Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Christian Messenger, Epaper Edition, Aug 2010 Issue
The Christian Messenger, Epaper Edition, Aug 2010 Issue
The Christian Messenger, Epaper Edition, Aug 2010 Issue
Promise!
And thou shalt do that
which is right and good in
Pray for a people group! Dalit Christians rally for equal status THE CHRISTIAN
K o t a Continued from page 1 more. Without justice, there is no peace. We MESSENGER
B a n g u n are going to press on till we get peace and
Kutai of The Christians called for the immediate Advertisement Tariff
implementation of recent recommendations justice,” said the Archbishop of Delhi,
Indonesia Vincent Concessao. Per column centimeter: Rs. 50/-
made by the Commission for Religious and
SPEAKER Sam Paul of the All India Christian Council Book space now for
Linguistic Minorities (NCLRM).
S of the Kota urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to be September, 2010 issue
The NCLRM issued a report urging the
B a n g u i n evenhanded and move quickly to undo the
Government to eradicate discrimination by
dialect of the
M a l a y
extending Scheduled Caste status to Christians injustice being meted out to the Christian Call 0-98840 63345 /
and Muslims. It denounced as ‘biased’ community. “We have been demanding this
language
paragraph 3 of the 1950 Constitution Order, for the last 10 years in various forums, rallies 91-44-65145334
reside in the and campaigns,” he said. In a statement, Rev
which accords economic, educational and Email: christianmessenger.in
c e n t r a l Dr Richard Howell, general secretary of the
social benefits to Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists
Mahakam Evangelical Fellowship of India, said the @gmail.com
only. The rally was organised by the National
River basin of Government was ‘grossly’ discriminating
Council of Dalit Christians (NCDC) and
S o u t h against Dalit Christians and Muslims by
brought together Christians from across India. For Correspondence
Kalimantan, in denying their reservation guarantees
“This injustice against our Dalit brothers and
the Kutai enshrined in the Constitution.
sisters has been going on for six decades and 329/4, Poonga Apartments,
region. The first Roman Catholic mission was
established in this locality in 1907. In the 2nd Avenue, Anna Nagar,
beginning of the 20th century the economy of Chennai 600 040.
Kutai flourished as a result of the establishment
of the Borneo-Sumatra Trade Co. Working hours: 10 am to 5 pm,
Ministry obstacles Monday to Saturday
This community lives in a remote region of
Indonesia, and has little knowledge of who Jesus The purpose of the newspaper
is. is to report newsworthy religious
Outreach ideas events and activities within the
Christian workers can take the Gospel into this local community, nationwide and
region via films and recordings, and also use around the world, to increase the
stories from scripture. awareness and activism of
Pray for the followers of Christ believers regarding the moral
There may well be no followers of Jesus issues of today, to provide
among this Muslim people group, but pray for thought-provoking commentary,
those that will soon emerge. Pray that the Lord and to provide an effective
will provide good pastors and teachers for them, advertising vehicle for Christian
and that they will follow the Lord with total ministries and organisations,
commitment. events and businesses that want to
Pray for the entire people group reach the Christian community. -
Pray for the Kota Banguin Malay, that they Editor
will soon come to a more correct understanding
of who Isa (Jesus) truly is, and understand the (Readers are advised to make
thorough enquiries before acting on
significance of His death on the cross. any advertisements. This newspaper
“All nations you have made will come and does not necessarily agree to the
worship before you, O Lord, they will bring claims or representations made by
glory to your name.” Psalm 86:9 (Source: any advertiser.)
Bethany World Prayer Centre)
THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER
Page 3 | August, 2010 INSPIRATIONAL E-mail: christianmessenger.in@gmail.com
HOME LOANS
From LIC HOUSING FINANCE LTD
For loans contact Rajsha Associates
MORTGAGE LOANS, TAKEOVER LOANS,
LOANS FOR CONSTRUCTION,
PURCHASE, RENOVATION OF HOUSE/FLATS
SPECIALIZATION IN: NRI LOANS
0-9849270290 / 09985227252
Bro. Ravi Prasad, B.Tech
Plot No: 16, Aishwarya Nivas Road,
No. 2, Laxmi Nagar, Kothapet, Hyderabad.
Aug 8: Pray for your pastor. Aug 24: Pray for THE
That God will give him more grace CHRISTIAN MESSENGER media
(James 4:6), spiritual revelation ministry. Pray for more volunteers
through the Holy Spirit (John who can help us in news gathering,
14:26), anointing (Isaiah 10:27) translation work, distribution of
and holiness (1 Peter 1:15,16). literature.
