THANKS
:BRIEF REPORTS AND COMMENTS FROM MCGN GLOBAL POINTS:
ASIA
INDIA:BANGALORE
A lady student, who came to know about MCGN, inquired about studying abroad.
Pi Ringi Ralte, Dean of Women's Studies Department at United Theological College (UTC), was contacted and informed about the MCGN ministry.
INDIA:DELHI
Pu Chhiarruma writes that 400 Mizo refugees from Myanmar are in Delhi and some of them are interested in forming a MCGN fellowship there. The Mizo Christians remaining in Myanmar are very strong in their faith in spite of great difficulties.
INDIA: MIZORAM:
The latest unemployment data reveals approximately 76,000 educated Mizos are without work. Two-thirds of them are men.
C. H. Thanmawia and his family have a mission school for poor children in Aizawl. He needs help supplying food, lodging, uniforms, and books for 100 children.
Doordhasan TV Station, Aizawl , conducted an important interview on July 27 with the Directors of Mizoram Action Research Center (MARC). Dr. Lianzela and his colleagues discussed how the mighty hand of God worked in the amazing formation (within one month) of the research team with its North American/Mizo counterparts. Shortly after this, the research center came into being. And we can now look forward to the Research Institute of Mizoram becoming a reality in the near future. A wonderful spirit of cooperation exits between all those who made these entities happen. God has honored their efforts and many blessings will follow.
JAPAN:
Mizo Christians in Japan are experiencing a renewal. They are much encouraged to have their own regular church service.
Jim Blocksom, President of International Chapel Ministry, had provided information about obtaining the copyright needed to republish Sensei in the Mizo language. Steve Rohrer will write to the copyright holder for MCGN.
NEPAL:
Missionary Lalringa is working as an Education Consultant. One village chief was so impressed by the way the missionaries work in his village that he gave a permission to show the Jesus film in his village. Thus, the door is open for other groups to show more Christian films in the village where there are only one or two Christian families. With the literacy rate at 36.7, educators like Lalringa are welcome.
Most Mizo missionaries are social workers in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal . But two missionaries, Lallura and Zothansangi, labor in Pokhara 205 km away. Vanthangpuii Tochhong, MCGN Coordinator/missionary, is sending photographs and books to the United States with his ministry supporter, Lalengkimi, who arrives in Minnesota on August 18.
AUSTRALIA:
Vanlaltlana has returned from his tour of Europe and is being encouraged to write those things about his travels that could be meaningful lessons for Mizos. We are thankful he is considering becoming an MCGN Coordinator.
EUROPE
GERMANY:
Thang Za Dal has been provided Mizoram literacy rate (95%) information for his paper on that subject. He will send MCGN a copy of his paper.
SWITZERLAND:
Do Lian appreciates our Webpage. He would like to have a contact person in Aizawl from whom he can obtain more information about Mizoram.
NORTH AMERICA
CANADA:
Mr. Stuart Spani introduced his tour plan to a large number of church leaders requesting their support. Stuart wants to train three Mizo girls to guide two of the four tours to Mizoram in January 2001. He aims to have all the tourists travel together to Mizoram, but once there, they will split into four groups and each group will have an entirely different experience: some will hike, some will fish, and some will tour the capital city of Aizawl as well as Thailand.
USA:
Dilip Bhattacharya, an extremely talented Hindu artist who Dr. Liana Mualchin met in Calcutta, loves the beauty of Mizoram and its people. He will shortly arrive in California as houseguest of the Mualchins while he and Dr. Mualchin collaborate on an illustrated book of Mizoram.
On July 11 Dr. Liana Mualchin, Mr. Jeff Mead, and Pastor Matt Kerr had a luncheon meeting to discuss missions. They agreed to promote a monthly meeting devoted to praying for missions, and they agreed to support a part-time worker in the MCGN-Mizoram office. Pastor Matt will prepare an article on "cults" for a future MCGN newsletter, and Dr. Mualchin was asked to submit an article on the work and progress of MCGN for the new PCC Newsletter. This has been done. See the article below entitled "A Concise Review".
Chungtea, MCGN life member, returned to Mizoram July 21 with his family after receiving his masters degree in electrical engineering at California State College at Long Beach and after having practical experience in modern electrical power transmission-distribution system and management with a consulting company in Southern California.
