Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Contents
Editor:
Rev. Dr. Vanlalnghaka Ralte
Members of the Editorial
Board:
Dr. Lalnghakthuami
Rev. Dr. H. Vanlalruata
Rev. Dr. Lawmsanga
Rev. Dr. H. Lalrinthanga
Rev. K. Lalchhuanawma
Mr. Lalsiamkima
Manager:
Rev. Laldingluaia
COVER STORY
GRACE
HOME
The Church's
Positive Response
to People Living
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with HIV/AIDS
Editorial
News around Mizoram Presbyterian
Church
Resolution of 257th and 258th Synod
Executive Committee
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REPORTS
92 SYNOD MEETING
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of the
Mizoram Presbyterian Church
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Rev. K. Lalhmingliana
Rev. R. Vanbela
Rev. Chawnghmingliana
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Editorial
MINISTRY FOR THE MARGINS
The ministry of Jesus Christ was basically
a ministry for the margins. He gathered his
followers from the less-privileged group of the
society. He confined his ministry largely in towns
and villages of the rural territory of Galilee. He
used homes, fields, hills and the sea shores as the
main contexts for his ministry. He associated
himself with the outcasts of the daythe sinners
(non-law observant Jews), tax collectors and the
prostitutes. He healed the sick, feed the hungry and
stood for the rights and privileges of the poor and
the oppressed. Further, he challenged the injustices of the rich and the
powerful, and denounced the superficial religiosity of the religious elites.
He expounded the message of the Kingdom of God drawing insights from
the daily experiences of the common people. Till the end he fought against
the collaborated wealth-power hungry and oppressive civil rulers and the
religious authorities of the day.
Jesus ministry for those living in the periphery of life was not by
chance or without a purpose. Rather Jesus accomplished the very purpose
of his coming into the world by undertaking this novel and countercultural ministry. Jesus came to this world to establish the Kingdom of God
that opposes and overturns the principles of the kingdoms of this world.
Jesus taught and demonstrated, through his life and ministry, the values of
the Kingdom basing on justice, peace and love in contrast to the standards
of the kingdoms of the world that stand for exploitation, oppression and
tyranny.
The ministry of the Church today, as an extension of the ministry
of Jesus, has to take seriously the priorities which Jesus set in his earthly
ministry. The world we live today has witnessed countless depressed and
dejected peoples in the margins, seriously affected by natural calamities
and human-made disasters, wars and crimes, deadly viruses and
pollutions, poverty and unemployment, religious fundamentalism and
spiritual bankruptcy. These realities call for a true discipleship and genuine
ministerial commitment of the Church for Gods people in the margins
who need special attention and care.
Jesus said, Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and
sisters of mine, you did for me (Mt 25:40. NIV).
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A session in progress
b.
c.
d.
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7. Revised proposal for Synod
Administrative Set-up and
Management was presented and
forwarded to the Synod Meeting for
approval.
8. Detailed proposal for Synod
Pastoral Ministry Guidelines was
presented and forwarded to the
Synod Meeting for approval.
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Reports of
the
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Rev. Lalfakzuala
From L-R: Rev. Lalramliana Pachuau, Rev. P.C. Pachhunga, Rev. B. Sangthanga, Rev. H. Lalrinmawia,
Rev. Lalrinmawia, Rev. Lalzuithanga, Elder H. Ronghaka, Elder Vanengmawia, Rev. Dr. R. Lalbiakmawia
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Pastoral Concerns:
As common practice, the Synod made decision concerning posting and
transfer of Ministers/Pastors, ordination of Pastors and installation of
Probationary Pastor, creation of new Pastorates and new Presbyteries, etc.
As many as 77 Pastors/Ministers had been transferred to new posts.