Aug 9: Fakes are taking over the Aug 25: Pray for Chad today.
originals. Pray that the menace of Fifty-four percent of Chadians are
the counterfeit ends soon. Muslim. Pray the Word of God is
preached to Chadians.
Aug 10: Prayer for JK. Pray
that God helps him to build his Aug 26: Austrians need a
house this year. personal faith in Jesus Christ. An
estimated 80% of them deal with
Aug 11: An estimated 17 occult.
million children are employed in
India. Pray for their deliverance. Aug 27: Pray for Azerbaijan.
Pray that hindrances to the gospel
Aug 12: Pray for KB. This are bound in the name of Jesus and
widow is fighting a court case over the people find peace with God.
her land in Kerala. Pray to the One
who sits on the throne judging in Aug 28: Pray for Christian
righteousness (Psalm 9:4). students in Iraq. A suicide bomber
struck recently injuring 100
Aug 13: Pray for India's peace students. Pray for their speedy
with her neighbors. Pray that the recovery.
evil designs of the enemy do not
bear fruit. Aug 29: There are about 200
evangelical pastors working
Aug 14: Pray for your church. openly or discreetly in the Arab
Pray for the pastor, the worship world.Pray for them and their
leaders or the choir, the Sunday families.
school teachers and the ushers. Let
Acts 2:47 work in churches. Aug 30: Pray for the family of
missionary Ajit Bansi who was
Aug 15: Pray for India. As the killed by fundamentalists in May
country celebrates Independence this year.
Day, pray that it experiences true
freedom in Jesus Christ. Aug 31: Three churches and two
pastors' houses were destroyed in
Aug 16: Pray for al those you Nigeria recently. A Baptist church
know who have some addiction or was demolished for the 4th time.
the other. May God turn them into Pray for peace and open door
new beings (2 Corinthians 5:17). opportunities for gospel.
THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER
Page 5 | August, 2010 PROMOTIONS E-mail: christianmessenger.in@gmail.com
Kerala HC
disqualifies Cong
MP over ‘fake’
What’s God’s message to us when
caste certificate
The Kerala
High Court
times are bad and paths difficult?
recently annulled
the election of
f i v e t i m e
Congress Lok
Sabha member
Kodikunnil Agnes Amos, author of
Suresh, holding
that he was ‘THE JOURNEY
ineligible to contest from the
reserved constituency of OF A
Mavelikara in Alappuzha district.
Justice Sasidharan Nambiar
said that Suresh is not qualified to
CHRISTIAN
be a candidate in the Scheduled
Caste category and his nomination
JOB SEEKER’
should not have been accepted.
The petition was filed by R.S.
discovered it in her life.
Anil of the Communist Party of
India, whom Suresh defeated in
2009 by a margin of more than
40,000 votes and two others.
Suresh had previously won four
times (1989, 1991, 1996 and 1999)
in Adoor reserved constituency.
The petitioners had informed For direct delivery:
the court that Suresh was born as a
Christian and later converted. THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER
Speaking to reporters, former
legislator and ex Lok Sabha 20/20, Bharathiar St., Srinivasa Nagar,
member R. Balakrishnan Pillai of
Padi, Chennai 50. Ph: 044-65145334. 184 pages | Rs.120
Kerala Congress expressed
surprise at the verdict. (postage free)
“I had gone with Suresh to file Copies also available in:
his nomination and it was me who
argued with the district collector
New Delhi: Grace Literature Services 0-9911069561
that his nomination should be Chennai: Word of Christ - 044-26613242, OM Books - 044-26420816, ELS - 044-25323231,
accepted,” said Pillai. ICSA Books - 044-28193143, CLS - 044-25354296, HLC - 044-28172323, GLM - 044-24733321.
THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER
E-mail: christianmessenger.in@gmail.com INTERNATIONAL Page 6 | August, 2010
Gay Lutheran pastors set to join church roster What to look for in a pastor!
transgendered lesbian, was BY BILLY GRAHAM In other words, is Christ the
ordained by four congregations in center and foundation of that
San Francisco in 2006 but could person's life, and is their desire to
not join the ELCA roster until the serve Him above all? Do they have
d e n o m i n a t i o n ’s G e n e r a l a clear sense of calling - a deep
Assembly approved the new conviction that God has called
policy in August. “I didn’t really them into their ministry? Do they
believe the policy was going to exhibit the qualities of a Christ-
change as quickly as it did,” she like character - the Spirit’s fruit of
said. “love, joy, peace, patience,
Ms. Rohrer hailed the new kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
policy as a “symbol” to young gentleness and self-control”
people that the Lutheran church is (Galatians 5:22-23)? Ask God to
working toward becoming more help you discover this, both from
welcoming of people of all them and from others who know
different backgrounds. them.
