t s a t A t h e n s ” , to 2011 (7,112 cases). Child sex https://www.jstor.org/stable/282876). abuse (CSA) occurs across geographies, economic levels, and What about our own land and even across relationships – people? There was no one-India in strangers, friends, family members ancient times. There were only had all been perpetrators. In 2012, separate kingdoms all over the land 9500 child and adolescent murders that we now call “India”. Except for were reported, making India the the matrilineal societies of India, in third largest contributor to child all of these kingdoms it was no crime homicide (WHO 2014, Global to practise female infanticide and Health Estimates). One in 3 most men would have regarded their adolescent girls experiences wives and children as their chattels violence (physical, sexual or or property to do with as they emotional), from significant others.” pleased. Further, the International Labour Modern India Organisation's estimates suggest that there are over 12 million child How have children fared in modern labourers in India. India? According to “Save the Children”, it's estimated that India Denial and Conspiracy has the largest number of street children in the world. Among them, The first reaction, especially from an astounding 79 per cent live the government and its agencies, is without a legal identity, making to deny such findings, and blame it them doubly vulnerable to their on the bias of Western researchers. harsh living circumstances, This reaction is similar to what our

45  June 2020/AIM politicians do when caught red- such children are “rescued” and handed for misconduct: across the placed in children's homes. They are board, irrespective of what party not safe there either. The recent they belong to, they protest that it's conviction of former Bihar MLA just a plan of the opposition to Brajesh Thakur for raping young defame them. Forget the statistics girls in homes run by him is not to be from Western and international considered as an isolated case. All agencies. Our newspapers tell us over the country, poorly paid about children being abused, workers do favours for the rich and tortured and exploited daily in India. powerful. Our VIP culture knows no The Bible says that until we bounds. It is important that acknowledge and confess sin, the children's shelter homes (or shelter land will not be healed (2 Chron. homes for women and even others) 7:14). should not be under the supervision of people in politics. It is better to In the case of sexual exploitation, the have independent agencies and biggest problem is that there is a NGOs supervising them. conspiracy of silence. Ghar ki baath, ghar mein rahein (let matters of the We have to wonder sometimes home remain in the home). That is whether the Juvenile Justice Board similar to the saying, “Don't wash thinks of justice for the victim in your dirty linen in public”. I have their defence of the rights of the always thought it strange that people juvenile criminal. In the case of find fault with washing dirty linen, Gaurav Shukla of the infamous not possessing it. And so, abusive Aashiana case of rich brats fathers, brothers, and uncles get kidnapping and raping a poor little away with crimes against young girl in a moving car in Lucknow girls. The Bible never covers up the (2005), the relative of an influential sins of its heroes. It reports that political leader, the JJB seems to David committed both adultery and have bent over backwards and murder, and that there was incest and declared him a juvenile, when one fratricide in his family. David's dirty look at him should have been enough linen got washed and he was restored to set aside his claim to being to being a man after God's own heart juvenile. He was at the time of the (1 Sam. 13:14) willing to repent of crime about six feet tall, while the sin and do what was right (1 Ki. victim was a tiny 13 year-old. But 15:5). then he was related to a VIP, while the girl was just a nobody. It took When children run away from home eleven years to bring the man to book it is because conditions at home have and punish him. The Bible, on the become unbearable. Sometimes other hand, shows the prophet

46  June 2020/AIM Samuel defying King Saul and the question. The right question is, prophet Nathan confronting King “Who will be servant and serve the David when they sinned (1 Sam. 13: others in the family?” 13-14; 2 Sam. 12:7-13). High and mighty people were not allowed to The family is compared to the get away with their wickedness. Church and the Church itself is compared to a body. The parts of a Unnamed Prowler body interact and cooperate. No part is devalued (1 Cor. 12: 21-22), and Molech doesn't exist, just as he didn't no part is deprived (vv.23-26). This back in the ancient Middle East. view of the family clearly Still, people worshipped at his altar emphasises that the well-being of the and considered children expendable. entire family depends on a sense of In Modern India, children are indeed equality and cooperation within the expendable. While Molech may be family – affirming the equal rights of an unnamed god in India, he is all its members to love, care and definitely worshipped in many sustenance. homes, which is why we have so many children at risk. As long as people worship Molech, children will run away from abusive In most Indian homes, the elders. As long as Molech prowls our householder is considered the sole land (within homes, in institutions purpose for which his family exists. and on the streets) children will be He gets to eat first and others get his considered expendable. The people leftovers. The lion's portion and who are supposed to give children choice pieces of every meal go to care go on being predators him. If this is happening in Christian worshipping at Molech's altar. homes, and it does in some, we have to face up to the fact that Molech is being worshipped.

The Bible doesn't say to husbands, “Be the head. Assert your authority.” Though, it is understood that way. The Bible does ask wives and children to recognise the headship of husbands, however husbands are to serve their wives (Eph. 5:21-30) and Rev. Kuruvilla Chandy respect their children's rights (6:4). is a freelance preacher and writer. He In the context of the family, “Who can be reached at: will be the head” is the wrong [email protected]

47  June 2020/AIM Fathers Who Imitate the Son

Rev. Dr. David Mende

A young boy was asked, “What's might have not experienced your special about Mother's Day?” The earthly father's love. Or you boy retorted that “It's a day when probably lost your father at an early mothers are treated like queens. age. Still, we can experience the They get a break from cooking as perfect love of our heavenly Father! dads take the family to a restaurant. Some married men may not be And the mothers even get some gifts fathers as yet, but praise God, you on that day.” Then, he was asked, can be a spiritual father to many. “What's so special about Father's Day?” to which he replied, “It's a day Now I cannot overemphasize the the father drives down his family to influential role of a father. According his favorite restaurant to celebrate to a survey, if the child is the first his special day and ends up paying person to receive Christ in a family, the bill.” there is a 3.5% probability that the rest of the family members will be Dads are special! As a child, I saved. But if the mother is the first thought that He-man, Spider-man or person to receive Christ in a family, Batman are heroes. But later, I the probability of the household realized that none of these so-called g e t t i n g s a v e d g o e s u p t o heroes were of any help to me. It was 17%.However, if the father is saved my dad who worked hard and first, the probability of the entire provided for all my needs. Along family to receive Christ is 93%!That with my mother, he brought me up in shows the significance of a father's the fear of the Lord. Even as the influence. world celebrates Father's Day this month, it's an awesome occasion to We know that the ultimate goal of honor our fathers. Some of you our salvation is to be like Christ

