Published Issues







The CALL - Jan to March 2009

EDITORIAL

As we look at the world events of the gone by year it seems that the world is heading towards unsure times & still more an unsure destiny.  The economic recession in the U.S. affected other countries as the stock markets fell drastically in Frankfurt, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Paris, London, and other major cities in Europe and Asia, like never before. Year 2008, was a year of economic instability; terrorism had become a daily event; suicide bombings made news every month around the globe and it was intense in countries like Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Israel. In May 2008, cyclone in Myanmar killed 78,000 people and 68,000 died in the earthquake in China. So too in Bihar, India the river Kosi breached its banks and swallowed up more than a million lives. Churches were vandalized and Christian believers & ministers tortured and killed in hundreds in Orissa, India. As we witness all these, the words from Matthew 24: 3-8 stand out in our minds and we know that we are in the end times.


Amidst all these the Church at large is called to take heed to the call from the Lord to “teach, rebuke, correct & train” (2 Tim 3:16, TNIV) her believers according to the Scriptures, equipping all God’s people (2 Tim 3:17, TNIV) to venture forth into new avenues taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.

The Lord has given us, Ruth 2: 12b “May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge” as promise for the year 2009. We invite you to join the GEMS family together in prayer and active participation as we toil for the Lord in bringing people under His wings.

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: D. Augustine Jebakumar
New Gen Thinking: Beware the Snare in Games - Arun Venkit
Young & Full of Life: I want to tell my friend about Jesus, BUT.... - Annie Livingston
Get Equipped: In the Defence of Faith - J. Mariyosh
Children's Chronicles: Tale of Tails - Vidhya Arun
The Magnifying Glass: Deborah Bible Training Centre
Tentmaking: Can I be a Corporate Missionary? - Rajesh Duthie
Red Hot: Missionary Retirement - Jeyasingh David
Missionary Pioneers: A True Life Missionary Story
News & Views: Dating-To do or not to do! - Paul Winston Bance


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The CALL - April to June 2009




EDITORIAL


We live in a time when people are oriented towards believing that there is no absolute truth. We are living amidst a generation devoid of conscience as it believes and practices the words of Adolf Hitler who said, “Conscience is a Jewish invention”. Wherein the Bible commends everyone to have a good & pure conscience (I Timothy 1:5, 19; 3:9). This deception is even more subtle in Christendom that many think that the teaching of moral values can be done without the use of the name of Jesus Christ. This is because of influence of secularism in the church. ‘When God is not spelt JESUS’ profoundly talks about this. And the calling is on each one of us to reach everyone with the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

On one side when war criminals and extremist group leaders are being tried in countries like Cambodia, Darfur and Peru, on the other side terrorism and extremism is showing its ugly faces in countries like Srilanka, Pakistan & Bangladesh. Even as we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, we proclaim PEACE and it is the cross that can bridge all divisions.

As the 15th Lok Sabha Elections are starting from 16th April covering 571 constituencies from 58 States & Union territories of India, let us unite our hearts in prayer that a government pleasing to the Lord & fulfilling His purpose be formed. The Lord who has called us out of the world (John 17:6, 16) has also chose us to be the salt & light of this world (Matthew 5:13, 14) and this means that we should be catalysts in bringing changes in the society. This is possible only if every Christian starts to live the life he has been called upon to live according to the Bible and makes his presence known from the pavement to the parliament.

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: Can't say NO! Every man has a Call! - D. Augustine Jebakumar
New Gen Thinking: Marketing God - Dani P. Rajiah
Young & Full of Life: What keeps you awake at night? - Angeline Mariyosh
Get Equipped: Who is Isa? What is Islam? - J. Mariyosh
Children's Chronicles: If God can use a donkey, God can use [insert your name] - Anne
The Magnifying Glass: GEMS Institute of Future Technology
Tentmaking: Staring Trouble? - Arun Venkit
Red Hot: When God is not spelt JESUS - Vicky Gibson
History Makers: George Washington - Colette Bennion
Standing @ the GAP: Let us walk into nations - Rajesh Duthie
News & Views: Pass the poison, please! - Abraham Israel Moses

