Glocal Leaders Network

Topic – India Newsletter- October 2009(Please send e-mail to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) 

Global Cities Initiative:  The conference is being held from 8-11 September in New York.  Over 300 delegates from 80 plus cities around the world would be participating in the conference.  Tim Keller, Luis Bush, Vishal Mangalwadi are some of the speakers.  J.N. Manokaran would be leading Break Out sessions on Urban Trends. 

 

Ministry Among Diaspora Peoples:  A special seminar would be held at Tyndale University College and Seminary, Toronto (Canada) on 22^nd September 2009.  The presentation would be done by J.N. Manokaran.

 

Oddanchatram School of Leadership:  From  9 to 13 November School of Leadership would be held in Missionary Upholders Trust Campus. 

 

Urban Pastors’ Conference:  Urban Pastors Conference  is being held from 17-19 November at Amaravati, Maharastra. 

 

Mission Educational Books:   Mission Educational Books is celebrating its 20^th  anniversary in October 2009.  Special discount prices books are offered to celebrate this occasion.  A compendium is planned to be released with 25 national leaders writing on important challenges of missions in 21^st Century.  Pastors’ conference is being planned in few places.  For more information, please contact: Rev. S.D. Ponraj This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

 

Urban Leaders Training:  TOPIC-India and Power To Change, Canada is planning to train few urban leaders for five days.  These leaders would be equipped to be involved in city wide ministries that would result in transformation.  Please pray the finalization of dates (September/October 2010).

 

Writers Vision Workshops:  Writers’ Vision Writers’ Workshop will be held at Akola  on 22^nd November 2009. 

Vision Workshop would be held on 5 December August in the city of Chennai.  This workshop is sponsored by Chennai Insights.  For more details please send:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 Friends

J.N.Manokaran

One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."  (Luke 5:17-26) Different kinds of friends 

One day one of my friends called.  We were discussing about a mutual friend.  He said, “I have not seen or spoken to Mr.….  for long.  Did you speak with him?”  I replied, “No.  I have not for long.”  He said, “You are good in keeping in touch with friends.  How come you did not speak with him?”  I thought for a moment and said, “There are two kinds of friends.  With some, if we even spend a minute, it delights us.  But, there are ‘depressive friends’.  You talk with them even for a minute you feel depressed.  They talk all negative things, experiences and pessimistic ideas.  This friend belongs to second category, so I avoid him.” 

 

Yes, some friends bring joy and gladness whenever we meet them.  There are some who talk only about their sufferings, sickness, and defeats and pull others spirits down. 

 Great to have friends 

It is great to have good friends, helpful friends.  It is true saying:  ‘Good friends are rare, take them with care.”  Being a friend is also a joyful experience.  There is a proverb in Tamil.  “Each man should have at least four faithful friends to carry him on his last journey on funeral pyre.”  How true is this proverb?

 Friends of paralytic 

In the passage from the bible we see the paralytic man had friends who helped him.  These friends brought the paralytic man to Lord Jesus Christ.  And this gesture gave the paralytic a new life. 

 1.      Affectionate friends

The friends of paralytic were very affectionate or loving.  It is interesting to note that they chose to be friends with a paralytic.  In those ancient days, a paralytic was not treated with dignity.  In many cultures they were abandoned to fend for themselves or die.  In some cultures they were treated as people punished by God because of past sins.  Even family members were ashamed about them.  But these friends were proud of their paralytic friend.  They considered every person created in the image of God.  So each person is sacred. 

 

They were sympathetic towards their friend.  He was paralytic and was not able to go out to meet others.  The sympathetic friends were available to spend time with him.  The friends discerned the needs of the paralytic friend and were willing to help him.  They were also sensitive to the aspirations of their paralytic friend.  His aspiration was to get back to normal life somehow, some time.  These friends were sincere, sticking with him in good time and bad times. 

 2.      Active friends

These friends were active, not passive.  They were not just wordy friends, i.e. who speak but do not act.  They were always exploring ways and means to help their friend.  They were thinking of impossible at that point of time.  There was no possible cure or known cure at that time.  In spite of that, they were willing to think outside the box.  They were people of faith, who could expect God to do mighty things. 

 3.      Creative friends

These friends were very creative.  They came to know about Lord Jesus Christ.  People all around were speaking about the ‘prophet’ who was doing miracles.  When they heard about Lord Jesus, they heard about Lord Jesus, their heart jumped with joy, mind filled with hope, imagination with the picture of paralytic walking and their spirit filled with faith.  They got all information about his whereabouts and they reached while he was preaching in a house.

 

But there was ‘no room’ message around the house.  It was impossible to get inside the house.  The crowd that was eagerly listening to the teaching of Lord Jesus could not be disturbed.  But, somehow, the paralytic man should be taken to Lord Jesus.  It was not easy task.  It was their responsibility to take him to Jesus.  They were able to think creatively.  The approaches from all directions were not possible.  Only possible way was from above.  That was labourious, risky and even expensive.  But, they will not leave any stone unturned to accomplish this. 

 Miracle Happens 

Lord Jesus was amazed to see the faith of the five friends.  Their faith was obvious, visible, expressed and demonstrated.  Lord Jesus gives the paralytic man double blessing: spiritual and physical.  Yes, his sins were forgiven and he was healed.  These four friends must have paid to see that the roof was rebuilt. 