48  June 2020/AIM (Rom. 8:28-29). All believers, struggle with is pride. But God hates including all fathers, must strive to pride. The Bible repeatedly warns us become like Christ. So, the basic about pride (Ps. 31:23; 1 Pet. 5:5). premise I present in this article is: God alone is worthy of all the glory, Fathers must imitate Jesus in their honor, and praise and we must give lives. Fathers must imitate Christ in Him the rightful place in our lives. order to be a positive influence on We must follow the example of their family and society. Though Christ who came as a servant to this Jesus was never married and didn't earth (Mk 10:45). Jesus is the greatest have any physical children, He is a e x a m p l e o f h u m i l i t y. H e perfect role model for every believer demonstrates this beautifully at the and every father. I believe that this Last Supper (Jn 13:3-5). world desperately needs fathers who imitate Jesus. So, in what ways must Though Jesus is the eternal God, He fathers be like the Son, Jesus? Let me humbled Himself to the position of a give you seven godly qualities. slave. Although He knew his disciples would betray Him, desert 1. Fathers Must Be Loving Like Him, and deny Him, He still washes Jesus. their dirty feet. That's why the Father highly exalted Him (Phil. 2:5-8). As The first characteristic that fathers fathers, we must not be arrogant. We must imitate is to love like Jesus. must shun pride and develop Jesus demonstrated His love for God humility with the help of the Spirit. and for others by dying on the cross (Jn 15:13). Earthly fathers must also 3. Fathers Must Be Compassionate love God and others (Mt. 22:36-40; 1 Like Jesus. Jn 4:7-8). In many families, an ugly cycle recurs. Since the fathers don't Compassion is often seen as a love their family enough, the wife feminine emotion. Men don't like to and children disrespect their fathers. give the impression that they have a This further hinders the father from soft heart. But Jesus felt compassion demonstrating love to his family. towards the lost (Mt. 9:36). He even This must stop. The fathers must be wept on a couple of occasions (Lk. loving, no matter what. The wife and 19:41; Jn 11:35).Compassion is a children must respect the father, no biblical quality that the fathers must matter what. possess: “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the 2. Fathers Must Be Humble Like Lord shows compassion to those who Jesus. fear him” (Ps. 103:13). Even when you discipline your children, show One of the major sins that we men them compassion and love. Spend

49  June 2020/AIM time with your children. Share in But gentleness is Christ-like (Mt. their disappointments and joys. 11:29). Since Christ is gentle, He is able to offer rest for our souls. 4. Fathers Must Be Self- Quoting Zechariah 9:9, Matthew (in Controlled Like Jesus. 21:5) writes: “Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your king is coming Every father must develop self- to you, humble, and mounted on a control. The Bible says that “A man donkey.'”We must develop the without self-control is like a city quality of gentleness in our lives broken into and left without walls” (Gal. 5:23).As leaders, we must not (Prov. 25:28).A city whose walls are drive our families harshly. Rather, broken is vulnerable to attacks. If we we must lead our families gently. don't have self-control, we will be without defense before Satan and 6. Fathers Must Discipline Like our flesh. Cain didn't have self- Jesus. control and he committed the first murder in human history. David Jesus is not all about love, didn't have self-control and he compassion, and gentleness. He was c o m m i t t e d t w o t e r r i b l e also firm in disciplining. Similarly, crimes—adultery and murder. fathers must be gentle. Yet, they must discipline their children as But Jesus had self-control.Though well. We must learn to strike the he was tempted for forty days and balance. When the disciples failed to forty nights, he didn't yield to Satan's cast out the demons from a young temptations (Luke 4). From Luke 4, boy, Jesus rebukes them and says, “O we learn that we can defeat the faithless generation, how long am I temptations of the enemy through to be with you? How long am I to fasting and prayer, the Spirit, and the bear with you?” (Mk 9:19). Also, Word of God. Fathers, let's practice when Jesus predicts his impending the spiritual discipline of fasting. It death and suffering, Peter rebuked will break the power of sin and flesh Jesus and said, “Far be it from you, in our lives. We must develop self- Lord! This shall never happen to control which comes from the Spirit you” (Mt. 16:22).And Jesus rebuked (Gal. 5:23). Peter in very strong words: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a 5. Fathers Must Be Gentle Like hindrance to me. For you are not Jesus. setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Mt. The world projects angry macho 16:23). men as real men. Many men think that meekness is a sign of weakness. Fathers, let's listen to the words in

50  June 2020/AIM Proverbs 3:11-12 (which are quoted A father has to provide for the family, in Hebrews 12:5-6): “My son, do not teach God's Word to his children, and despise the Lord's discipline or be fulfill several other obligations. But weary of his reproof, for the Lord we focused on the need of fathers reproves him whom he loves, as a reflecting Jesus through their lives. father the son in whom he delights.” Fathers, we are not perfect. We are You will discipline your children if fallen human beings in a fallen you love them and delight in them. world. But the more we look to Christ, the more we will become like 7. Fathers Must Be Prayerful Like Him. He is our ultimate role model. Jesus. Even when you fail, run to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you. He will grant Jesus was a man of prayer. In his His grace and make you the kind of book, Spiritual Leadership, J. leader and priest He wants you to be. Oswald Sanders writes about the Let's imitate Jesus! prayer life of Jesus. He says, “Surely if anyone could have sustained life without prayer, it would be the very Son of God Himself. If prayer is silly or unnecessary, Jesus would not have wasted His time at it. But wait! Prayer was the dominant feature of His life and a recurring part of his teaching.”Luke 5:16 (NIV) says that “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

Fathers, your children will not be blessed if you merely provide their Rev. Dr. David Mende needs. Pray for your children. Pray is the pastor-teacher at El-Shaddai with your children. Lead your family A s s e m b l y o f G o d C h u rc h in prayer and Bible reading. Be the (elshaddaiag.in) in Hyderabad. He priest and the leader that God has also serves as an adjunct faculty called you to be. Fathers must be member at Southern Asia Bible prayerful like Jesus. College (SABC), Bangalore and Conclusion Hyderabad Institute of Theology and Apologetics (HITHA), Hyderabad. Fathers must imitate Jesus in their He can be reached at +91 lives. I have obviously not shared an 9 8 4 8 0 0 4 0 9 4 a n d exhaustive list of a father's qualities. [email protected].