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The CALL - July to Sep 2009



EDITORIAL


Even as India bursts into its 62nd year of Independence, the nation needs to remember the Christian missionaries who contributed to the development of the nation in the fields of education, medicine, language, literature and social reformation. Many Christians were also involved in the freedom movement which included K.T. Paul, V. Chakkarai & his colleagues, Bishop Paul Appaswamy, Bishop Waskom Pickett, E. Stanley Jones and Bishop V.S. Azariah. The father of our nation, Gandhi wrote in 1920, “I revere the Bible. Christ’s Sermon on the Mount fills me with bliss even today. Its sweet verses have even today the power to quench my agony of the soul…” Writing in The Harijan in January 1939, he said, “Though I cannot claim to be a Christian in the sectarian sense, the example of Jesus’ suffering is a factor in the composition of my undying faith in non-violence which rules all my actions, worldly and temporal.” The Bible and many Christians like Charlie Andrews and Sushil Kumar Rudra influenced Gandhi deeply. As Indian Christians the baton has passed on to us to carry on the good works done by the early missionaries who went ahead of us, so that “people may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven” (Mt 5:16). We are also called to be “Influencers” wherever we are placed; as teachers, medical professionals, lawyers, engineers, government officials, businessmen, sportsmen so that this nation may come to know its Savior Jesus Christ.

The United States of America celebrated the 40th anniversary of man landing on the moon on 16th July. The world needs remember that when the astronauts of Apollo 8, in that first manned space voyage, as they got a glimpse of the beauty of the earth from space, the only words that they could utter at such a moment were, “In the beginning God…..”. Let us not fail to include God in our educational institutions, courts and workplaces and, “in all our ways let us acknowledge Him and He will make our paths straight.” (Pro 3:6). The courts of justice in India, by legalizing homosexuality thinks that they are being more tolerant, open and liberal in their attitude and approach, not knowing that such acts degrades the moral conscience of the society and leads its people to sin. Let us stand on God’s side and save our nation from damnation. Because only “righteousness exalts a nation…” (Pro 14:34).

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: The Kingdom Centered Life - D. Augustine Jebakumar
New Gen Thinking: Christian TV Is it what it ought to be? - M. Bright Kennedy
Young & Full of Life: The Sound of Music - Vidhya Arun
Get Equipped: The road beyond the Vatican- J. Mariyosh
Children's Chronicles: Jesus, my best friend - Christy Bance
The Magnifying Glass: GEMS Department of R&D
Tentmaking: Being good at Plan B - Arun Venkit
Red Hot: Where is God in the recession? - S. Sam Christopher Oswin
History Makers: Doubting Disillusioned Thomas
News & Views: Legalizing Homosexuality

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The CALL - Oct to Dec 2009




EDITORIAL



India sadly remembered the 1st anniversary of 26/11 – the Mumbai terror attacks. The world is relieving the effects of the pandemic, Swine flu. The economic recession has not even left the commercial hub of the UAE, Dubai and even many Indians have lost their jobs. Inequality between the first and third world countries becomes obvious in the way these issues are handled. When the US, UK and other developed nations were piling up anti-viral drugs, many African & Asian countries could not handle the situation and are struggling to keep pace with the ground reality. Wars, pestilences, natural calamities are tearing the world apart.


The pages of history are full of stories of the powerful suppressing the weak and the oppressed rising against the oppressor. The world politics functions on the principle of survival of the fittest. But an almighty God, who is self-sufficient, gave Himself by sending His Son Jesus Christ to redeem the weak. This is the story of Christmas. We are also called to give all that we are and all that we have to redeem the weak, the poor and the downtrodden economically, physically, mentally and spiritually.  Let us give ourselves to others as Christ gave Himself a ransom to all! (1 Tim 2:6)

GEMS celebrated 30 years of completion of its Educational services and 38 years of Humanitarian services. On this occasion the Lord helped us to dedicate an auditorium for His glory that could seat 5000 people. Deliverance meetings will continue to happen on every second Saturday of a month throughout the year. God has been faithful and led us so far.  Pray that this God initiated mission continue to fulfill God’s purpose.
We wish you a meaningful Christmas and a blessed New Year!