 Challenge today 

Are we good friends?  God has called us to be true friends in the world.  Lord Jesus was called as ‘friends of sinners’.  It is essential for each Christian to make friends of people who are rejected, marginalized, de-humanized, deprived, desolate, rejected, lonely, sick, suffering, depressed.  Then they have to take them to Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

Taking to Lord Jesus Christ would be a creative endeavour.  Each person has to be led in a different way.  So, evangelism is always a creative task.  There could be no copycat missions or ministries.  In the gospels, only once this happened.  Thank God, otherwise, we would have had ‘Roof break” ministries.  When we prayerfully seek God’s guidance, He will provide us creative ways to lead people to Christ. 

 

Let us be creative friends, leading people to Christ.

  

 September 2009 – Family and Ministry Update 

Dear prayer partners,

 

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and your mails that help us to move forward.  

 Web recording in Chicago 

God enabled us to be in Chicago.  We stayed with Sagayaraj and Mary.  I was able to record four messages on missions, and Rosy was able to record her testimony and one message.  They also took us for a drive to see downtown and lake. 

 North Park Seminary 

We visited North Park seminary and visited Paul De Neui and his family.  We also discussed about the paper I have to present in January. 

 Reaching Indians Ministries International 

Then we were in Saji & Moni Lukos home.  They took us to an apple orchard and were able to pluck apples, eat and enjoy.  Then we visited Lake Geneva.  On 3^rd morning we visited the RIMI office. 

 New Jersey 

Then we came to New Jersey and we stayed in my cousin sister Vineta Livingstone home.  We fasted and prayed on 5^th September. 

 Global cities Initiative 

God enabled both of us to attend Global Cities Initiative for which about 400 leaders from over 90 cities around the world from 9-11 September.  I spoke in the breakout sessions on 9^th and 10^th afternoons on the subject:  “Global City Trends and Their Implications for Churches.”  Over 60 delegates attended on each day. 

 GUM network 

Global Urban ministries Network met at New York on 12 September.  God enabled me to participate in that.

 Urban Strategists Conference 

Steve Allen invited me to be a panelist on 14 September in the Urban Strategists Conference held at New York School of Urban Ministry.  I was one of the four panelists and there were about 30 leaders from as many cities in North America. 

Power to Change 

It was good meeting with Jerry Chee, one of the leaders of Power To Change.  We discussed about training urban leaders of India/South Asia next year. 

 Royal Ontario Museum 

Rosy and I visited the home of Sarah and her daughter Ria and spent time in prayer.  On 19^th we visited the museum, which displayed rare Dead Sea Scrolls (temporary display until 10 January 2010).  It was amazing to see how God has preserved his Word throughout generations.  Manuscript having these passages Psalm 102:26-29; 103:1-3; Genesis 39:11-21 and Daniel 2:19-27; were displayed. 

 Richmond Hill Chinese Baptist Church 

Rev. Dr. Francis Mpindu, invited me to speak in the mission conference of Richmond Hill Chinese Baptist Church.  I spoke on two Sundays (20 and 27) in the English worship service and on 27^th in the Cantonese worship service.  God enabled me to speak to the leaders of this church on Friday (25) and in the mission banquet on Saturday (26).  

 Tyndale University 

Robert Cousins, Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre of Tyndale University & Seminary organized a special seminar on 22 September with the theme: Ministry Among Diaspora People.  It was well attended by leaders from the city and also by some students. 

 Living Word Missionary Church 

Pastor Yoga Thomas invited me to speak to their leaders on 23 (Wednesday) where I taught them the skill to read and mediate the Scriptures.  The chief pastor of this church denomination was also here.  Rev. Daniel Navakumar has invited me to teach in other churches of this denomination in Europe next year. 

 Live Springs Fellowship 

Pastor Alvin Koh invited me to speak in the Live Springs Fellowship on 27 September Sunday, 3 PM.  This church believes in city transformation and is geared up to transform the city of Toronto. 

 Visit to Niagara Falls 

Rosy and I were able to visit to Niagara Falls on 24 September.  It was a wonderful sight of God’s magnificent creation.

 Bencey David & Latha 

Visited the home of Bencey David and Latha and had time of fellowship on 26 September. 

 Mission GTA 

We had lunch meeting with Hany Boghossian, Chairman of Mission Greater Toronto Area on 28 on our way to airport.  At the airport we had a surprise; our tickets were upgraded to business class up to Brussels.  We reached home on 30^th early morning. 

 Hosanna and Thambos 

Hosanna and Thambos are doing well.  They managed by themselves during our absence.  Hosanna’s health is better and should be normal.  Her x-ray shows that there is only mild symptom in the lungs.  We hope that it would be cured completely in the next few days.

 Chennai Insights 

Chennai Insights is a new magazine being launched for the city of Chennai on 9^th October.  The editorial board meeting was held on 30 with Ramanathan and Rajkumar. 

 

Please visit the website:  http://glocalleadersnetwork.com/main/

 

Yours in His Vineyard,

J.N. Manokaran

 Upcoming schedule 

3          Oct                  Operation Harvest, Chennai

9          Oct                  Chennai Transformation Network leaders meeting

9          Oct                  Release of “Chennai Insights” magazine

13-16   Oct                  All India Congress on Church and Mission, Hyderabad

20-22   Oct                  Mission Maharastra, Kolhapur

23        Oct                  Mission India Board Meeting, Nagpur

 

1-4       Nov                 Ethne Consultation????