51  June 2020/AIM LET US NOT CHILL WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDREN!

Rev. Dr. Duke Jeyaraj

June 12 is the United Nations World Sivakasi by bus from neighbouring Day Against Child Labour. It is a villages within a radius of about good time to remind ourselves about twenty miles. They are loaded into responsibilities we have in a world buses and vans from three to five in which is still largely unsafe for the morning to get to the factories at children. six or seven, and they return home between six and nine in the evening. We must PRAY against Child As many as 150 to 200 children are Labour. We pray for a child with packed in a vehicle. The children 'great anguish and sorrow' like work for about twelve hours, but Hannah did before they are born (I they are away from home for over Sam. 1:16, NLT). Do we maintain or fifteen hours. Forty-five thousand up the tempo when it comes to children below fifteen years of age praying for our children and the work in Sivakasi or in nearby children of our nation after they are workshops or cottages within their born? We must! own village, perhaps the largest single concentration of child labour Myron Weiner's words written in in the world. Three-quarters of the 1991offers some prayer fuel: child workers are girls. Each village “Sivakasi is perhaps the most has an agent who enrolls the children publicized centre of child labour in and ensures that the children are India. Children are employed in the awake when the transport arrives. matchbox, fireworks, and printing The agents receive a monthly salary industries. Children are brought to of 150 rupees. They may pay an

52  June 2020/AIM advance of up to 200 rupees for each applications like messenger apps child labour enrolled. The advance is that come along online games then deducted from the child's children play to what is called salary” [Myron Weiner, The Child 'grooming'. What is grooming? It is and the State in India, Princeton, 'the act of befriending a child, and (NJ: Princeton University Press, sometimes the family, to lower the 1991), 24]. child's inhibitions with the objective of sexual abuse' (according to We must be vigilant against those Pallavi Pundir). Parents, please who PREY on our children. We must understand that while you may be be like the men of Issachar who were busy with your work, your child may 'men who understood the times and be groomed by a potential child sex knew what Israel should do' (I offender for participation in the Chron. 12:32). creation of child porn. These things can happen right under your nose if Let's fast forward to the present time. y o u r c h i l d i s u s i n g a n The “India Today”, March 2, 2020 unmonitored/rarely-monitored issue published these chilling smart phone. statistics about the menace of child porn in India (a world that is created We also must PROVOKE action by luring children into different against atrocities that we see against forms of sex work): India now children. The Bible says, “Speak up accounts for the maximum number for those who cannot speak for of cases of online child abuse themselves; ensure justice for those imagery in the world; the National being crushed. Yes, speak up for the Centre for Missing and Exploited poor and helpless, and see that they Children (NCMEC) that Indian get justice” (Proverbs 31:8-9 NLT). users have uploaded 25,000 images Job could testify this way in this or videos of children in sexually regard: “I broke the jaws of the compromised situations in the past wicked and snatched the prey from five months alone! Delhi tops the list his teeth” (Job 29:17 NASB).We do of the maximum number of lists of not have to break the jaws of the child porn. There is a distinct child abusers/child employers! But increase in self-generated child porn. can we at least use our jaws (mouth) Last year – 2019 – 377 websites were to argue for the release of children in blocked for posting child porn slavery or in danger! We can speak content.” This article talked about against online cyber bullying of kids, how online predators used to cite a case point! We can point to

53  June 2020/AIM the believer in your church who has hired a minor girl to care for a just- arrived new-born about the biblical call to obey rules of the Government of our land – the rules that do not clash with the Word of God (Romans 13:1-2; Acts 5:27-29)!

If we do not take time to train our Rev. Dr. Duke Jeyaraj kids to be 'arrows in the hands of the is the founder of Grabbing the Divine Warrior' (Psalm 127:4), then Google Generation from Gehenna there may be an occasion tomorrow Mission, a ministry that reaches out when we have to sorely regret this! to present day people via writings, Here is why: others (including pulpit preaching and counselling. possible child offenders) may race to Find out more at www.dukev.org or fill-in the vacuum, we have by WhatsApp to +91-8886040605. He is a fulltime itinerant preacher inadvertently created in our children. and writer-in-residence with this Let us not chill when it comes to our ministry children!

"And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" Matthew 18:2-4

54  June 2020/AIM “FAITH” OR “FATE”?

Everywhere I make a turn All I see are hearts with fears, And eyes filled with tears People unable to be mentally stern.

News and media brought it as an endemic, But who knew today it would grow like the worst pandemic.

The single yet multiplying corona virus Left many on earth lifeless. Rich or poor, Hindu or Christian all was regardless Thousands and thousands, it killed being merciless.

It attacked one or two nations, But got a multi-fold to sail along the situations. The brink of disaster hovers over our world, The virus has spun around and left everything swirled.

It's now we realize the importance of life, For no one knows the next second who would survive.

This has brought us all to a lockdown, In our own, or maybe another's town. And struggling to see a silver lining to our frowns Who knows when we will get the Victor's crown?

At a sneeze men run away, being afraid, And next we see their houses covered with barricade.

Day and night have become equal for a doctor, Who is trying her best To minimize those who are positive for the test, And the virus brutally even knocked her.

55  June 2020/AIM And then there goes a nurse, Who never imagined it to be so worse! Injections, medications all day long, Yet service to mankind with her head held strong.

The social care workers and the police, Have not left a spec to spread peace All the say “move out in specific timings” Or you'll find yourselves crossing your own safety linings.

Many have had their lives sacrificed, Leaders creating new measures to strategize. Together we need to fight To come out of this horrible plight And see a happiness filled sight.

Friends it's never too late Is it your “faith” or “fate”?

Come let us all kneel down in prayer To shun away this evil which is our present nightmare?

We have a living God to trust That you should know for must. So be courageous and build your strong hope Then sure healing is in our scope.

Ms. Rachel Shristi Jacob residing in New Theological College. I am currently pursuing my nursing studies (3rd year) from the Indian Army.

56  June 2020/AIM Playing flute in Beirut

They had dragged him down to Beirut, The bustle and buzz of Lebanon, His breath was saved to play the flute, His village was bombed at dawn.

He is a king in his early recollections, Of a vast mansion built on hills, Freckled with tall trees lined in all directions, A whiff of cedars, pines and distant mills.

His small body huddled beside a garbage bag, On the luxury of a grimy pavement; A streak of blood covered in a rag, As a crown on his forehead, of abasement.

He dreams of his mother's soothing smile, Basked in sunlight from the window; His hand in his father's as they walked a mile, With sacks of seeds, in their farm to sow.

He's kicked in his back, again and again, For tears spilling down his cheeks; He advises himself to stop feeling the pain, For that tune of fond memories speaks.

Where his mother would kiss the bruise, His father would tell he's brave; And he'd be back, chasing the ewes, Or blowing into his flute, a musical wave.

57  June 2020/AIM It was a storage den, rifles in the pathway, His little feet scrambling for their orders; Greasy fingers on flute, their songs would play, Or carry bombs, rifles, grenades and mortars.

He misses the aroma of hot kafta and kibbeh Which his mom would feed him on her laps; The long exuberant trips to the city of Enfeh, Where he'd watch the waves build and collapse.

He feels the solace of the gentle breeze, Long red scars, he was beaten by his flute; Broken bones bring hunger pangs no ease, He cries miserably, he hates the city of Beirut.

Ms. Jessica Joel is a student of Arts. She lives in Agra and loves to write.