The Rev. Jeff Johnson, another In addition, pray for your
one of the pastors who will be congregation as your new pastor
added to the roster, said the I've been asked to be on the comes. It's easy to be critical of a
HAPPY GAY LUCKY: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America search committee for a new pastor new pastor because “he doesn’t do
voting members (from left) Orinda Hawkins-Brinkley, Diane Yeager, ELCA’s position for years of not
accepting the choice of some for our church. What should we be things the way our old pastor did.”
Marj Ellis and Steven Schnittke, along with others, pray during the looking for? We want someone Don’t let this happen in your
church’s General Assembly in Minneapolis in 2009, at which the congregations to ordain gay clergy
was painful and disappointing. who’s friendly and preaches well, church, but urge people to
denomination approved resolutions in support of gays. (File photo) but what else should we be encourage and pray for your new
SEVEN pastors working in the committed relationships. Gunman slays concerned about? - Mrs. K.D. pastor every day.
God has given your committee a Affectionately known as the
San Francisco Bay area of the US “It’s going to be an extremely Pentecostal very important responsibility, and ‘World’s Preacher’ for more than
who were barred from serving in glorious and festive ceremony
the nation’s largest Lutheran group because it’s the culmination of pastor in Russia your primary goal should be to 60 years, the Rev. Billy Graham is
because of a policy that required decades of work to welcome seek His will in this matter. one of the most influential and
BISHOP Artur Suleimanov and Therefore pray constantly in your respected spiritual leaders of the
gay clergy to be celibate are being LGBT people into the ELCA,” his wife Zinaida pastored the
welcomed into the denomination. said Amalia Vagts, executive committee for God’s wisdom and 20th century.
largest Pentecostal church in guidance - and urge your He has been a friend and
The Evangelical Lutheran director of the Extraordinary D a g e s t a n ’ s c a p i t a l c i t y,
Church in America also decided to Lutheran Ministries, a nonprofit congregation to do the same. spiritual adviser to 10 American
Makhachkala. Bishop Arthur was It's natural to seek someone who presidents and has preached the
add six of the pastors to its clergy that credentials openly gay, shot in the head by an assailant on
roster at a service at St. Mark’s lesbian, bisexual and transgender is outgoing and preaches well - Gospel to more people in live
July 15. He died from his wounds a and that isn't wrong. But the most audiences than anyone else in
Lutheran Church in San Francisco. people for ministry. few hours later at a hospital.
The group is among the first The Rev. Megan Rohrer grew important characteristic of any history - nearly 215 million people
Suleimanov led Hosanna House pastor should be a heart for God - a in more than 185 countries and
gay, bisexual or transgender up in South Dakota and attended a of Prayer - a church of 1,000
Lutheran pastors to be reinstated Lutheran college, where she said deep desire to live for Christ, and territories - through various
believers - from rented facilities to see others come to know Him meetings. Hundreds of millions
or added to the rolls of the ELCA students tried to exorcise her “gay into a permanent home six years
since the organization voted last demons” by throwing holy water and serve Him. God appointed more have been reached through
ago. According to reports, David as king over His people television, video, film, and
year to lift the policy requiring on her. Some of those people are Suleimanov had just met with area
celibacy. now Lutheran pastors in South because, He said, “I have found webcasts.
pastors in which he revealed a new David son of Jesse a man after my Visit the web site for the Billy
Churches now can hire Dakota, she said. plan to reach the area with
noncelibate gay clergy who are in M s . R o h r e r, w h o i s a own heart; he will do everything I Graham Evangelistic Association:
evangelism. want him to do” (Acts 13:22). www.billygraham.org
Catholic church blasts gay priests THE BIBLE UNIVERSITY OF HOLY SPIRIT,
leading ‘double life’ NEW JERUSALEM AND BETHLEHEM,
The Catholic Church in Italy, still reeling Catholic priest.
from the clerical sex abuse scandal, lashed It insisted that the vast majority of CHENNAI 600 045.