7-12     Nov                 BGU, Urban Consultation, Chennai

9-13     Nov                 School of Leadership, Oddanchatram

17-21   Nov                 Akola transformation seminars

26-27   Nov                 Allahabad Bible Seminary, Allahabad

 

3-5       Dec                  Mission Educational Books, 20 years anniversary

6-8       Dec                  Chennai Pastors’s Mission Conference

 2010 

12-15   January            SEANET, Thailand

18-22   January            School of Leadership, Bangkok, Thailand

24-26   January            Cochin

 

1-3       February          TOPIC Trainers, Mentors and Coaches conference, Dimapur

2-6       March              APCOD 2010 – Chennai/Delhi

15-21   March              Chicago

 

4-11     April                London, Living Word Missionary Church

10-13   April                CFCC, Bangalore, Contemporary Missions

 

5-7       May                 Colombo, GLOMOS

13-15   May                 Kolkata, GLOMOS

17-19   May                 Kalimpong, GLOMOS

24-28   May                 Summer School of Leadership, Chennai

 

12-14   August                        CFCC, Bangalore

 

16-25   Oct                  Third Lausanne Congress, Cape Town, South Africa

29 Nov-

5          December        Centre For Contemporary Christianity, M.Th. Classes

 Ten Commandments for Families

J.N. Manokaran

The Ten Commandments were given to the children of Israel, which was covenant between Israel and Yahweh.  The covenant relationship had the Ten Commandments as binding code of conduct.  Since, marriage is also covenant between a man and a woman, who become husband and wife;; these commandments could be applied for both the spouse.  These principles could help Christian families to excel in relationship and bring glory to God.

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  "You shall have no other gods before me.  "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,  but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.  "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.  "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work,  but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.  For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.  "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.  "You shall not murder.  "You shall not commit adultery.  "You shall not steal.  "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.  "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."  (Exodus 20:2-17)

God loves to bless each and every family in the world.  God also likes to use each and every Christian family as His instruments for the world.  The ten principles for successful, productive, God honouring and God glorifying marriage are detailed below:

1.      Primary, supreme and exclusive loyalty to spouse

The first principle in the marriage is primary, supreme and exclusive loyalty to the spouse.  And this place is reserved and privileged for the spouse alone.  All other persons in the world cannot be compared or equated with that of the spouse.  It is a unique dignified exalted status a spouse enjoys from the married partner.  There can never be compromise in this aspect.  There are few men who give mother this position and relegate the wife to a secondary position.  There are few women who give their father an exalted status and relegate the husband to a secondary place.  This is sin against God and the spouse. 

2.      Faithfulness, truthfulness – no substitutes

Israelites were not allowed to make pseudo or substitute gods.  They were called to be faithful to Yahweh.  Similarly, as husband and wife, they are created to be faithful to one another.  Any extra-marital affairs and fantasy thoughts are violation of this principle.  Pornography, playing with sex toys and cyber pornography are substitutes that is abomination in the sight of the Lord.

3.      Honouring and giving dignity and affirmation to spouse in public and private

Israelites cannot take the name of God in vain.  The Name is sacred and cannot be used casually with inferior motives and intentions.  Giving honour in the public for spouse is very important.  Some do not like their spouse to accompany them, as they think the spouse is below their dignity.  One woman would ask her husband to drop her at a distance from her office, as she did not want to be identified with her husband, as in her opinion he was not looking so good and earning much.  Many men also mistreat their wives, by not allowing them to accompany them in the public sphere.  The self respect and dignity of the spouse should be respected, guarded and affirmed both in private and public. 

4.      Facilitate adequate time to rest and relax for my spouse.

Both need to work hard, and at the same time have enough rest and relax.  It is common for Indian woman to work eight hours outside home, then work at home cooking and taking care of children.  Husbands do not help their wives at home.  In fact, women work more hours than a man which is shame for men.  But, they think, doing house hold work is shame or below their dignity.  Allowing spouse to adequate rest, creating opportunities to relax, planning to take spouse out, and creating opportunities to purse his/her hobbies are important. 

5.      Healthy relationships with parents, parents-in-laws and other relatives.

By biblical definition, marriage is companionship and partnership between a man and a woman.  It is not alliance between families or business houses and political dynasties.  Some families want their children to be married within the circle of their relatives to retain the clout or influence or wealth within the family.  But, that is not the purpose of a family.  Some like to establish business partnership by having marital relationship.  This violates the sacred relationship of a husband and wife.  Solomon married women as strategy for foreign diplomacy, which ended his spiritual relationship with the Lord.  Many marriages are destroyed by parents-in-laws rather than misunderstanding between the spouses.  Unhealthy and unwarranted criticism of parents-in-laws and unlawful interference of parents-in-law can bring stress in family life. 