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12

58  June 2020/AIM RADICAL Generosity

Rev. C B Samuel

“If I have denied justice to any of if I have raised my hand against the my servants, fatherless, whether male or female, knowing that I had influence in when they had a grievance court, against me, then let my arm fall from the what will I do when God confronts shoulder, me? let it be broken off at the joint. What will I answer when called For I dreaded destruction from to account? God, Did not he who made me in the and for fear of his splendor I womb make them? could not do such things. (Job 31: Did not the same one form us 16-23). both within our mothers? These words of Job, underline the “If I have denied the desires of the fundamentals of Judeo-Christian poor or let the eyes of the widow understanding of giving. We believe grow weary, in a God who made all of us and we if I have kept my bread to myself, will be called to give account for our not sharing it with the actions. And at the heart of our faith fatherless……. is the belief that giving is the if I have seen anyone perishing for character of God and he modeled it lack of clothing, for us in Christ. or the needy without garments,… This understanding is further

59  June 2020/AIM reinforced by the New Testament to a lifestyle of selfish consumption. teaching as found in Apostle Paul's And I think we must ask ourselves writing to the Corinthian Church whether this is going to change our when he was collecting money from way of giving. them in order to help the Christians in Jerusalem, in 2 Corinthians Let us look at five important chapter 8: “Our desire is not that comnponents why I believe that others might be relieved while you when we talk about generosity from are hard pressed, but that there might the biblical perspective as followers be equality. At the present time your of Jesus, we are talking about plenty will supply what they need, so something totally radical. that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality”. Giving is a responsible giving This is very interesting. The Bible Much giving is moved by deep doesn't say that we should be feeling of compassion but has generous because we want to show usually no sense at all. I remember some kind of mercy, but it is to create that many times in relief, people who a world of equality because today we are getting the relief get the same live in a world which is grossly food from everyone and by the end unequal and we are seeing on the of the day they are just tired. They street basically the acting out of a in just throw away the things. So, our equal society that we live in. People giving may make us feel good but who have been invisible to us and if makes no difference to the people. It the giving doesn't change and create is very important to ask ourselves a world of equality then maybe we whether our giving is responsible are not really giving. giving. And in responsible giving it is equally important to ask as to who In a time like the present epidemic, we are giving to. The former Prime everybody wants to give. I have been Minister Rajiv Gandhi said that for the head of a relief agency for many each rupee that the government years and I know that disaster brings gives, only 15 paise goes to the poor. out a very humanitarian concern to Today there are a lot of groups trying give but that is not what the Bible is to get our attention to contribute but talking about here. These are great we need to be responsible and hold opportunities to question the world those to whom we give accountable in which we live because some of us for the use of the resources. When need to rethink what we possess, you give to someone, whom you otherwise our giving is out of our cannot hold accountable, it is abundance; and we will soon revert irresponsible giving. Even if you

60  June 2020/AIM give to the PMCARE fund or the for a poor family that is something CMCARE fund, we must be able to that is a matter of life and death. We get an account. need to ask ourselves does giving cost me. For if I am simply a At the end of the day, in the words of postman, receiving money and Sainath's book, 'Everybody loves a giving out the same but my lifestyle good drough', I think everybody remains the same, the food on my loves a crisis. Very soon we'll feel table continues to be the same, we good about our generous actions must ask ourselves the question while our own lifestyle becomes whether it is really radical giving? better and the poor are forgotten after the event. So it is very important for Radical giving is respectful giving. us to ask if our giving is responsible. The Bible says that when you give to the poor you are giving to God. Radical giving must be costly giving There is no condescension in our We have learnt during this lockdown giving. We treat the poor and the that we can live with a lot less. I people we give to as human beings. know as the former head of a This is very important. As Job said I development agency that it is easy to share my food with the poor give away the money that someone knowing that one day I have to stand gives to us; it is easy to be generous before God, the God who created me with someone else's money. But if and the poor person. our giving has not affected our lifestyle and has not cost us, we are When we give to the poor, we must basically just a postman in this whole make sure that we bestow dignity process. We come up with a good and not rob people of it. program in which we can channel money. But anyone can do that. Radical giving is a liberating giving. The Bible says that Jesus became At this time, we will have to ask how poor so that we could become rich. can I re-do my life? There are people He came so that we can be free. We in this country who do not have two must not keep the poor dependent on square meals. Did you know that us. Many times, our programs of more than 70% of the migrant charity end up keeping poor – poor, workers have got just 100 Rupees keeping them lower down in society now in their hands? That is all they and making them obligated to us. have. Many of us perhaps have not That is not at all the kind of giving just that but many hundreds. We can that the Bible talks about. When God spend all that in an evening whereas gave Himself, He did so that we

61  June 2020/AIM could be set free. Our giving has to n e e d t o i n t e n t i o n a l l y a n d be liberatory. It is very important, consciously look for these who are when we speak of giving, to ask lost. During this time, there is a ourselves, if people are being increase in domestic violence and all liberated to flourish as humans. kinds of abuse of children. Perhaps many of the street children who are Radical giving is just giving m i s s i n g a r e b e i n g a b u s e d Finally, we need to be sure that our somewhere. giving is a giving of justice. One of the early Church fathers wrote, I think we need to do much more “When you give to the poor you are than “feel good” giving. We need to not doing charity, you are doing use our giving as a leverage to create justice. You are giving to them what a just society, liberate people and originally belonged to them.” This is treat them as human beings. That important and we must remember will cost us but that would be truly this. We are not doing any charity. radical giving or generosity. We are enjoying fruits of an unequal world in which we belong to as those who are the 'haves'. It is important to remember that what we have is because the have-nots have contributed by their sweat and blood. They built these cities; they are the ones who built our roads for us. Hence it is important to ask: is my giving is creating a just society? Is it biased towards those who are on the Rev. CB Samuel streets? India has 10 lakh street is a Bible teacher, pastor, theologian, children, and no one has an idea mentor, former CEO of a major where they have gone during this Indian relief and development lockdown. We need to look around o r g a n i z a t i o n ( E F I C O R ) , and not wait for them to approach us missiologist, evangelical leader and so that we can then do charity. We passionate advocate for the poor.

