ZTS BULLETIN

                            (A Publication of Zomi Theological Students)

ABOUT ZOMI THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS

The Zomi Theological Students is a non-denominational organisation which was established in May 2005. The need of such organisation was in the mind of some theological student studied in various part of India. They shared their burdens when they had seen the situation in Churachandpur, in particular. At the same time looking at other tribes who has got such kind of organisation viz, Moyon Theological Student Union, Zaliang Rong Theological Union, Tangkhul Theological Students and so on, motivates them to have such kind of organisation. So that through this organization everybody will be aware of what had happened to our brother and sisters who are studying God’s word, pray for each other. Motivates for ministry and so also through this organization we will be better know each other. Due to the lack of such kind of organization, we do not know what is the exact number of student enrolled for theology study. Therefore, we hope that through this organization we will better know each other.

There had been misunderstanding regarding the establishment of this organization. It is not founded for just to have a summer or practical ministry together by using this organization. It is more than that, as I have stated above. We are looking for the future generation, in guiding them to go to the right college, as we know there are lots of differences in the doctrine by different Colleges. Many are not aware of the doctrine and they had landed up in the wrong college. Therefore, it is our commitment to guide the next generation to point which college is Evangelical, Baptist and which is Ecumenical, as they are innocent regarding this area. At the same time, the term “ZOMI” becomes misinterpreted as “Paites” (Therefore this bulletin is published in English, not emphasizing any particular language). We are regretted of such kind of misinterpretation. When we meant “Zomi” it includes all the “ZO” or “ZOU” descendents. Some people have suggested the term “UNAU” so that it would mean wider to include all the tribes, who used the term “UNAU”. Whatsoever the term it may be, it all depend on how you and I understand the word “ZOMI”. At the same time we don’t have any hesitation to change into “UNAU”, if it would be more tolerable to others and if it would give a peaceful attitude to others.

            After years of desiring to have a union among the so-called theological students among the tribals in Churachandpur the first official Meeting cum Election Was held on 17^th May 2005, at Bungmual, Churachandpur, Manipur, in the presence

of Mr. KhamKhanChin, Lecturer in YCLT, Maharashtra. These are the present office bearer for 2005-2006 (See page 4).

            The inauguration of office was held on 22^nd. May 2005 at our office premises: “HOBSON’S COMPU- TECH” Muia veng, Central Lamka. Churachandpur, Manipur 795128.

            The organization was founded with the theme “Rescue the Perishing”. We interpreted the word “Perishing as spiritually and physically at/on the state of Perishing”. This has a great impact in the society and in the life of the people. Since the organization as at the beginning stage, with a humble beginning of around 30 members (“It is said that there are more than hundred theological students among the ZO or UNAU”). Therefore, it is the responsibility of each member to be remaining faithful and take initiative part for the cost of Christ. Also, if you are not a member, you can’t remain idle because this organization is for you and me.

            “Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” (I Cor.9:16). Therefore let us unite or hands in “Rescuing the Perishing”. Our friends are waiting, where the church kept silent, they were crying, who will come and rescue us?

May God bless you all!

In His service

Mr. T. Gousuanmang                 Dated: Kerala

Secretary, ZTS                The 23rd Sept. 2005

Editorial:

Greetings in the matchless name of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ!!

First of all, I would like to give all the glory and honor to our Heavenly father, who without any condition saves us and put us into His ministry.

It is my desire for a long time to publish this bulletin, but due to lack of communication it was not published. I thank God for giving us another chance to publish the first issue of this “ZTS Bulletin”. As our secretary has clearly stated about the history of ZTS, we do not blame to our early leaders who had gone before us not taking up such a responsibility.  But it is never too late. Therefore let us join together and build up our land. Bring peace to the enmity ethnic tribes and hope to the hopeless people.

As this organization is set up with members from different denominations. It is our aim and commitment to work together with the churches. 

It is my prayer that this organization will fulfill its main aims and objectives, and through this organization God’s kingdom will expand and established.

May God bless you.

Yours truly,

Lyanguite

Secy. Information and Publicity Dept.

ZTS.

SHOULD CHRISTIAN INVOLVE IN SOCIAL MINISTRY??

“Should we (Christian) involved in social activities?” You may have your own argument when you read the heading. I am not trying to propagate the Ecumenical/Liberal viewpoint, but what the Scriptures said about “Social activities”. There have been a long argument in the history of Christianity regarding this question, due to this reason; both the Evangelical and Ecumenical became so extreme in their stand. The Evangelical equates Evangelism as missions where the latter has a small or no space evangelism. The Evangelical did great work in helping the poor like institution, hospitals but they considered all those works as merely a “Sign-boards” or “Aids to Evangelism”

            When human kind (I would rather used humankind instead of human being, due to the rise of Feminists) fall in Genesis 3. God cursed not only human being, the created order- both nature and humanity- had been affected. Therefore, the Christian ministry or mission includes mending that broken relationship of humanity with God, with one another and with the creation. Even the creation are longing for the revealing of the sons of God (Rom.8: 19-22). Thus, Christian ministry has three dimensions- Redemptive, Liberative and Ecological. We are to involve in all the three aspect. In this post modern age’s people will ask a question whether we are to save the soul or to save the whole being of humankind. Mc Cants, a pastor for 14 years in New Covenant Baptist Church, once said, “You can’t tell a hungry man about Jesus until you give him something to eat”. This is very true especially in the Indian context. When the first Protestant missionary Zizenbalg came into India, he faced such type of situation. People didn’t have cloth to put on after they were baptized such in the situation of India even today.