6.      No hatred, No unforgiving anger, No destructive anger, No envy, No uncontrolled emotions

Murder is the expression of uncontrollable emotions triggered by hatred or anger or envy.  Some men are not able to tolerate the growth of their wives in their respective profession.  One woman lawyer was killed by her lawyer but not a loyal husband because of professional envy.  Marriage relationship is not power play, with the goal of discovering who wins.  It is a united effort to build the family, to nurture children and bring glory to God.  Many young women are victims of greedy men and their families – dowry deaths.  When wives do not bring huge dowry before marriage and continuously bring money in, they are hated and harassed.  Any form of violence against spouse is suicidal and dishonouring God. 

7.      Sexual faithfulness in physical life as well as thought life

Husband and wife should have close physical relationship.  Healthy sexual relationship is a must for dynamic couples.  Depriving one other of this, is not good.  God has provided this gift for intimate relationship, emotional stability, pleasure and fulfillment.  Lord Jesus Christ has warned about ‘thought adultery’.  (Matthew 5:27,28)  Pornography is also a kind of ‘thought adultery’.

8.      Community of property with room or gift for privacy

As couples, most of the things become common, but with respect for other person’s privacy.  There could be some things or aspects a spouse would like to keep it for themselves, which is perfectly alright.  Trying to provoke the other by trespassing into those exclusive areas is being mean to the spouse.  Selfishness has to be replaced by sensitivity and sacrifice. 

9.      Truthful and transparent communication

The communication between husband and wife should be truthful and transparent.  They should be able to share their fears and feelings without being condemned or judged.  That would provide the sense of security, belonging and self worth.  The level of trust, will increase the level of comfort between the spouses.  That would provide channels for open communication.  The transparency level should be high, may be 90 per cent or more. 

10.  Contentment: No greediness or covetousness.

Enjoying life with his wife (Eccl 9:9) is a blessing God provides for a husband.  And they should learn to be content with all the blessing God provides.  Being thankful for God’s provisions and managing their family within their income, and also helping those who are poorer than them is very important.  Godliness with contentment is great gain.  (I Timothy 6:6)

Challenge

The Ten principles for healthy marriage should be strictly followed in letter and spirit to experience heaven on earth.  Violating these principles is self-destructive and could break families.  As Ten Commandments are not multiple options to choose from, these Ten Principles are also not choice from multiple options.

      

Global Urban Vision – October 2009

(Compiled and Published by J.N. Manokaran  ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) on behalf of Glocal Resources Development Associates)

 

I           India

 

1. Number of urban poor to rise by 11% in state: The downturn and price rise seem to be pushing more people towards poverty in urban areas, especially in Maharashtra, compared to the last financial year. The number of urban poor in the state is expected to go up from 1.31 crore to 1.46 crore by March-end next year, a rise of nearly 15 lakh, or 11.3%, in 2009-10, according to estimates of the Union ministry of housing and urban poverty alleviation. Home to the highest number of urban poor, the state is followed by Uttar Pradesh (1.17 crore), Madhya Pradesh (74.03 lakh), and Tamil Nadu (69.13 lakh). The ministry has projected an 18% growth in urban poverty across India in 2009-10.  (Sandeep Ashar, http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_number-of-urban-poor-to-rise-by-11pct-in-state_1285240 accessed on 26 August 2009)

2.      Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai most affluent cities: Survey: Delhi, Bengaluru and greater Mumbai have been named as the top three most affluent cities in the country based on lifestyle and consumption habits of the people residing there, according to a survey by The Nielsen.The Nielsen Upper Middle and Rich (UMAR) survey has ranked Delhi at the top of the chart of 10 most affluent cities based followed by Bengaluru at the second place, Greater Mumbai (3rd), Chennai (4th) and Hyderabad (5th). The survey has initiated a new method of defining 'affluence', based on lifestyle and consumer durables' ownership of a household rather than monthly income and education. Three distinct segments of affluence emerged by such lifestyle and consumer durables mapping - upper middle, upper-upper middle and rich and are quite distinct in their consumption habits, the survey said.The grouping was done based on the ownership of a car, a computer, an LCD, and a holiday abroad, the survey said. The Nielsen survey estimates that there are a total of 2.5 million affluent households in the country, of which 2.2 million belong to the upper-middle segment these households own a car and a computer.The upper-upper middle segment consists of some 0.2 million households and are owners of a car, computer, an LCD, while the rich segment makes about 0.1 million of households in the affluent pie, who own all the things above in addition have taken a holiday abroad. Besides the top five, the others in the list are Kolkata (6) Kochi (7) Pune (8) Jaipur (9) and Ahmedabad(10). According to the survey, even though nearly half of affluent Indian consumers all are schooled in English, the languages spoken at home are regional Indian languages, the survey revealed. Nine in 10 affluent households own a house, three-quarters have a fully-automated washing machine and nearly two in five have a home theatre and modular kitchen. It said English was preferred language for newspapers but television was watched more in regional languages. Nine in 10 affluent individuals watch television and nearly three-fourth read English dailies, the survey added. More than three in five affluent persons watch movies outside home and more than half use Internet at home. Overall, the economic slowdown has not impacted spending habits of affluent individuals but luxury accessories and vacations are items where they have cut down spending. (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/delhi-bengaluru-mumbai-most-affluent-cities-survey/100510-19.html accessed on 2 September 2009)