62  June 2020/AIM Torture and the way of Jesus

Dr. Shantanu Dutta

If I were to ask some people if Bible— both Old and New Christians can endorse torture, the Testaments—endorse torture often, answer is likely to be an unequivocal through stories, laws, prophesies and no. But it requires some unpacking, sermons; including from the mouth for two reasons: 1) There are of Jesus himself. Strong and countries in the world where protracted pain meted out as Christians have condoned, endorsed punishment seems to appear very and even practised torture in various quickly in the pages of the Bible, forms against those they considered exacted by God himself, who curses the enemy. That the Old testament Eve as she has eaten from the Tree of contains several passages endorsing Knowledge. “To the woman, He torture just does not help. And yet said, 'I will greatly multiply your understanding what the Bible pain in childbirth. In pain you shall teaches us about torture is important bring forth children; yet your desire as torture is certainly not an obscure shall be for your husband and he medieval phenomenon. In fact, in shall rule over you'” (Genesis 2:16). many parts of the world, it may be As understood by the early Hebrews, our brothers and sisters in Christ who physical pain would have been just may be enduring torture. In some one small part of the curse. One other parts of the world, Christians psychological component of the could be inflicting it. curse was recurring cycles of fear and doubt for a woman. Important There's a reason that sincere church fathers saw this kind of Christians since days long gone, can misery and death as right and proper, turn to torture when it suits their because of Eve's sin and the role God purposes and then casually sustain had set for women. that they are on the side of God. The

63  June 2020/AIM In the New Testament, pressures of around this is to invent a false Jesus torture appear frequently as who supports the use of torture. apparatuses of persuasion. The book Those who argue for the use of of Matthew puts these words into the torture do so because they are mouth of Jesus: “If your hand or your convinced it is pragmatic for all foot causes you to stumble, cut it off kinds of reasons. But Christians are and throw it away. It is better for you not called to be pragmatists or even to enter life maimed or crippled than safe. Christians are called by Jesus to to have two hands or two feet and be imitate a God who is kind and thrown into eternal fire. And if your merciful to the wicked “Love your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it enemies! Do good to them.…and out and throw it away. It is better for you will be children of the Most you to enter life with one eye than to High; for he is kind to those who are have two eyes and be thrown into the unthankful and wicked. Be fire of hell” (Matthew 18:8-9). Later, compassionate, just as your Father is Jesus tells the tale of the unforgiving compassionate.” –Jesus (Luke 6:35, servant to show how God will treat 36) such hard people. So, yes, these associations are available. But, all Those who identify themselves as said and done, one cannot be Christian are disciples of one who Christian and believe in torture. was tortured and killed by a There is no leeway of a concession superpower completely devoted to here. The backing of torture as an its own security. The Roman instrument to attain one's objectives governor Pilate sentenced Jesus to is not available to a Christian. torture and execution by acting in the interests of the Roman Empire. The I suppose one can be some version of Empire could not accept a Galilean a “nationalist” and support the use of preacher claiming to be the King of torture, but one cannot be any kind of the Jews. Rome called it rebellion Christian and support torture. One and the punishment was crucifixion. does not have to be a Christian to So, Jesus was tortured to death. But reject the brutality of torture, one when Jesus was resurrected on the simply needs to be a humane person. third day, Jesus and his message of But to be a Christian unquestionably enemy-love and radical forgiveness entails us to reject the use of torture. were vindicated. Torture does not Any thinking person, whatever be lead to freedom and security. Torture their religion or belief, knows that is demonic and it leads to hell. Jesus one cannot support torturing people was an object of torture. He was and still claim to be a follower of the tortured till He died. But Jesus did one who commanded his disciples to not only die on a cross, he urged his love their enemies. The only way followers to take up their own

64  June 2020/AIM personal cross and come after him! personal and institutional costs. Why does Jesus ask his followers to There are, of course, important carry an instrument of torture? Of differences between now and then, course not! but our charge as followers of Jesus is the same: to call the evil out. The The relentless enemy of the realm of importance of being known by the Christ is empire, and the ultimate nonviolent Jesus! He wants to live in fixation of empire is security. relationship with us. He calls us to Empires constantly defend their use p r a c t i c e h i s t e a c h i n g s o f of torture in the national interest in nonviolence, and so to root our lives the appellation of security. in him through prayer and action. Christians however have no Just as he lives and dies in entitlement to security. We are relationship with his beloved God as unsafe in this world. We have he walks the narrow path, he wants embraced this risk of following us to live in intimate relationship Jesus, knowing fully that such an with him, dwell in his peace, and endeavour may lead to woe and follow in his footsteps, and so, to do anguish. For three hundred years till God's will, to do good, avoid evil, Constantine, everyone knew that it make peace, resist war, practice was risky to be a Christian, and so all nonviolence and disarm the world's knew what it was to be a Christian. violence. Then Christendom was born and suddenly Jesus was Lord, at least in name. This marked the demotion of Christianity to the dominion of empire. Also, this was an effort to create a risk-free Christianity. And it was a “success.” But it came at a 'fee'. The price was that no one quite knew anymore what it meant to be a Christian.

In the 1930s, during the upsurge of the Nazis to authority when the German national church was loyal to Dr. Shantanu Dutta National Socialism, Martin a former Air Force Doctor serves Niemöller, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and as Senior Specialist, Thought others fashioned the Confessing L e a d e r s h i p I n i t i a t i v e s , Church, trusting that it was their International Justice Mission. He obligation as followers of Jesus to c a n b e r e a c h e d a t call the evil out, in spite of huge [email protected]

65  June 2020/AIM He loves the foreigner residing among you

Mr. Jude Simeon

Worldwide, nearly 31 million of our God. Throughout the Bible, children have been driven from their God is identified as the God who homes due to conflict, violence and cares for displaced people. other forms of harm. With the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, He defends the cause of the the needs of refugees, especially fatherless and the widow, and loves children, have become even more the foreigner residing among you, severe. Many displaced children giving them food and clothing. experience unbelievable hardships Deuteronomy 10:18 NIV as they are forced to flee their homes, often leaving family members Aaqila was 8-years-old when she behind, in search of safety and was forced by the war and fear of security. persecution from suburban Kabul in Afghanistan to live exiled with her There is no question about the family in Delhi, India. Without legal Christian response to forcibly status, Aaqila struggled through displaced people. The Church is domestic cleaning shifts with her called to be a place of welcome. mother for low wages. Persecution From the Book of Genesis right and discrimination drove her family through to Revelation, the story of away from their homeland. They God's people relates to exile, have now spent five years in Delhi, s u f f e r i n g o p p r e s s i o n a n d without any possibilities of persecution in foreign lands. The permanent resettling anywhere else. story of Exodus, from slavery in Neighbours who once welcomed Egypt to the journey towards the them have become weary of them, Promised Land revealed the nature and some have become very hostile