Meanwhile, 18 Probationary Pastors were ordained and 25 persons were
commissioned as Probationary Pastor out of which 6 were candidates from
Mission Board and 3 were from Manipur Area. A few number of
Pastors/Ministers were permitted to pursue higher studies at various levels
- 1 DPC, 5 D. Min, 6 M. Th, 2 D. Th. As a token of appreciation for their
valuable services rendered to the church, certificates of appreciation were
given to four retiring ministers such as Rev Dr Roger Gaikwad, Rev. K.
Lalthangmawia, Rev. K. Lalhmuchhuaka, Rev. Thangzauva, Rev. T.
Ngama and two other heads of department. The Synod had created 10 new
Pastorates within Mizoram and another 4 Pastorates in Mission fields.
Resolutions:
The business session was scheduled to be held from 8-12 December
(Wednesday-Saturday) between 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. On the first day Rev.
H. Lalrinmawia, who is one of most senior Pastors/Ministers serving under
the Mizoram Synod, took over Moderatorship from the out-going
Moderator Rev. Lalrinmawia.
In the business session, serious
deliberations and discussions were carried out. As the business sessions
could not finish as scheduled, the session continued after Saturday public
worship service till 12: 10 am. During the business sessions, 78 general
agenda/items had been deliberated upon in the Synod and resolutions had
beenmade as follows:
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SYNOD
OFFICERS
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GRACE HOME
(A unit of Synod Hospital)
Introduction: Grace Home is a faith
based 20 bedded Hospice for HIV/AIDS
patients at the Synod Hospital. It was
started in 31st March 2004 as a project
under MSACS/NACO. It is the first and
still the only hospice for People living
with HIV/AIDS free of cost in Mizoram.
Though it started as a NACO project, the
project was terminated in 2013. Due to
necessities of the service provided, the
Presbyterian Church of Mizoram then
took up the responsibility of running the
Hospice and now becomes a unit under
the Synod Hospital.
MAIN OBJECTIVES
Consultation and treatment of illness related to
HIV/AIDS
Addressing various issues faced by PLHIV like stigma
and discrimination, gender inequality, care of the sick
and dying, side effects of ART.
Sensitizing the local community about HIV/AIDS
Spiritual nurture of the patients
Networking with NGOs for the benefit of the patients.
July December, 2015
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SERVICES
Medical : OI diagnosis and treatment, TB diagnosis and treatment, ART
registration and screening, treatment counseling, pain relief and
symptomatic care, follow up, PEP
ART adherence : In patient admission on initiation, ART adherence
education and support, identification of treatment supporter. Watch for side
effects, complications, defaulter follow up/tracking. Education on nutrition
and hygiene.
Referrals and linkages to : ICTC/ART Centre/RNTCP/STI Clinics,
NGOs and govt, for various supports nutrition, shelter, life skills etc.
Positive prevention : Support positive attitude and disclosure of status,
promote correct and consistent use of condoms. Self care, basic hygiene and
sanitation, partnership, family planning education and referrals.
Outreach : Verifying patients address, home visit for health check up and
assessment of treatment adherence, home based care.
Advocacy against stigma/discrimination : Participation in District/State
Aids Committee meetings, village and school health and committee
meetings. Encouraging and training of local church and leaders.
Psychological support : To family members, young adults, linkages to life
skill trainings, de-addiction centers, bereavement counseling, support
group meetings.
Staff of Grace Home
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Grace Home
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PALLIATIVE CARE
It is a dream to have a full fledged palliative ward and team. Steps are being
taken taken by the Hospital to be the first to offer Palliative Care in the state
through Grace Home given our uprising rate HIV/AIDS patients who are in
need of this care.
INITIATIVES
Continuous Medical Education
is crucial for the Center to
grow. CME class is held every
week for the staffs working in
Grace Home.
Va r i o u s t r a i n i n g s a n d
workshops organized by govt.,
hospitals and other agencies are
attended at every opportunity.
Preachers/evangelists,
missionaries are invited to share the gospel along with special
number/songs from Gospel singers
NGOs working in the field of HIV/AIDS all over the city are invited to
share about their works, creating an opportunity for network and linkage.