1. India third on global 'female smoking list' :  According to the latest Tobacco Atlas, the country ranks third in the top 20 female smoking populations across the globe.  Only the US with 2.3 crore female smokers and China with 1.3 crore women smokers are worse off than India in this chart. However, as far as percentage of women smoking is concerned, it is below 20% for India.  Among India's immediate neighbours, only Pakistan figures in this infamous list, but right at the bottom at 20th with around 30 lakh female smokers. Female smokers in India die an average eight years earlier than their non-smoking peers. According to the Atlas, about 250 million women in the world are daily smokers -- 22% being from high resource countries and 9% from low and middle resource countries. Realising the potential of this growing market, the Atlas said the tobacco industry has been marketing cigarettes to women using seductive but false images of vitality, emancipation, slimness, sophistication and sexual allure. Tobacco consumption reduced birth weight of the foetus, decreased their gestational age leading to premature babies, increased the risk of still births and heightened chances of anaemia among adult pregnant women. The Atlas said tobacco killed some six million people each year -- more than a third of whom will die from cancer -- and drained $500 billion annually from global economies. As 25% of smokers die and many more become ill during their most productive years, income loss devastates families and communities. In 2010, 72% of those who die from tobacco related illnesses would be in low- and middle-income countries. By 2030, 83% of these deaths will occur in low and middle-income countries. The Atlas said 2.1 million cancer deaths per year will be attributable to tobacco by 2015. (Kounteya Sinha, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/India-third-on-global-female-smoking-list/articleshow/4938177.cms accessed on 27 August 2009)

 

1. MP govt wants teachers to be called Rashtra Rishi: After the controversy over its moves to make Surya Namaskar exercise and recitation of Bhojan Mantra compulsory in schools, the Madhya Pradesh government has now raised hackles of minority community leaders with a decision to call teachers in state-run schools as Rashtra Rishis. In a snub to the state Government, the High Court directed it not to make surya namaskar exercise in schools mandatory after a church body challenged the move.  (http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_mp-govt-wants-teachers-to-be-called-rashtra-rishi_1286341 accessed on 31 August 2009)
2. 1.2 million in city earn less than Rs 20/day: Mumbai is a city of extreme contrasts. Despite having the highest per capita income in the country (Rs 65,361), more than 1.2 million people, or little under 10% of its population, earn less than Rs 20 a day. This, in a city where plush apartments are routinely sold for anywhere between Rs 10 cr  and Rs 25 crore (1 crore is 10 million). The damning revelation comes in the Human Development Report commissioned for the BMC and partly funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). More than half of Mumbai’s population lives in sub-human conditions in shanties, but the land that slums are situated on comprise just 6% of the city’s total land area. Amidst the glitz and the dollar billionaires that the city houses, the urban poverty is glaring. The official statistics, according to the report, reveal a dismal picture. At least 12.17 lakh people, or close to 10% of Mumbai’s population, earn an income of less than Rs 591 per month. Interestingly, the city had a per capita income of Rs 65,361 in 2006-07, which is twice the country’s average per capita income of Rs 29,382. Although in 1998 it was reported that the poverty was much low at only 8.5% and much below the national and state urban averages, a baseline survey of 16,000 slum households by the MMRDA for its Mumbai Urban Transport Project told a different story: with an average monthly household income of Rs 2,978, 40% of them were below the poverty line. Another interesting fact that the report has thrown up is the presence of slums in Mumbai—about 54% of the population comprises slum dwellers. Slums are manifestations of deep structural poverty.

(Nauzer Bharucha,, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/City/Mumbai/12-million-in-city-earn-less-than-Rs-20/day/articleshow/4957023.cms accessed on 1 September 2009) 

1. Rehabilitation University for Disabled inaugurated: In a bid to usher in a ray of hope among physically challenged in the state, Dr Shakuntala Misra Rehabilitation University for the Disabled.  Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said that the university would provide quality education to the disabled, so as to help them get better employment opportunities and make them self reliant. This university would also help create a better educational system for the disabled. Terming the said university as only of its kind in Asia, she said that in order to ensure smooth functioning of the varsity, her government has arranged Rs 397 crores in the first phase. Fifty per cent seats would be reserved for the disabled students in all the courses out of which fifty per cent would be reserved for the blind, she said adding that in the first year it would run six courses including B.Ed. The university would have a special faculty for studies of subjects related to disabilities with separate departments for different disabilities. A research wing for studies on how to overcome various disabilities would also be opened, she added. (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/lucknow/Rehabilitation-University-for-Disabled-inaugurated/articleshow/4972425.cms accessed on 4 September 2009)

 