66  June 2020/AIM towards them knowing their The refugee is a term commonly conversion to Christianity. used as a synonym for any displaced people. The term "refugees" refers With local church support, she specifically to a legally recognized continued her secondary education. status that has access to specific legal However, when I met them in 2017, I protections under the 1951 United understood that she would no longer Nations Refugee Convention. A be able to study due to her refugee refugee is a classification for status and financial hardships. Thus someone who is forced to flee their she would not be able to enrol for any country of origin due to conflict, further education. violence, or persecution. They are unwilling or unable to return based I think about them in this lockdown - on a demonstrable threat due to their - how the family will survive without race, religion, political stance, or any work, without welfare social status. assistance. The family survived on Aaqila and her mother being the sole Forcible displacement refers to breadwinners. individuals who were forcibly displaced as a result of persecution, We talk about refugees and build our conflict, violence, or human rights perceptions based on their identity violations; including refugees, and what the media reports. These asylum seekers and internally negative and narrow views have displaced persons. UNHCR's resulted in children like Aaqila annual Global Trends Report shows experiencing discrimination, that nearly 70.8 million people were isolation and an uncertain future, displaced by the end of 2018. forcing insecurity in their own neighbourhoods. Forcibly Displaced People in India During the August-December 2008 People fleeing for safety is a growing violence in Kandhamal district, concern, beyond the legal status of 54,000 people were left homeless refugees! and as a result became Internally Displaced People (IDP). Soon after Understanding Refugees and the persecution, many children were Forcible Displacement trafficked to Noida where they were It is essential to understand the sexually abused and forced into difference between refugees and prostitution. Many were taken to forcible displacements. Unless we South India to be educated in know the difference, we will never institutions hundreds of kilometres be able to grasp the situation. away from their families, and many

67  June 2020/AIM more were forced into the informal The global context for Forcibly labour force at a very young age. Displaced People

The forcible displacement in At least 70.8 million people around Kandhamal is just the tip of the the world have been forcibly iceberg. India doesn't know how displaced. Among them, nearly 31 many IDPs are there in the country. million are children and have been Internal Displacement Monitoring forcibly displaced at the end of 2018. Centre's Global overview suggested Less than 25% of refugee children around 853,900 people were get the opportunity to attend displaced by violence within India secondary school. (2015). Maoist and other communal insurgencies have displaced Two-thirds of the global refugees thousands of people across many come from just five countries -- states. Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar and Somalia. Nearly 85% Nearly 100,000 Sri Lankan forcibly of the refugee population is hosted displaced people live in India. They by developing countries like fled during the civil war, many with Turkey, Pakistan, Uganda, Sudan no place to return to. Almost 25,000 and Lebanon. children were born in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu. According to the World Food Programme, including the forcibly Tibetans, Sri Lankan (Tamil) and displaced population, about 265 Bangladeshi (Chakmas) are directly million people around the world will under the protection of the Indian be facing acute hunger by the end of government. As India is not a this year. With the COVID 19 signatory to the 1951 UN pandemic, countries have closed Convention Relating to the Status of their borders to non-nationals, and Refugees or the 1967 Protocol and many governments have imposed the country or UNHCR does not restrictions on refugees' movement have formal national refugee within and outside the refugee protection or integration plan in camps. place. Christian Response India also hosts around 41,000 Christ's story continued to uphold refugees and asylum seekers our call to be with the oppressed, registered with UNHCR. Rohingya persecuted and downtrodden. Mary and Afghan refugees are the largest and Joseph were forced to take Jesus registered under UNHCR's mandate. and hide in Egypt as Herod was

68  June 2020/AIM looking to kill Jesus. What does this (RHP) call on churches to raise story mean to say to us? Jesus is the awareness of and pray for the Son of God with all the authority of situation of refugees on World God his Father became forcibly Refugee Sunday (WRS) on June 14 displaced! or 21 – the Sundays before and after For Christians in India, reaching out the United Nation's World Refugee to the strangers in our context of Day. persecution in the midst of the coronavirus lockdown is becoming Displaced people all over the world increasingly difficult. Sometimes, are at heightened risk as the we are confused or do not know how coronavirus pandemic spreads. to respond to strangers (displaced Countries have tightened their people). For I was hungry and you borders, which has restricted the gave me something to eat, I was refugee resettlements. Displaced thirsty and you gave me something people are potentially at increased to drink, I was a stranger and you risk of contracting diseases, invited me in.( Matthew 25:35) including COVID-19, because they live in overcrowded conditions The current situation may feel without access to basic sanitation. overwhelming. We may not know how to respond. As individuals and To find out more about World churches, we can take time to pray Refugee Sunday, please visit and reflect on God's perspective on refugeehighway.net forcibly displaced people. We could reach out to those forced to flee. Your Refugee Highway Partnership kindness can make a difference.

The Bible says it is our privilege as Christians to welcome strangers, for by doing so, we may unknowingly have entertained angels. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 Mr. Jude Simeon is the CEO of BREAD AUSTRALIA. World Refugee Sunday He serves as a global facilitator of Annually, the World Evangelical the Refugee Highway Partnership Alliance (WEA) together with the and the Chairperson of the WEA Refugee Highway Partnership Refugee Task Force.

69  June 2020/AIM Father's Day! Being a Father Without Excuse or Shame! Luke 15: 11-32 Mr. Hansraj Jain

Not, too long ago when crisis hit a fact, every time crisis hits our friend. He is a wonderful, hard memories trudge down the lane where working, sincere and a godly father. buried events and they in turn threaten He went through the dumps. As a to engulf us with self-pity. consequence of his experience, he wrongly concluded that he was a Fatherhood is a great joy. It is also a failure as a father. He also believed great challenge. No one, except God, that he had lived the lie of being a is a perfect father. That, however, is conscientious father who had tried to not license to stop us from attempting be a model father to his children. Now to be a 'perfect' human father! he wasn't so sure. For us Christian there is a Biblical "It's not your fault. Your kid is an adult map, guideline, pattern, directive, and made a choice - a lousy one, no prototype or pathway for seeker doubt. But then, do they not have the f a t h e r s . T h e s e i n s t r u m e n t s freedom to make a mistake? So, how demonstrate to us just how we might can you conclude that your child's enjoy being fathers to our children. wrong doing is your fault and blame yourself his failing and judge and We share here with you one of the pronounce a sentence of a failed and a couple of portraits available to us lousy father?" fathers in the Bible. We hope that it would provide a wonderful example A lot of us can identify with the above on how to deal with our warped experience especially when crisis notions, biased and narrow comes knocking the door. Everyone's perspective, anger and stress, feelings life is filled with struggles, negative of failure that are often coupled with a feelings, and melancholic moods. In sense of guilt plus a store house of