IS CHRISTIAN SOCIAL MINISTRY SCRIPTURAL?

            We live in a cold and uncaring world, and those people whose coldness and lack of love can and does creep into the church, causing the church to become worldly- cold and uncaring. Many people also said that! Those kinds of people will take advantages of our generosity…sadly, this is very true: Some people will take advantages. After all, is not “Love” that most people take advantage of? Even our Lord experiences this when He fed the 5000, he commended because the crowd sought Him only because He had fed them (Jn.6: 26). However the bible doesn’t allows us to use this or anything else as an excuse for not ministering to the needy people.

            1. Jesus performed ministry to hunting people: During Jesus was on this earth, one thing we must noted is: Jesus, before He preached the kingdom of God. First of all, He earned/meet the need of the people at Cana. It can be truthfully said that Jesus was the first “Christian social minister director”. He feed the hungry people, heal the sick and even rise the dead.

            2. Jesus commanded us to minister to the hurting people: In John 13:15, as the days are becoming near, Jesus and his disciplines are gathering at the upper house. Washing his discipline’s feet and He said “I have given (set) an example for you to follow….” In Mark 10:45, it says, “the sons of man come not to be served, but to serve…..” So, we the followers of Jesus Christ are commanded to follow his footstep. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus taught that feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, ministering to the captive are not optional. As a matter of fact, this passage teaches that doing these things is doing for Jesus, and refusing to perform is refusing to minister to Jesus. How can Christian claim that they love their Lord and allow this to happen? Christian social ministry is not optional- it is commanded by Jesus himself.

            3.  Love demands that we minister to hunting people: Many times we heard people saying: The church main task is to evangelize, not to be a welfare agency. I don’t object it, but let us think how can the world believe that God loves them if they don’t see the love of God expressed in caring action by the church? The bible raises an important question. If anyone has material possession and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? (1 Jn. 3:17 NIV).

HOW CAN I PASS GREEK???

                It is not my fault, if I fail, because a year has only 365 days: -

1. Sunday- 52 days (they are meant for church).

2. Summer holiday- 60 days (weather is too hot to study).

3. 8 hours daily for sleeping- 120 days (balance 133 days).

4. 1 hour daily for playing- 15 days (playing is good for health).

5. 1 hour for talking to my friend- 15 days (men is a social being). Balance 103 days.

6. 1hour for eating (breakfast, lunch, dinner)-15 days (without food you can’t live). Balance 88 days.

7. 18 days for examination (both the Semester) - balance 70 days.

8. Kut, New Year, X’mas, holiday etc-30 days- balance 40 days.

9. For travelling 10 days (especially who are outside Manipur) - balance 30 days.

10. For illness at lest 5 days- balance 25 days.

11. Dressing, bathing, and other activities- 15 days- balance 10 days.

12. 5 days for sorrowing- balance 5 days.

13. For dreaming and fantasy, minimum 2 days- balance 3 days.

14. For magazines 2 days- balance 1 day.

15. At last, this day passes, thinking of what to study.

Now you tell me, is it my fault if I fail in my Greek, because a year has only 365 days?

ABSENT MINDEDNESS

            J. David Stress, publisher of the “New York Post”, was sometime accused of absent-mindedness. Once, as he hastened down the street, he was accosted by a friend who said, “Come, have lunch with me”.

            “All right”, he said, “If we go to some place nearby. I am already late”. They entered the restaurant close at hand, and as he ordered, Stern wondered what could be the matter with him for he said “I am not a bit hungry”.

            “I beg you pardon, sir”, the waiter said, “but you just finished lunch fine minute ago”.

KNOW YOUR WORLD

                * The world first iron bridge was built in coalbrookdale. Shropshire, England in 1782. It was the product of three generation of Darby’s. Abraham Darby I developed the use of coke, his son manufacture cast iron and his grandson built the bridge.

THE CHURCH PROBLEM TODAY

(From the editorial: Diluting the Gospel. Light of Life, Sept. 2005)

            We tell people a partial gospel: God’s saving grace, but not His righteous anger. We value people for their position or possessions. We promote God’s servants, instead of God. We are more bothered about God’s ability to perform miracles than His ability to save sinners. We enjoy healing ministry more than Bible studies.

            Jesus commanded us to be witness. This means for more than being quiet in church every Sunday morning or not using abusive words. We should be Christian 24 hrs a day wherever we are at home or at work. True Christianity is not a spectator sport, it is not to be sat out in church pews; it is to be lived out in the world. We are commissioned not only to preach the gospel, but also to live it out. How can we forget the fact that our neighbors judge Christ by what they see in us? They may never read the four gospels; but they read us all the time.

            For fear of losing members, we have watered down our message for too long. It is time the church becomes bold in its witness. Each members of the church should see to it that the leaven of sin is not growing in his or her life. If sin becomes known, the leaders must take steps to protect the spiritual welfare of the church. When a believer rejects the counsel and discipline of the church and continuous to in, he should be expelled. This is essential to maintain the integrity of the church before a watching world. “You shall be holy for I am holy” (1Peter 1:16). We must be a holy people (2 Chro. 2:15).

            Many church have become nothing more than Sunday morning social club, places where people go for their weekly inspirational fix, similar to physical fitness program. When Saul (Paul) saw Jesus on the road to Damascus, he asked: “Lord, what You want me to do?” He wants our works not our words. God calls each one of us to live according to His instructions. Our response will make all the difference in the world….