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: O Little town of Bethlehem.... - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Young & Full of Life: God's Suicide Bomber - John Prasanth Rajan
Get Equipped: The Six Blind Men - Willeke KleinJan
Children's Chronicles: The Tail Star - Angela Danie
The Magnifying Glass: GEMS Day Care Center
Tentmaking: Are you Game? Play Evangelism! - Vidhya Arun
Red Hot: The Newest Plague: Swine Flu - Lois Sampath
History Makers: The History that Jesus made - Arun Venkit
Standing @ the GAP: Tears of the Ganga - Gideon M. Durai
News & Views: Is Music Neutral? - Judith van Dijken

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The CALL - Jan to March 2010








CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: D. Augustine Jebakumar
New Gen Thinking: James Bond and JESUS in the Same Frame! Sauve? - P J Kirubagaran
Young & Full of Life: A Day to Remember - J. Mariyosh
Get Equipped: Help! I am hooked to PORN! - Paul Winston Bance
The Magnifying Glass: GEMS Homes
Tentmaking: Are you Game? Play Evangelism! - Annie & Raphael
Red Hot: The Lure of Middle Age - Jeyasingh David
History Makers: The saffron clad apostle and apologist of India - Jonathan Vinod Kumar
Standing @ The GAP: India's Newest Threat: Regionalism - Daniel Johnson
News & Views: Can I Party? - Annie Livingstone

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The CALL - April to June 2010





CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: Sir, We wish to see Jesus! - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Young & Full of Life: My knight in Shining Armor - Vidhya Arun
Get Equipped: Piercing the fence of the Urban Recluse - Joseph Abraham
Children's Chronicles: CAPTAIN BLOOD! My Superhero - Uncle John
Tentmaking: Plucking Grapes from the Office Grapevine - Bobby Leonard
Red Hot: Godmen UNMASKED - Clement Barnabas
History Makers: The First Protestant - J. Mariyosh
Standing @ The GAP: Bonded to Labor! Freed to Life
News & Views: Is Piercing my body, a sin? - Prason & Is Tatoo too much....? - Dr. Antony Arokiadass

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The CALL -  July to Dec 2010


CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: Let us not give up meeting together - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Christmas Message: No More Me! - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Young & Full of Life: Young Spenders - Annie Livingstone
Children's Chronicles: The Smile - Angela Danie
Tentmaking: Liar! Liar! Gospel Liar! - Arun Venkit
Red Hot: Maoism-A Movement Soaked in Blood - Sam Christopher Oswin
History Makers: The cobbler who obeyed God's commission - Minu Aaron
Standing @ The GAP: Unguarded borders! Unprotected lives! - Mariyosh J
News & Views: Celebrations: Pompous or Pious? - Priscilla Jesudian

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The CALL -  Jan to Mar 2011

EDITORIAL

New Year greetings to the readers of The CALL! It is amazing to see the way the Lord is using this magazine as it is ordained to be. In the last issue we published an article on Human Trafficking with special reference to Nepal. Right two weeks after its publication at least there were three reports in the newspapers of traffickers being caught & detained in the Indian side border of Nepal. You can read the reports in the blog of The CALL.

The sole aim of The CALL is to stir the hearts & minds of the people and engage them with Biblical perspective to all life’s issues, so as to create a Biblical worldview in them and make them Christ’s disciples, who become proactive Christians engaging in meaningful prayer & thoughtful action. As you know the world is wicked and the devil is using all mediums & especially the media to trap people, children, young & old alike. The CALL is published with a view to draw in that audience who are carried away by other secular magazines. Because of the popular opinion & notion that a missions’ magazine would only consist only of mission news & appeal for funds, the younger generation does not widely read such magazines. We want to make a difference and boldly address all issues of temptation & sin, so as to deliver them from the clutches of the devil, give them the hope in Christ and make them as useful vessels for God.

Even as you are reading, Christians are being persecuted for their faith in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Vietnam, Ethiopia and Eritrea. We implore the readers to pray for the persecuted & the persecutors as Jesus said in Matthew 5:44-46 “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..... If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?”