1. Bihar, UP witness 68% increase in new passports: Here's news for those who routinely complain about migration from UP and Bihar to the rest of India. Data from the ministry of external affairs on new passports issued between January and November 2008 reveals a dramatic 68% increase in the two states, suggesting that jobs outside the country increasingly beckon. Experts believe the rise can be attributed to personal travel and UP and Bihari workers travelling to the Gulf countries in search of blue-collar jobs. There has been 30% increase in passports issued by the 37 regional passport offices (RPO) across India between 2005 and 2008.  But experts point out that the rush for passports may have as much to do with procuring proof of citizenship as potential travel. There's rising demand in insurgency-hit areas of the North-East and J&K as well. While the demand for passports has been traditionally low in the insurgency-hit areas of the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir, here too, the number of passports being issued is showing a strong upward trend — by 63% in J&K and 49% in the Northeast. There is a discernible divide among various regions of the country in terms of both applicants and passports issued. All the southern states give out passports in hundreds of thousands every year. For several years now, the largest number of passports have been issued in Kerala, a state from where the largest number of Gulf job-seekers have gone in the last few decades. In 2008, 6,69,777 passports were issued from four of its RPOs; this was an increase of 20% from 2005. Similarly, more than 5 lakh new passports were issued in Tamil Nadu, 4,50,454 in Andhra Pradesh and 2,63,109 in Karnataka. During the same time, however, the figures remained low in several other states. Orissa (43,590), Madhya Pradesh (60,734), Chhattisgarh (17,050), Uttaranchal (10,470), Himachal Pradesh (22,927) and Jharkhand (33,346) posted low totals in 2008. The number of new passport-holders has remained consistently below the 1 lakh mark every year in these states. However, Uttar Pradesh joined the big league in 2008 by issuing over 4 lakh passports. It is now fifth on the list in terms of the number of passports issued, beating Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana from where people have traditionally preferred travelling abroad for jobs. Bihar, too, has breached the 1 lakh mark. Maharashtra, for the first time, has crossed the 5 lakh mark, showing a healthy growth rate — 37% more people getting passports in 2008 as compared to 2005. And here too it was not the RPO at megapolis Mumbai but the Nagpur region that saw the largest increase in new passport holders in percentage terms: a staggering 84%.   (Kartikeya, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/Bihar-UP-witness-68-increase-in-new-passports/articleshow/4977402.cms accessed on 6 September 2009)

 

1. Women in Bundelkhand sold to survive drought: Women in the Bundelkhand region are allegedly being sold and resold to survive the drought. Due to the successive years of drought, there are miles and miles of parched land in the region. The poor debt-ridden farmers, who are already surviving on the margins, are therefore forced to sell their women to earn some money to survive the crisis. I have to sell my body because of the staring drought. Sometimes I get Rs 50 and sometimes Rs 100, says a farmer’s wife, Shamo. Sangeeta’s family also has a similar story to tell. Faced with the unending drought, Sangeeta was sold by her husband to the flesh trader. "I was sold off. My cost was just Rs 1500," she says. But the worst part is that all these illegal things are happening on legal stamp papers. CNN-IBN found out that it just takes a Rs 10 stamp paper and a signature to force a married women to remarry. "On a Rs 10 stamp paper people write that they are marrying so that everything looks legal. This makes both buyer and seller safe. There are hundreds of such cases in this region," says a lawyer, Kalicharan. Even the police don’t have any answer to what is happening in Bundelkhand except for the way they have discovered some of these cases. "Girls are enticed into this flesh trade and are promised a number of things. Of late, we have come across many such cases," says a police official, Ramlakhan Chaubey. (Shalabh Mani Tripathi, http://ibnlive.in.com/news/women-in-bundelkhand-sold-to-survive-drought/100770-3.html accessed on 6 September 2009)

 

1. Today’s Nightingales:  The moment nurses in India gain some experience, they migrate to countries like the US, England, Ireland and Saudi Arabia. Or even Singapore. This definitely creates a shortage. In Europe, the nurse-population ratio is 1:150; in India, it is 1:2250. Poor training adds to the lack of qualified nurses in the country. Nursing, usually a woman’s domain in India, is attracting men as well. Men are doing well in  male wards, OTs, OPDs, orthopaedic care, casualty and emergency wards, but overall, women seem to be better suited to the job. (Pranab Ghosh, http://www.hindustantimes.com/HTHorizons/hthorizonssectionpage-greatcareers/Today-s-Nightingales/SP-Article1-454063.aspx accessed on 25 September 2009)

 

1. India still accounts for 21% of under-five deaths: First the good news — 10,000 fewer children are now dying every day before reaching their fifth birthday compared to 1990. The bad news - India alone accounts for 21% of the under-five mortality of the globe. In fact, half of the deaths occurred in India, Nigeria, Congo, Pakistan and China. Interestingly, among them, India and Nigeria together accounted for nearly one-third of the total number of under-five deaths worldwide (21% and 12%, respectively). According to a new Unicef study, there has been a 28% decline in the under-five mortality rate since 1990. In absolute numbers, this means that under-five child deaths in 2008 declined to 8.8 million from 12.5 million in 1990.  Nineteen years ago, 90 children per 1,000 live births died before their fifth birthday. This stands at 65 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2008;  that is 8.8 million children die before their fifth birthday. An exciting finding has been that seven of the 67 high mortality countries (those with under-five mortality rates of 40 per 1,000 live births or higher) have consistently achieved annual rates of reduction of under-five mortality of 4.5% or higher. These are Nepal, Bangladesh, Eritrea, Laos, Mongolia, Bolivia and Malawi. Pneumonia and diarrhoea are the two leading causes of the deaths. These new estimates calculated by Unicef, WHO, World Bank and United Nations Population Division pointed to another interesting fact that under-five mortality is increasingly getting concentrated with 75% of these deaths occurring in only 18 countries, including India. Around 40% of the 8.8 million children who die globally every year are from India, Nigeria and Congo. Africa (51%) and Asia (42%) combined still account for 93% of all under-five deaths that occur each year. Mortality in developing countries (71 deaths per 1,000) was 12 times that in industrialised countries (6 per 1,000). “A handful of countries with large populations bear a disproportionate burden of under-five deaths. Unless mortality in these countries is significantly reduced, the target of achieving the goal of a two-thirds reduction in the under-five mortality rate by 2015 will not be met,” said the report. (Kounteya Sinha, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/india/India-still-accounts-for-21-of-under-five-deaths/articleshow/5001019.cms accessed on 12 September 2009)