70  June 2020/AIM painful memories that linger on in That's how he had reared them. He did spite of the passage of time. not feel the need to enforce his will —unlike most parents in India still do. Read with us about the father (not just the son or the sons) in Luke fifteen (see Some would call this as control free reference above!) deliberately. As you living = `freedom'. The youngest read, please take a special note of the turned out to be a spoilt brat, as some 'Father' in the story. If possible, put would quickly point out. Some of us yourself in the shoes of this father would even ask if the father would whom Luke presents and allow your dare to practice the same "philosophy" thoughts and feelings to surface as you that he did with the boys if they were read the narrative. Allow yourself to girls or if one of them were a girl? This 'feel' the emotions as they surface. raises larger issues for all fathers (or would be fathers). Those issues Surprised? include.... Luke's story is actually very powerful. It brings to surface issues that we Are we consistent Fathers? would normally either push them aside Luke does not present us with any or ignore. Yet, the narrative degree of inconsistency in the Father. demonstrates to us how we might Neither does Luke portray Father's manage and maintain sanity in the face behaviour, treatment, and display of of relationship challenges as Fathers. favouritism for either of the boys irrespective of their hierarchy. In fact, Father's Reality & Truths: the conclusion one could draw from The Father in Luke's Gospel narrative the narrative is that if the boys were was blessed with two sons. As Indians, girls or if they were a boy and a girl, he we know how our culture views those would have remained true to his who have boys born to them. There are `world view' and life-style as he reared 'cruel' jokes about them that tease. Yet his two boys into adulthood. these jokes seldom attach feelings of 'shame'. Ours is, by and large, a Is Luke's Father ahead of his time? Or `shame' culture. better still, is he a father who is willing to live out his values in the midst of Then, there is the vital fact about this conflicting cultural and social father that he was a wealthy land perspectives because he believed in owning gentleman. And his boys knew what he practiced. It would be easy to what it meant to be rich and to live it up play the judge here. Yet, the fact — at least one of the boys did. The remains that this father remained other was a 'poor fellow'. Misers often consistent because he was convinced are self-deprived! of his choice and method in rearing his children. The other interesting fact about the father is that he allowed his boys to be Are We confident Fathers? 'men' once they attained adulthood. Father's confidence in bringing up the boys the way he did speaks volumes. the family. He wants the whole world First fact to note is that the boys grew to know. And there is no feeling of up making decisions — good with the shame or room for 'subdued' and bad. Secondly, failure was permitted muffled rejoicing. He is an amazing and was given room alongside space father! for self-correction, repentance, reconciliation, and acceptance. Here is Finally, this father is a patient man. His a father who refused to write off eldest had a long way to go grow up to people. Third, the father demonstrates be like his father. Like so many, the son to us how he is willing to face tough did not appreciate the fact that he had times, yet live with hope. This father an amazing dad at home. His poor self- believed that experience is a great w o r t h b l i n d e d h i m t o t h e teacher. He is also convinced that God demonstration on display right before never fails nor does God go into guilt his eyes. Sadly, he chose his angry trips when His children make bad emotions over power his head and choices, walk out on Him, throw heart. Unfortunately, this is a common blame in His face and then sulk. and prevalent reality around us. We let our egos, stubbornness non- This father also refuses to buckle graciousness to rule our lives with under such pressures. He also refuses horrendous results. to let pride, face-saving egotism and display of anger and disappointment Conclusion: dictate his response. Instead, we have Fatherhood in 21" Century continues a father who chooses to express to be a challenge. Thank God that He generosity, gregariousness, extend has not left us without example, grace by coupling it with forgiveness, advice, and wisdom to be effective hear and trust and receive and accept at fathers to our children! face value the words spoken by the `home-coming' of his 'rotted' son. This father refuses to seek for proof, lay down terms and conditions, put in place future code of behavior claim- rights prior to allow return and give acceptance. Instead he keeps status quo when he hugs the boy and orders the servants to, "Bring clothes, gold ring and a chain, shoes, declares "this, my son...".

Is there a character flaw in this father? Perhaps there is a glaring one! This father is a partying man! He loves to Mr. Hansraj Jain celebrate with no-holds-bar especially is the Managing Director of when "resurrection" has happened in Inheritors, Nagpur

72  June 2020/AIM Seeking a Lead Pastor for Delhi Bible Fellowship (DBF), New Delhi

Delhi Bible Fellowship (DBF) is a non-denominational, evangelical church, started in the year 1969 and currently having 9 lead congregations and 30 weekly services across the National Capital Region (NCR).

DBF seeks a Lead Pastor, whom God has called, to lead one of its English congregations located in Central Delhi. This congregation is a unique, vibrant and growing congregation that focuses on youth and families, and draws people from all walks of life. This is one of the oldest congregations having a multi-generational and multi-cultural members of 300+ people from many different nationalities.

DBF seeks a full-time Lead Pastor who is led by the Holy Spirit to help grow this congregation both spiritually and numerically, to minister to the changing needs of the congregation and community, and to lead them into God's perfect plans for the church.

The applicant should have strong skills in leadership, communication, discipleship, evangelism, teaching, be a team player, be able to work with the other pastors and staff of the congregation and be a dynamic visionary to lead the church into the future. The applicant must be an Indian citizen or PIO/OCI card holder, have a M.Div or BD and desirably have at least 8 years of relevant ministry experience.

Interested and suitable candidates are requested to send their detailed resume on email ID ([email protected]) by 31st July 2020

Chairman - Search Committee Delhi Bible Fellowship 22, BhaiVeer Singh Marg New Delhi – 110 001 Phone: 011-23360944 74  June 2020/AIM Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences (U.P. State Act State Act No. 35 of 2016, as passed by the Uttar Pradesh Legislature) Department for Advanced Theological Studies Invites Application for Ph.D. in Christian Studies

SHUATS is now accepting through its Departmentfor Advanced Theological Studies (DATS) applications for Ph.D. programme in Christian Studies (Six Semester).

This programme is offered in a compressed semester format and will allow qualified candidates to pursue research while maintaining tenure in their respective institutions.

Eligibility Criteria:

University Master's level qualification in any discipline with some theological background. OR Candidates having a Bachelor degree in any discipline from a recognized university with a theological degree from a reputed seminary can be enrolled in the third semester (Second Year) of MA Christian Studies offered by Faculty of Theology SHUATS before entering to PhD programme.

Cost of the Programme:

M.A. Christian Studies – Rs. 8,500/- per semester Ph.D. Christian Studies -Rs. 36,000/- per semester

Last date of the submission of the form is 15th August, 2020.

Interview, Entrance Exam & Orientation will be held onWednesday the 26thAugust, 2020.

The application forms can be downloaded from the SHUATS website http://shuats.edu.in/forms/phd_christian_studiesnew.pdf

For further information you may contact: Head Department for Advanced Theological Studies, Faculty of Theology SHUATS, - Naini, Allahabad-211007, U.P., India. Contact: 0532-2684507, 9621317282 Email ID:[email protected]@gmail.com http://shuats.edu.in/coll_cats.asp

75  June 2020/AIM Intercessory

June 2020 Points

1 MONDAY Thank God for His for their environment and will actively protection over us throughout the engage in the protection of our earth. month of May. Thank God for those who have stepped up to help the needy 6 SATURDAY Pray that Covid19 and the poor. Thank God for those who spread would stop. Pray for healing sacrificially gave themselves for the and full restoration for those who are sake of others in this difficult time. suffering from this virus. Pray for Thank Him for all the things He has healthcare professionals and medical done for us. fraternity that God would protect them and help them to lovingly serve the 2 TUESDAY Pray for those who are in sick people. authority to make decisions out of love. Pray that God may give them 7 SUNDAY World Food Safety Day. wisdom and compassion as they Food and food safety are highly handle various things during this important for our livelihood. This day pandemic. is celebrated to make people aware of the harmful consequences of 3 WEDNESDAY Pray for migrant contaminated food and water. Pray for workers, students and those working in awareness. Pray for eradication of private sectors who are desperate to go diseases like food poisoning and home during this pandemic that God jaundice etc. Pray also that every would provide a way for them to reach individual would have enough food to home safely. survive.