The first week of this year witnessed the mysterious deaths of birds & fishes in Arkansas (US), Sweden, Japan, Thailand & Brazil. It is very much in line with the prophecy over Israel in Hosea 4:3 & the whole earth in Zephaniah 1:3. Let us return to the living God and turn people towards Him as we are one more year closer to the coming of Lord Jesus Christ!

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: Yes! We can with Christ! - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Young & Full of Life: You broke my heart! - Callie Ariel
Children's Chronicles: The Baby Chipmunk - Amiee Wood
The Magnifying Glass: GEMS STORM - The Team
Tentmaking: PROFIT & Professionals-A force to transform the workplace! - D. Augustine Jebakumar
History Makers: Saver turned Slave trader - Peter Jayaraj
Standing @ The GAP: Redeeming Rahabs - Angeline Mariyosh
Get Equipped: Helping Mephiboseths - Victor Alfred
Red Hot: Wholesome Education: Need of the hour - Sam Christopher Oswin

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The CALL -  April to June 2011
EDITORIAL



This issue will take the reader through a journey, where every reader will find himself/herself among the lines of the articles. Articles that will make you cry, comforted and challenged. So, we invite the reader to take this journey, reading through every article. We enjoyed working on making this magazine and we hope that you would enjoy not only reading it, but also pass it on to others. The lead column ‘From Bihar with Love’ talks about the hurts that we incur in our lives through others and it calls us to commit ourselves to God to be comforted by Him. Other articles urge us to go ahead and comfort others who are hurting; show the way to do it at our workplaces, in our neighbourhood or in a far away mission.


A new column adorns this issue, MK Memoirs – the column by MKs and for MKs, where every missionary kid would have an opportunity to see themselves in it or to relive their past. It would also inspire other readers to pray for MKs and to stand with them in their times of need. We also urge MKs from across the globe to contribute for this column, by sending in their memoirs – as articles, poems, paintings, anecdotes, etc.

At The CALL, it has been our aim to present biblical perspectives to contemporary and relevant issues. The article ‘ISM that Terrorizes’ is a Christian response to the worldwide evil, Terrorism. The recent post in the blog of The CALL on the titles ‘Prevaricated publication of a popular paper on pornography’ that exhorted the readers to not be deceived with articles in newspapers and magazines with one-sided revelations, written only to increase their TRP & GRP ratings and the other on ‘What’s wrong with our education system?’, is continuing to receive wide acclamation, as they proved to be eye-openers.

We also tried our hands in producing a few videos on the themes of the articles to create cognizance for The CALL. You can watch them in the face book page of The CALL and share them with your contacts and friends in social media.


CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: On the Jericho Road - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Young & Full of Life: In the Road of Life - Annie Livingston
Get Equipped: Help I am an ADDICT - Mariyosh J
Children's Chronicles: Little John & the Piano - Jessintha Raja
The Magnifying Glass: GEMS Children Ministries - The Team
Tentmaking: Your sphere of influence - Bobby Leonard
Red Hot'ISM' that Terrorizes - Sam Christopher Oswin
History Makers: Businessman who became a do-gooder - Anand Jeyasingh
MK Memoirs: Away and Alone - Angeline Mariyosh


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The CALL -  July to Sep 2011

The Venetian Mask that adorns the cover is one of those masks worn by Venetians during the Carnevale (Carnival of Venice) as a device for hiding the wearer's identity and social status. The mask would permit the wearer to act more freely in cases where he or she wanted to interact with other members of the society outside the bounds of identity and everyday convention. It was useful for a variety of purposes, some of them illicit or criminal. Social media and the social networking services like facebook, orkut, second life, etc. are in a way being used like the Venetian Mask by those who seek to indulge by posing a different identity believing that they can hide their own self behind the social media mask. The article ‘I am on facebook’ throws enough light on this subject.