out recently at gay priests who are leading a Rome’s 1,300 priests were truthful to their
double life, urging them to come out of the vocations and were “models of morality for
closet and leave the priesthood. all.” Accredited by World-Wide Accreditation
The Diocese of Rome issued the strongly Those who aren’t faithful to their vows
worded statement after the conservative
Panorama newsweekly said in a cover story
“know that no one is forcing them to remain
priests, taking advantage of only the
Commission of Christian Educational
and accompanying video that it had
interviewed three gay priests in Rome and
benefits,” the diocese said. “Coherency
would demand that they come forward. We
Institutions, Richmond, VA, USA
accompanied them to gay clubs and bars
and to sexual encounters with strangers,
don’t wish any ill-will against them, but we
cannot accept that because of their behavior Organised under the laws of the state of
including one in a church building. the honor of all the others is sullied.”
One of the priests, a Frenchman No one knows the exact number of gays Tamil Nadu and Government of India.
identified only as Paul, celebrated Mass in in the priesthood. Estimates of the number
the morning before driving the two escorts of gays in US seminaries and the priesthood
he had hired to attend a party the night range from 25 percent to 50 percent,
before to the airport, Panorama said.
In a recent statement, the Rome diocese
according to a review of research by the
Rev. Donald Cozzens, an author of “The
Offers Correspondence
denounced those priests who were leading a
“double life,” said they shouldn’t have been
Changing Face of the Priesthood.”
Church teaching holds that homosexual Courses in Theology,
ordained and promised that the church acts are ‘intrinsically disordered,’ and the
would rigorously pursue anyone who is
behaving in a way that wasn’t dignified for a
Vatican has recently cracked down on gays
in the priesthood. at UG, PG and
Argentina legalizes gay marriage Doctoral Levels.
ARGENTINA on July 15 became the first temperatures, erupted in cheers and tears of
nation in Latin America to legalize same- joy when news of the vote reached them.
sex marriage, turning aside protests from the The law makes Argentina one of the most Contact for details:
Roman Catholic Church to give gay couples liberal countries in the world when it comes
the same rights as their heterosexual to gay rights. No 1, Lutheran Church Cross Street,
counterparts. The Argentine Senate Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Kadaperi, Tambaram, Chennai 600 045.
approved the measure in a hard-fought 33- archbishop of Buenos Aires, led the
27 vote, with three abstentions. President opposition, saying that allowing gays and Phone 044-2238 2774, Mobile: 0-9380002895.
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has lesbians to marry posed a threat to what he
indicated that she will sign it into law called the ‘natural’ family formed by a man
quickly. and woman. He said children deserved Website: www.bibleuniversity.in
The 4:05 am vote came after an
exhaustive debate that dragged on for more
traditional role models of a father and
mother. The law allows same-sex couples to
E-mail: edmunds_36@yahoo.co.in
than 14 hours. Hundreds of supporters of the marry, adopt children and inherit property,
law, waiting outside Congress in freezing among other rights and protections. Founder-Chancellor: Cardinal Thomas Edmunds.
THE CHRISTIAN MESSENGER
Page 7 | August, 2010 NATIONAL E-mail: christianmessenger.in@gmail.com
Worship the Lord in liberty, with uplifted hands! CSI bishop charged with
BY ROBIN SAM
YEARS ago when I was a
than a mere physical activity when
it is done in Jesus’ name.
total adoration of the Lord of
Hosts.
‘misappropriation’ of funds
newbie in our church, I remember The psalmist who wrote Psalm The Creator and only the A criminal case has been filed against a Church of South India bishop
how restless and uptight I felt 134 knew the power of lifting up Creator deserves our worship. The and 12 others in Salem on charges of misappropriation of some three
when praise and worship was on. I his hands in God’s presence. ‘Lift 24 elders mentioned in crores of church funds.
disliked being asked to stand up to up your hands in the sanctuary, and Revelations 4 understood this. The case charged against Bishop Manickam Dorai, his wife and 10
sing during worship session. I bless the Lord. The Lord that made That’s why they prostrated others, includes cheating, Inspector Kennedy said.