PRAYER REQUESTS
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Mizo Christian Global Network (A Concise Review) Mizoram is a tiny state extending down between Bangladesh and Myanmar (Burma) on the landlocked southern tip of the eastern arm of India. Formerly composed of heathen tribes, it was evangelized by British missionaries in 1894 and has become a shining example of Christianity, unique within its larger and darker native country - possibly in the whole world. Because of God's grace this little land is peaceful, happy, and spiritually productive. Its people are cheerful, hardworking and honest, and almost 100% literate. From this small population of about 800,000, over 50 university, 1,000 college and 2,000 high school students graduate each year. Eighty percent of the population attend church regularly. They have sent out over 1,000 missionaries to adjacent countries and throughout India. However, Mizoram is also one of the poorest states in India and most of its budget is subsidized by the Indian government. Its economic condition is becoming worse: there are only about 800 job positions available in the whole country, most of which are government jobs; it has no industry except for small cottage industries; it has no reliable power source of its own; and it has a poor road system which makes transportation expensive and inefficient. It is mainly an agricultural society; however, because of outdated methods and improper land use, complex problems have arisen, not the least of which is the fact that Mizoram can no longer produce its own food supply but must depend upon imports of rice and meat supplies from outside its borders. Because of this underdevelopment and lack of opportunity, Mizoram is in danger of losing its distinctiveness and being overwhelmed by its economic needs. Therefore, the Mizo Christian Global Network (MCGN) has been organized with Dr. Lalliana Mualchin as its International President "to promote the spiritual and economic development of the people in Mizoram and the surrounding region by serving them as Jesus did (Matt. 20:28)." Through the membership fees of the various units, through the efforts of involved supporters and volunteers, and through the generous giving of interested Christian individuals and groups (such as Park Community Church, Shingle Springs, California), the work is progressing rapidly. MCGN has been able to open an office and supply the equipment (computer and Internet connection, etc.) for the headquarters in Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram. It has sent donations to support a Christian hostel and a Christian school in Myanmar, and it has sent aid to a tribal village in Myanmar that was destroyed by fire. MCGN was instrumental in bringing a research team from the Fielding Institute, working with their Mizo counterparts, to investigate the possibilities of social and economic development training. This has resulted in hiring a full-time staff working at the MCGN's office in Aizawl as well as working on getting land for the future facilities of Mizoram Action Research Institute with the "express purpose of improving the life, health, education, environment, society, general well-being, economy and general prosperity of the people of Mizoram, and to do so in a way that promotes positive, sustainable change." Tourism is being actively encouraged, and several videos have been produced telling the story of Mizoram. An illustrated book on Mizoram is in preparation with an excellent Bengali artist whose visit to California for the project is underway. So it seems clear that God is working among His people and others to help this little country of Mizoram. Our goal is to see it become economically self-sufficient, using its resources to become a strong, vital, and vibrant center of Christian ministry and even greater testimony to God's grace and glory. |
MARC/MARI UPDATE
Dr. Valerie Bentz presented the activities of MARC in the summer session of Fielding Institute held at Washington, DC. It was attended by a number of MARC team members and the Fielding community. It was well received, and a number of new people wanted to become involved in MARC.
Dr. Linda Wing and Dr. Lenneal Henderson are preparing to conduct an important Leadership Training for top leaders in Mizoram sometime in late October or early November. Their discussions will include strategic planning.
As reported in the Global Points section, Doordhasan TV Station, Aizawl, conducted an interview on July 27 with the Directors of MARC. Doordhasan is the main public TV network in India. The Directors discussed how MARC was started with the support of MCGN and Mizoram public and government leaders. The interview is scheduled to be broadcast on the evening of August 9, 2000.
| Board of Directors of MARC/MARI are as follows: | ||
| Director and Principal Investigator: | Dr. Valerie Bentz | |
| International Director: | Dr. Lalliana Mualchin | |
| Co-Director: | Dr. Lianzela | |
| Co-Directors of System Change: | Dr. Linda Wing & Mr. F. Lalbiakdika | |
| Co-Directors of Communications: | Dr. Steve Figler & Dr. Lalrindiki Fanai | |
"The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest"
(Mt. 9:37-38).
---Ideas, advice, and comments are always welcome---
MCGN International HQ: USA: Lalliana Mualchin (Email:
mualchin@hotmail.com)