The words that C.S. Lewis penned in his masterpiece work Screwtape Letters which he articulates through the Senior Tempter Screwtape in the letters to his nephew Wormwood rightly presents this issue, “All we can do is to encourage the humans to take the Pleasures which our Enemy has produced, at times, or in ways, or in degrees, which He has forbidden. An ever increasing craving for an ever diminishing pleasure is the formula.” And many Christian believers and even ministers having fallen prey to the Devil’s formula live a life with dual identity and as C.S. Lewis says in this book, “feel, instead of shame, a continual undercurrent of self-satisfaction”. We encourage the readers to not only read the article ‘The chronicles of the atheist turned apologist’ but also to seek to live a life with Christ-centred identity. ‘Missionaries of the kingdom below’ is an attempt to present the present deceptions in a lucid manner, in the style ofScrewtape Letters and we hope that it would be an engaging experience for our readers leading towards truthful self-introspection, creating a Christian worldview in regards to the presented issues.

But, even as we engage in a self-introspective reading let us not forget our responsibility towards those living in the world and in the womb, which is the theme of ‘Let them LIVE!’and ‘Why migrate?’

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: More than Greedy - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Young & Full of Life: I am on facebook - Rollet Grace
Children's Chronicles: True Pal - Angeline Mariyosh
The Magnifying Glass: GEMS Training Department - Paul Winston Bance
Tentmaking: Why migrate? - Mariyosh J
Red Hot: Missionaries of the kingdom below - Arun Venkit
History Makers: The chronicles of the Atheist turned Apologist - Anand Jeyasingh
Standing @ The GAP: Let them LIVE! - Stanly & Preena Stanly
MK Memoirs: A specialized gang called MKs - Annie Livingston
News & Views: Evolution-Believe it or not! - Dexter Meeks
GEMS LiNk: News Updates

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The CALL -  Oct to Dec 2011



EDITORIAL


It is Christmas time and as we celebrate Christ’s birth, it is very crucial that we not be carried away by a self-centred celebration. This issue of The CALL is packed with articles, stories and real life inspirations that remind us of that truth.


Children, this Christmas The CALL brings a cherish-able story for you once again by Angela aunty, who has treated you with stories every Christmas in The CALL.

As you see in the World Clock 2011, until the time of design there have been 56, 333, 342 deaths in the world in this year alone which includes 809,368 deaths by suicide and 39, 874, 011 abortions and counting (not included in the total death count). In the last issue we wrote about abortion in the article titled ‘Let them LIVE!’ and the next issue will feature an exclusive article on ‘Suicides’. There are lot of people in your office and neighbourhood who are contemplating suicide, who need HELP, who need JESUS! The article ‘Help for today! Hope for tomorrow!!’ will equip you to be a better counsellor in helping such hurting people.  
    
The article in the ‘Tentmaking’ column narrates the sad incident of the suicide of Bangalorian Santosh Sarade, a 31-year old software engineer and shows us the urgency of workplace evangelism and commissions every Christian professional to take the gospel to our friends & colleagues at our workplaces.

The article on Chetan Bhagat is a insightful writing on the subtle immorality seen in Chetan’s writings that is now dictating the life standards of a very large mass of English knowing Indian esp the youth.

Even as you sing Handel’s “Joy to the World” or “King of kings forever” this Christmas, let your celebrations too be Christ-centred as were his compositions.

Share your joy to others and your blessings to the poor and include your children too in it. We wish you a Christ-centred and meaningful Christmas and blessed New Year! 

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: The strange fire - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Christmas Message: Quick Noodle Christmas - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Young & Full of Life: I am a Christian & I follow Tom Cruise - Amiee Wood
Get Equipped: Help for today! Hope for tomorrow!!-Biblical Counseling - Preena Stanly
Children's Chronicles: A Cherished Christmas - Angela Danie
The Magnifying Glass: GEMS Medical Ministries - Ashok & Suresh
Tentmaking: You are the Dynamite: Reasons for workplace evangelism - Mariyosh J
History Makers: The Christ centered composer - Anand Jeyasingh
Publish Your Work: Choosing the best Christmas gift - Esther Prakash
GEMS LiNk: News Updates

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The CALL -  Jan to Mar 2012




EDITORIAL




The bygone year was indeed an eventful year or rightly put events that revolutionized the world. Several political revolutions that sprung up in the Arab world that came to be called as “Arab Spring”, resulted in the rulers being forced from power in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen. Civil uprisings and major protests were also seen in Bahrain, Syria, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco and Oman and minor protests in five other Arab nations.