didn’t know what the worship heaven and earth bless thee out of themselves before Him who sits The police is already investigating the alleged misappropriation of
leader meant when he often said Zion,’ he wrote in verses 2 and 3. on the throne and said: ‘Thou art funds against the accused in Coimbatore, Udhagamandalam and Erode,
‘Worship the Lord with liberty.’ In the book of Lamentations, worthy, O Lord, to receive glory English daily Hindustan Times reported. The Bishop and his wife had
Coming from a traditional church during a time of great peril to and honor and power: for thou hast already obtained anticipatory bail from the Madras High Court in the
background, to me liberty just Israel, Jeremiah sought the nation created all things, and for thy Coimbatore case. Following the alleged irregularities, Bishop Paul
didn’t seem to fit in with the to intercede for itself in the only pleasure they are and were Vasanthakumar of Tiruchi and Thanjavur diocese has taken over the
concept of worship. But all that way it knew: ‘Arise, cry out in the created.’ additional charge of Coimbatore Diocese.
changed over time when the Spirit night: in the beginning of the If you doubt that uplifted hands
of God ministered to me, broke my watches pour out thine heart like
water before the face of the Lord:
and a heart full of praise can bring
deliverance in your situation, may
Christian woman ‘critical’
misgivings, molded me and took
me through various experiences – lift up thy hands toward him for the I urge you to look up Exodus after being attacked for her faith
some sweet, others bitter but life of thy young children, that 17:11-13 in your Bible? In the
A Christian woman is said to be in a critical condition in hospital after
mostly uplifting. faint for hunger in the top of every battle against Amalekites, as long
being attacked by a knife-wielding mob who accused her of forcible
Recently, I was rereading a book street.’ as Moses’ hands were held up, the
conversion. The 40-year-old woman, named only as Amodini, was at her
and I stumbled upon some A grief-laden heart had to be Israelites had the upper hand.
home in Karnataka, on July 6 when 15 men burst in and started accusing
delightful insight on the spent and a helpless pair of hands When his hands relaxed, the
her of forcing people to become Christians. They then launched a brutal
importance of worshiping God needed to be lifted up to God in Amalekites gained the lead.
attack on her. “Amodini’s clothes were removed in public and she was
with liberty. And lifting up of prayer for Israel’s turnaround. Finally, Aaron and Hur stood on
attacked with knives,” a witness said, describing the scene as ‘horrific’.
hands had a lot to do with it. I Things have not changed much either of his side to hold his hands
turned to my Bible to understand since. When misfortunes strike us, and thus Israelites beat Amalekites
why lifting up of hands means a lot
in praise and worship.
when the future seems bleak and
when there seems to be no fresh
fair and square.
However, lifting up hands Net Comp IT Solutions
King David understood that to revelation from God, that’s when heavenward is not just an Old
worship God is to seek an intimate we need to worship the Lord. And Testament feature. In 1 Timothy
encounter with Him. When he was be sure to lift up your hands to 2:8, Paul exhorted believers Laptops | Desktops | Printers
in the wilderness of Judah, he God. everywhere to lift up ‘holy hands,
longed to see God’s power and Lifting up our hands signifies without wrath and doubting.’
glory. His soul and flesh yearned complete surrender on our part; we In the book ‘If nobody reaches Hardware & Networking
for God’s loving kindness while acknowledge the sovereignty of nobody gets touched’, American
his lips were full of praises.
Naturally, David lifted up his
God and His supreme power over
us and our situations.
evangelist Don Gossett says: ‘The
lifting up of holy hands in prayer,
Sales & Services
hands towards heaven. ‘Thus will I Further, in Lamentations 3:41 praise and worship is God’s desire
bless thee while I live: I will lift up
my hands in thy name.’ (Psalms
Jeremiah said: ‘Let us lift up our
heart with [our] hands unto God in
of us.
Man’s order in religion is often
Net Comp IT Solutions
63:4). the heavens.’ Lifting up of hands ceremonial and ritualistic, after No. 36, 1st Floor, Halls Road,
Lifting up your hands is more along with the heart also implies man’s tradition. But God’s order in
worship is life, liberty and the Kilpauk, Chennai 10.
lovely lifting up of our hands.’ Is Phone: 044-42032697, 26449650 | 09841044626
WEDDING SUPPLIES your worship like that?
We undertake orders for bridal bouquets, veils, How you can
flower girls / maids requirements. We make 3-tier Continuing Education Opportunity (CEO) Centre help us!
wedding cake, decorative giveaway cake pieces. South Asia
Owned and published by Elsy Robin from 329/4, Poonga Apartments, HIG Flats, II Avenue, Anna Nagar, Chennai 600 040.
Printed by L Cyril Sagayaraj at VS Printograph Pvt Ltd., 1, Narasinghapuram Extn.., 1st Lane, Maduvankarai, Guindy, Chennai 600 032. Editor: Elsy Robin