 

1. Mobile No Portability in metros, A circle by Dec 31: Mobile number portability (MNP) will be implemented from December 31 in metros and category 'A' service areas, and by 20th March, 2010, in rest of the country, telecom regulator TRAI said. The MNP facility will enable subscribers to retain their cell phone numbers even after changing service providers. The government earlier this month had said implementation of MNP would be delayed by three months as regulations were still being made. A subscriber holding a mobile number is eligible to make a porting request only after 90 days of the date of activation of his mobile connection. If a number is already ported once, the number can again be ported only after 90 days from the date of the previous porting. The cost to the subscriber seeking the porting is yet to be decided by TRAI. The subscriber who wishes to port his mobile number should approach the recipient operator (the operator to whom the subscriber wants to port his number). The subscriber may be required to pay porting charges, if any, to the recipient operator. Also, the subscriber must clear all the bills issued prior to the date of porting request.

( http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/business/india-business/Mobile-No-Portability-in-metros-A-circle-by-Dec-31/articleshow/5047003.cms accessed on 23 September 2009)

  II        Diaspora 

1. Nine Indian-origin people work in White House: Atleast nine Indian orgin people work in White House. According to the figures, Sonal Shah, who's the deputy assistant to the US President and director at Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation, gets an annual salary of $120,000. Both Rachana Bhowmick, who is the director of special projects, and Aditya Kumar, also director of special projects as well as special assistant to Office of Chief of Staff, earn $99,000 a year each. Anisha Dasgupta who works as a Counsel at an annual package of $86,927 and Pradeep Ramamurthy, the Director of Response Policy, whose gross salary is $86,927. Kavita Patel who is the Director of Policy for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement gets USD 65,000 annually, while Shomik Dutta, the Special Assistant to White House Counsel, earns $62,000. White House Policy Advisor Manashi Deshpande earns $54,000 a year while Taara Rangarajan gets $40,000 for her services as Deputy Associate Director.

(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/world/us/Nine-Indian-origin-people-work-in-White-House-/articleshow/5034270.cms accessed on 20 September 2009)

  III        Global 

1. 1 billion to go hungry world over: Food aid is at a 20-year low despite the number of critically hungry people soaring this year to its highest level ever, the UN relief,  The number of hungry people will pass 1 billion this year for the first time, the UN World Food Program (WFP) said, adding that it is facing a serious budget shortfall. To date the WFP has confirmed $2.6 billion in funding for its 2009 budget of $6.7 billion. An earlier report said that most of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are facing extreme or high risk of food shortages, according to a ranking of 148 nations. The US is least at risk followed by France, Canada, Germany and the Czech Republic, according to the Food Security Risk Index, calculated from dozens of variables that determine a country’s capacity to feed its people. Food stress jumped toward the top of the global agenda after soaring commodity prices in 2007 and 2008 sparked riots in 30 countries, including many tottering on the brink of severe shortages or widespread hunger. The World Bank estimates that food inflation during that period pushed an additional 100 million people into deep poverty, on top of a billion that were already scraping by on less than $1 a day. The three most populous countries in South Asia also face food precariousness: Pakistan, ranked 11th, is at “extreme risk,” while Bangladesh and India are both at “high risk”, ranked 20th and 25th respectively. (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/world/uk/1-billion-to-go-hungry-world-over/articleshow/5020227.cms accessed on 16 September 2009)

 

1. Only 44% Indians have clean hands: While 90% of people surveyed in Canada feel that washing hands regularly is good protection against catching flu, only 44% of Indians believe the same, says an international survey, conducted by Global Hygiene Council supported by Dettol, in 2008. Ideas of hygiene and health vary from country to country, and in India, food also comes into play: 20% of Indians believe that avoiding eating meat can keep the flu away, while other countries, especially Australia and South Africa, do not believe it at all. The survey - which also covers South Africa, Malaysia, Italy, Great Britian, Australia and USA - revealed some interesting nuggets on people’s perceptions. The questions, on measures to prevent flu and washing hands, were posed to 1,000 respondents. Even as 58% of people in Italy believe that avoiding public places is another preventive measure to prevent the flu, only 12% of Indians agree. While 71% of Malaysians believe a rubbish bin poses the greatest risk of transmitting germs to a person or child, 16% of Indians think the bin poses the greatest risk, while 44% Indians think the toilet seat is a risk best not taken. Though 27% of Indians wash their hands for a minute after using the toilet, in Italy, 28% do so. However, 41% of people in South Africa wash their hands after using toilets, but only for five seconds. When it comes to children washing their hands before eating, 79% of Indian kids obediently do so, while only 29% of Australians do, and 80% of Malaysians wash up before eating. The survey says 45% Indian parents believe in asking their children to wash hands as they come home from school or nursery, to prevent them from picking up germs and becoming ill. The importance of teaching children good hygiene habits was highlighted by the survey, which revealed that 50% of Indians do not wash their hands after coughing or sneezing, thus pushing up chances of picking up germs from each other. When someone coughs or sneezes, millions of germs can be expelled into the air, so it’s important that children understand the ways to protect themselves and their classmates from illness. (Shruthi Balakrishna, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/NEWS/India/Only-44-Indians-have-clean-hands/articleshow/4952572.cms accessed on 31 August 2009)