2011 also witnessed an economic revolution that affected the financial capital of the world, Wall Street, New York. The ‘Occupy Wall Street’ (OWS) protest was staged against the social and economic inequality, greed, corruption, etc. The editor and co-founder of Adbusters who initiated OWS said, “Anna Hazare is one of our heroes and mentors.” And the social & political revolution in India led by him to enact a stringent anti-corruption law in India as envisaged in the Jan Lokpal Bill saw a huge response.

That was not the end of revolutions. The media revolution affected the world when CNN International rated the song ‘Why this kolaveri di?’ as the world’s top song of 2011.  And Indian author Chetan Bhagat was rated one among the world’s most influential by TIME magazine.  

The church also gets caught and swayed away by these and not knowing that “it” is the answer, goes on to choose what it “feels” as right and also becomes “fans” of such frenzy! The saddest of all is the state of the youth and the cover story “What are you hooked on?” investigates and presents the truth. The church needs a revival so that it can become that answer; as all these revolutions cannot be a solution to the inner longing, hopelessness, depravity, peacelessness, security, etc. but JESUS and His church is!  And this can happen only if the church of Christ readies itself for a revival, knowing that the Lord who has promised success is calling us to “Arise and Build”!

Two articles feature two writers, Chetan Bhagat and John Bunyan whose works have been made into movies. John Bunyan is spoken about and the movie on his book ‘The Pilgrims Progress’ is re-made even after four centuries, whereas even the movie makers who made a movie on Chetan’s work do not want to credit him! What’s the difference?   Only truth stays forever! Read the articles for more insight. “Of course the world needs revolution, revolution without ‘Masala’” enounces the video on Chetan Bhagat created by The CALL team. Visit the YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/gemsthecall to watch the video.

‘Muddy handprints of a little girl’ is the retelling of a heart-breaking incident in the life of a kid which resounds the call to Stand @ the GAP for the negative influence of media and the hurting children.
Let this issue reshape your thinking, echo God’s call in your life and inspire you towards divine and meaningful purpose!

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: Arise and Build - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Young & Full of Life: What are you hooked on? - Mariyosh
Children's Chronicles: Noah and the tests - Annie Livingston
The Magnifying Glass: Lift up your eyes to the hills: Rohtas - Saravanan
Tentmaking: Your people in my heart - Peter & Sumithra
Red Hot: Dear Chetan - Callie Ariel
History Makers: The ever appealing allegorist - Anand Jeyasingh
MK Memoirs: Japan, Here I come! - Silas Cole
Standing @ the GAP: Muddy handprints of a little girl - Angeline Mariyosh
GEMS LiNk: News Updates

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The CALL -  April to June 2012


EDITORIAL
Just before leaving to Bihar after the vacations I visited a Juvenile Home in my hometown in the South and spoke with the 23 inmates who were of 10 to 17 years of age, arrested for various crimes. There was this one boy in the Home who was just 12 years old. He hailed from Bihar and as soon as he heard that I was going back to Bihar he held my hands and cried pleading me to help find his parents. When I conversed with him I came to know that he ran away from his home because his parents and elder brother fought very often. Dysfunctional families are growing and uncared children and teens go wayward. Deprived of love they long and search for it from others and get trapped in an imaginary and unreal world, not knowing the difference between “love”, “infatuation” and “lust”.

The insightful article “Before Falling In Love” is a response to the cries of such teens and youngsters who have strode that pitiful path and ended up in tarnishing their teenage and youth. Realizing that it is also the responsibility of the parents to properly parent their children, the article on Parenting in the ‘Get Equipped’ column focuses on helping parents to know how their children act at different stages of life and equips them to be God ordained parents in the lives of their children.

The Children’s Chronicles column also brings the story of a failing and abused boy who needed help. While the story “Make a Difference” portrays how a friend of this boy made a difference in his life for the better, ‘MK Memoirs’ carries the true story of a GEMS MK who shares his very personal story with us and I am very sure it will inspire every MK and every youth to live for God no matter what deprivation or struggle one goes through. It’s also an example of how God can take one from the crossroad to conviction and to follow in the footsteps of his parents and forerunners, who chose to sacrifice and to give up all that they had, to be a God’s Missionary!