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AN OVERVIEW OF
THE SYNOD MISSION BOARD MINISTRY
The Mizoram Presbyterian Church Synod constituted the
Synod Mission Board (SMB) in 1961 to promote
evangelistic works within and outside the territory and to
renew the Churches for mission and evangelism.
Mission
The Synod Mission Board of the Mizoram Presbyterian
Church strives for the promotion of evangelistic works Rev. K. Lalrinmawia
within and outside the territory and for continual renewal of Secretary,SMB
the Churches, the Church related institutions and
individual Christians to be effective witness for Christ. Ensures solidarity,
cooperation, and harmony of the Churches and institutions within its
statement of faith.
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Mission Objectives
1. Reaching the unreached
people with the Gospel of
Jesus Christ.
2.Strengthening and
uplifting the believers in
faith, unity and unified
Christian activities.
3. Planting and edifying the
Churches to the status of
self-supporting, selfpropagating and selfgoverning.
4. Extending partnership and
collaborative net working
among the Churches and
Christian Organisation.
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Functions
The SMB will exercise overall directions of
the ministry including the following
specific functions.
The Synod Mission Board (SMB):
1.
Will appoint 15 members from the
members of the SMB to form Board
Executive Committee (BEC).
2.
Will approve the job descriptions of
the Secretary SMB.
3.
Will recommend constitution and
bylaw changes to the Synod Executive
Committee (SEC).
4.
Will approve the policies, plans,
strategies of the SMB.
5.
Will prepare financial budgets subject
to the approval of the Synod Meeting.
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CurrentActivities
OPERATIONAL AREAS:
The Synod Mission Board achieves Sending out more than 1500
its objectives through :
missionaries to the mission fields,
1. Holding relevant workshops, the operational areas and the year
seminars, mission awareness of establishing the mission fields
campaigns, consultations to build in India are as follows:
Christian capacity.
Home Mission North
1949
2. Publishing monthly Mission Barak
1975
journal.
Masihi Sangati
1979
1986
3. Running Missionary Training Tripura
1987
institution for in-service and Pre- Home Mission South
Delhi
1988
Service Missionaries.
1988
4. Running Mission Development Kolkata
Siliguri
1988
Training Centre
1989
5. Running Bible Schools with Karbi Anglong
1991
Hindi and Manipuri Medium of Arunachal E
Lucknow
1999
instructions.
Patna
1999
6. Formal educational institutions.
2000
7. Non-Formal Educational ministry. Nepal
Arunachal W
2001
8. Direct evangelistic ministry
Assam
2008
9. Medical Ministry
Jharkhand
2008
10. Agriculture and Horticulture Cachar Hill Area
2009
ministry
Cambodia
2010
11. Pastoral care and Church Odisha
2011
administration
12. Philanthropic ministry
13. Supporting native Christians for theological studies to promote
pastoral ministry and leadership capacity.
14. Partnering with other Churches and Organisations.
Major institutions under the Synod Mission Board
1. Missionary Training College (MTC), Mission Vengthlang
2. Mission Development Training Centre (MDTC), Bualpui
3. Presbyterian Hindi Bible School (PHBS), Bawngkawn
Synod Mission Board send missionaries to the following countries:
1. Cambodia
2.
Bolivia
3. Sri Lanka
4.
American Samoa
5. Samoa
6.
Solomon Island
7. Wales
Source: www.mizoramsynod.org
July December, 2015
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Workers and launching of projects: Being such a huge building and a big
project, a number of workers were needed. In the initial stage, a
Superintendent and peon-cum-chowkider will look after the place. The
program will soon commence with tailoring as the first project and the
Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation (UD&PA) started to place
sewing machines for that.
For detail information kindly contact:
Mrs. H. Lalpianthangi, Secretary, Mizoram PWF
Synod Office, Aizawl. Phone 9436199678
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To
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