  IV        WORD FROM THE EDITOR 

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Topic – India Newsletter- September 2009(Please send e-mail to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )  

Mathetes Model Training Conference:  National Conference of Master Trainers in Mathetes Model of Discipleship training was held from 6-8 August 2009 at St. Ann centre, Taranaka, Secunderabad.  About 65 leaders from various states including Chattisgarh, Orissa, Maharastra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka participated in the training.  The leaders were able to go through the 40 lessons that are good to train a new disciple.  Those who attended the training all three days were awarded certificates.  This programme was co-ordinated by Rev. Dr. J.N. Manokaran and Rev. Joshau Pillai.  The material is in Tamil, Hindi and Telegu.  It would be printed in other languages like Kannada, Oriya, Maharastra…etc. 

 

Writers Vision Workshop:  Writers’ Vision Workshop was held on 9^th August in the city of Hyderabad.  It was sponsored by Mahalife.com.  Rev. Dr. J.N. Manokaran, Rev. P.J. Ramanathan and Mr. Rishi Paul were the resource persons. 

 

Oddanchatram School of Leadership:  From  9 to 13 November School of Leadership would be held in Missionary Upholders Trust Campus. 

 

Global Cities Initiative:  The conference is being held from 8-11 September in New York.  Over 300 delegates from 80 plus cities around the world would be participating in the conference.  Tim Keller, Luis Bush, Vishal Mangalwadi are some of the speakers.  J.N. Manokaran would be leading Break Out sessions on Urban Trends. 

 

Ministry Among Diaspora Peoples:  A special seminar would be held at Tyndale University College and Seminary, Toronto (Canada) on 22^nd September 2009.  The presentation would be done by J.N. Manokaran.

 

Mission Educational Books:   Mission Educational Books is celebrating its 20^th  anniversary in October 2009.  Special discount prices books are offered to celebrate this occasion.  A compendium is planned to be released with 25 national leaders writing on important challenges of missions in 21^st Century.  Pastors’ conference is being planned in few places.  For more information, please contact: Rev. S.D. Ponraj This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

  The rest of mankind did not repentJ.N. ManokaranSwine flu created scare in the minds of people around the world.  Earlier it was bird flu that scared the global population.  Natural disasters of minor or major proportions keep happening around the world.  What is the response of people to such plagues?“The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” (Revelations 9:20, 21)False GodsWith God’s gift of creativity, human beings are able to design and define their own gods.  The technological advancement provides tools for creating more such gods.  Every day new gods are created to meet a particular need or superstition invented to ward of evil or tool developed to provide self confidence.  The super market for spirituality abounds with products and commodities for every need, for every person in accordance to the budget a person could afford.  With aspiration for more power to control their own lives, people start worshipping even demons.  It is not worshipping, it is actually trying to appease the demons.  Instead of repenting, human being invent some kind of spiritual ritual to ward off the evil.  Violence – murdersAmong young people violence has become a life style.  A majority of Americans feel that it is their right to own a gun.  It is no wonder around five thousand youngsters loose their life in gang violence in US.  Ragging, teen murders, suicides, domestic violence, dowry deaths and road rage are indication of violence in the modern culture.  People are more driven by negative emotions like hatred rather than positive emotions like love.  The tolerance level of people has gone down and so is the virtue of self-control.  Occult practicesOccult practices are glorified, considered as science in several cultures.  Human beings are always in pursuit of power and knowledge.  Adam and Eve chose both, which resulted in rebellion and disobedience against the Creator.  Today humanity is seeking power and knowledge, from any and every source.  The source could be legitimate or illegitimate, it doesn’t matter.  Occult is becoming widely acceptable, sometimes respectable and becoming part of modern civilization.  Sexual immoralitySexual immorality needs no description.  For postmodern generation, that is over exposed to sex education and drowsed in moral stupor; sex is merely a physical activity between two persons with consent and not commitment.  It is like playing a game of tennis.  So, premarital sex and extra-marital sex has become normal in the society.  Worse still is homosexuals and lesbians having special rights and privileges.  Robbing and looting Humanity is losing its moral value base that robbing and looting is way of life.  Corruption in corporate world, pursuit of profit without ethics, politics without principle and just pursuit of power; media playing the role of false prophet has looted people economically, politically and socially.  Human rights violations is a daily news from many corners of the world.  Human dignity is robbed by forced marriages, rapes, bonded slavery, war, riots and terrorism.  Children are robbed of their innocence.  Call for repentance

God is speaking to humanity, time and again.  Plagues or swine flu or tsunami are God’s trumpet call for humanity to repent, forsake sin and follow righteous.  Instead humanity seems to devolve deeper into moral and spiritual decay rather than pursuing righteousness.  But, there are individuals who are wise, who reflect and understand to ‘kiss the feet of the Son’ and take refuge in Him.  (Psalm 2:12)  The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10)