The Seventeenth SAARC summit was held under the theme “Building Bridges” and this leaves us with the responsibility to take certain concrete steps to build bridges to reach out to the SAARC nations with the love of Christ and the featured article in FBWL proposes this answering to the question “Who is my neighbour?” Reminding every Christian at the workplace that the ACT of sharing the gospel is for all, the article in ‘Tentmaking’ prescribes with the gears to gear up for workplace evangelism.

While the silver screen and the big screen has coupled up once again (big stunt to rise TRPs though) as in the case of Satyameva Jayate, the TV talk show on social issues, the producer and host Aamir Khan however real and convincing he might be seen on the show, he fails to realize that “life speaks louder than shows”. Apart from divorcing his first wife, the child born to Aamir Khan and his second wife Kiran Rao was through “Surrogacy” and the article “Rent-A-Womb” explores and exposes the realities behind this issue and creates a credible Christian perspective to the whole issue.

Whilst we live in a time when evil is packed and presented appealingly, Christians and Christian ministers are failing to live up to the standard of the Bible, pleasing to God. We hope that through The CALL we will continue to “awake” and “arise” the readers! (Ephesians 5:14 ESV).

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: Who is my Neighbour? - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Young & Full of Life: Before falling in LOVE - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Children's Chronicles: Make a Difference - Pavithra Joseph
The Magnifying Glass: The story of a church - MJ Mathews & Gladwyn
Tentmaking: P.R.O.F.I.T-A mantra for workplace evangelism - Mariyosh J
Get Equipped: Parenting: God's trust on us - Christy Bance
MK Memoirs: Back to the place where I began - Ashish Daniel
News & Views: Rent-A-Womb - Stanly & Preena Stanly

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The CALL -  July to Sep 2012







Ah! If you are holding this magazine in your hands then all my efforts to stop this has gone in vain. May be you should at least have a look at all that I tried to contain this. (May be this time I might succeed!) You can see my hard efforts at http://thecall.gemsbihar.org/2012/09/ha-ha-ha-ha.html and find me under my vicious laugh “Ha... Ha... Ha.... Ha...”

Editorial

When Hobart Mauer, the onetime president of American Psychological Association wrote, "For several decades we psychologists looked upon the whole matter of sin and moral accountability as a great incubus and acclaimed our liberation from it as epoch making. But at length we have discovered that to be free in this sense, that is, to have the excuse of being sick rather than sinful, is to court the danger of also becoming lost… In becoming amoral, ethically neutral and free, we have cut the very roots of our being, lost our deepest sense of selfhood and identity, and with neurotics, themselves, we find ourselves asking, "Who am I, what is my deepest destiny, what does living mean?" it appeared that he had come closer to the realization of the truth; but he did not commit himself to the truth for transformation.  Very shortly he committed suicide. Atheism and Psychology could not save him.



The article “Lending hands to help people LIVE” would equip to help such people suffering with suicidal thoughts, clearly stating the hope that is in Christ Jesus. When literally Google is everywhere its influence through its campaign to support Homosexuality and its rights at the workplace, is on the rise, the perceptive article in the Tentmaking column would help Christians at the workplace to stand for the Truth.



As the Olympics gold medallist Charlie Houchin said in the London Olympics that that it was his faith in Christ that made the victory sweet, the article “Knocking down the Tempter” shows the way to be victorious over temptations.

Even as you read this issue of The CALL our prayer is that you who have started in Spirit may not finish in the flesh, as the lead article urges.




CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: Are you finishing in the flesh? - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Young & Full of Life: Knocking Down the Tempter - Mariyosh J
Children's Chronicles: The Best way to grow fast - Esther Prakash
Tentmaking: Stand Up for Jesus at your workplace - Peter & Sumithra
Get Equipped: Lending hands to help people LIVE! - Stanly & Preena
The Magnifying Glass: Reaching out to Redeem Youths in Ranchi - Anand Daniel & Dency Monila
News & Views: Should a Christian do Yoga? - Dexter Meeks

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The CALL -  Oct to Dec 2012



Dear Reader,

Even as I sat to write this editorial I was shocked to read the news of the Connecticut school shooting which killed 26 people of whom 20 are children. Is just “gun control” the solution? What about the knife attack on school children in China’s Henan province the same day (Friday 14 Dec) which left 22 children wounded. Just as our hearts are broken on account of these, let it heed to Jesus’ cry, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them” (Matthew 19:14). Misplaced priorities and inexpedient policies; instead of controlling guns, the Bible & Scripture classes are controlled! I remember reading a post in facebook, “Bibles are allowed in prisons and banned in schools. If Bibles would be given & taught to children at schools they will not end up in prisons.”