4 THURSDAY Pray for the Board of 8 MONDAY Pray for children at risk. Christian Community Church, During this pandemic, we saw a lot of Chattisgarh. Pray that they may stand children suffering as they walked long strong amidst trials and hardships and distances with their parents. be a strong model to the believers in the Trafficking has also increased. Pray state. that God would hear our cry for help and keep the children safe and 5 FR I D AY To d ay i s Wo r ld provided. Environment Day. Pray that everyone around the world will take ownership 9 TUESDAY Pray for the Voice of

76  June 2020/AIM Christians Evangelical Church, 15 MONDAY World Elder Abuse Punjab. Pray that as they witness Awareness Day.Pray for elder people Christ in market places and teach, in your community. Pray that we may preach God's Word and serve the be kind, loving and caring towards people with healing ministry that God them in our homes or communities. would get all the glory and everything Pray for old aged homes to lovingly that they do would bring good to the take care of them. Pray that each elder people. would live a dignified life till the end of their lives. 10 WEDNESDAY Pray for Vongzawl Presbytery (PCI) in Assam. Pray for 16 TUESDAY Pray for Tribals H o l y S p i r i t ' s g u i d a n c e a n d Transformation India, Karnataka. TTI intervention as they serve the church. is committed to share the Good News and to bring wholeness to the 11 THURSDAY Pray for Utilize community. Pray that the ministry People's Potential Action for would effectively evangelize, plant H u m a n i t i e s a n d R e s e a r c h churches, train leaders and work for (UPPAHAR) at Andhra Pradesh. Pray community development. that God would use this ministry as his instrument to touch many lives. 17 WEDNESDAY Pray for the Pocket Testament League, Uttar Pradesh. Pray 12 FRIDAY Today is World's day that through them, God would reach against child labour. Child Labour is a out to many unreached people in North major area of concern so as to spread India and Nepal. Pray for their new awareness about this heinous crime. believers' discipleship training to be Pray for people who are working to simple, meaningful and effective. Pray eradicate child labour. Pray for for strength and renewed commitment awareness. Pray also that every child to serve God. would enjoy their childhood and be able to pursue their dreams. 18 THURSDAY Pray for the Union Church Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. Pray 13 SATURDAY Pray for the Church that every person whom the Lord of the Four Square, Karnataka. Pray for brought to this church may feel their ministry that involves church welcomed and comfortable. Pray for planting, short term training, women, the sweet fellowship of the members of youth and children ministries. Pray this church that many new people that the Lord will multiply their work. would be drawn to them and to God.

14 SUNDAY Pray that God would 19 FRIDAY Pray for the Wesleyan sustain your local church despite social Church, Gujarat. Pray that God may distancing. Pray that hearts would enable and equip them to share God's grow fonder for Him and for fellow extravagant love with people. Pray that believers. Pray that God's Word would people who come in contact with them be freely and abundantly shared. would experience life in Jesus Christ with them and join their celebration.

77  June 2020/AIM 20 SATURDAY Today is World be faithful followers and witnesses of Refugee day. World Refugee Day Christ in their culture. commemorates the obstacles refugees face each year, while also celebrating 26 FRIDAY International Day against their courage and strength. Pray that Illicit Trafficking. Pray for awareness. together, we can work to end the Pray for those who are working refugee crisis and find homes for towards eradication of trafficking. displaced peoples worldwide. Pray Pray that people would join hands and that they would encounter Christ in fight against this social evil and win their deepest needs. over it. Pray today also for victims of torture that God would strengthen 21 SUNDAY Today is Fathers' Day. them and restore them in all areas of Thank God for your godly father who their lives. taught you the ways of God. Pray for all the fathers to take their role in a 27 SATURDAY Let us pray for family seriously and give their best to ourselves that our lives may be their families. transparent and highly commendable as Christ's return is near. Pray that we 22 MONDAY Pray for the Disciples of may fully give ourselves in the service Christ Church, Chattisgarh. Pray for of King Jesus and influence many lives love, mercy and goodness to overflow with His beauty. the members of this church. Pray that in everything, their conduct may be 28 SUNDAY Pray for all the pastors praise-worthy. who are teaching and preaching the Word of God today. With this 'new 23 TUESDAY Today is International normal', pray that all the pastors may Widows' Day. Pray for those whom be equipped and effectively serve the you know personally. Pray that they church. would be able to overcome challenges by trusting God. Pray that their hope 29 MONDAY Pray for Vatsalya would be in God and they would feel Ministry, Training & Development complete with God. Centre for Mentally Challenged at Gujarat. Pray for the staff in this 2 4 W E D N E S D AY P r a y f o r ministry to prayerfully train others UDHHAR Multipurpose Society, who would reach out the mentally Maharashtra. Pray that they would challenged people with love, concern faithfully and diligently work so that and care. they would be able to reach their goals. 30 TUESDAY Thank God for His 25 THURSDAY Pray for Zeliangrong sustaining grace upon us. Pray for Baptist Church, Manipur. Pray that the protection. Pray for those who have Lord would speak to them personally lost loved ones during this difficult through His Words and that they would time.

78  June 2020/AIM Obituary for Bishop Duraising James

Bishop Duraising James was promoted to glory on the 5th of May, 2020. Bishop James served the Evangelical Fellowship of India, as the CEEFI Secretary from 1991 to 2001, based in Hyderabad. During his tenure, he used to conduct CEEFI Sunday School Teachers training programmes. Bishop James was approachable and friendly. He guided and helped the Staff very lovingly. We missed him a lot after he resigned to return to his pastoral ministry. We praise God for the life of Bishop Duraising James. Bishop James is survived by his daughter, son-in-law, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.

May God comfort and strengthen his children and grandchildren.

79  June 2020/AIM RNI. Regd. No. 19728/70 / Postal Registration No. DL(S)-01/3241/2018–20 Licensed to post without prepayment at NDPSO New Delhi –110 002 / U(SE)–9/2018–20

Printed & Published by Mr. Vijayesh Lal, on behalf of EFI Publication Trust, 805/92 Deepali Building, Nehru Place, New Delhi - 110 019. Printed at Royal Press, B-82, Okhla Phase -1, New Delhi - 110 020. Editor Mr. Vijayesh Lal