And since the world’s third most populated country is Facebook, what one shares on it and on other social media reflects ones character. The youth write up “A Tweeter is known by his Tweet” aims at nailing this thought. Let not shopping, Santa Claus and the similarities steal us away from the very reason of this season, as the Calltoon* in the Cover suggests! Seeing “OMG” this was prominent in my mind – “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out” (Luke 19:40 NIV). When the Lord is making stones speak, let not our hearts be hardened to not proclaim the Truth in this festive season. Let the passion of the lepers persuade us too, “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves.” (2 Kings 7:9 NIV)

Let’s make use of this Christmas to “Be an Angel” in the lives of others starting from our families to our workplaces. “It’s your turn to pass it on” is a compelling story filled with ideas on how you can meaningfully to the act of passing Jesus and His joy on. Not being fussy with the little material things about dresses and decorations, “Overcoming family conflicts”, celebrate this Christmas with your needy neighbours, your housemaid, apartment guards and so on reflecting “The utmost necessity in this festivity” – humility!

Entering into a New Year the hunt to receive promises from every possible and probable prophet and priest would be on the rise, let’s not forget the “responsibility that keeps increasing in our lives” as promises increase which the Featured article, “Responsibility follows Promise!” puts forth.

Wishing you a meaningful Christmas and purpose driven New Year!

* ‘Calltoon’ is a series of sketches produced  by The CALL

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: Responsibility follows Promise! - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Christmas Message: The utmost necesity in this festivity! - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Young & Full of Life: A Tweeter is known by his Tweet - Mariyosh J
Children's Chronicles: Be an Angel! - Sheela Duthie
The Magnifying Glass: A light that shines in the darkness-The story of Auradandi - Mariyosh J & Gideon M Durai
Tentmaking: It's your turn to pass it on - Peter & Sumithra
Get Equipped: Our Christmas is Crumbling-Overcoming Family Conflicts - Paul Bance & Christy Bance
History Makers: Widowed, yet not wearied, but with a Vision & Mission - Angeline Mariyosh

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The CALL -  Jan to March 2013



In the event of preparing this issue and writing this editorial every time I read on the Delhi gang rape, the brutality of the incident moistened my eyes. Are candle light marches and public protests sufficient? Will that be the solution to this every increasing menace? Is hanging the Delhi gang rape accused adequate? What about the evil in everyone’s heart as this issue’s Cover Calltoon* portrays?



While repentance, change of heart & behaviour would be the rightful response, it is also the responsibility of every parent to teach their boys to respect every girl and every woman. Many times parents and the church shun from addressing the curiosity of their children and youth toward sex and alike issues, not realizing that they end up learning everything wrong and perverted from their peers and wrongful sources. ‘Helping Amanats, Nirbhayas and Daminis have a safer world’ is written to equip the readers to help those who have suffered at such evil hands and parents & teachers should teach these to their children and students.



It is not just sufficient that we do not do evil, but need to know to do the right thing as the youth article ‘Young and Important’ suggests. And for that one needs to develop godly characters as put forth by the lead article ‘Becoming the Beatitude’. ‘Can Guns Really Save Us?’ answering the posed question purports the reader toward pivotal prayer and meaningful action.



The articles in the Children’s Chronicles, MK Memoirs and Tentmaking are full of real stories of girls and women talking about their everyday struggles at the school, college and workplace. Let us not be hypocritical as that of most of the media channels that telecast breaking news and debates on woman dignity and screen advertisements with obscene imagery and portrayal of women, during the break.

Let’s pledge and provide safety, space and show respect to them everywhere.



Mariyosh J

Chief Editor, The CALL


* ‘Calltoon’ is a series of sketches produced  by The CALL

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: Becoming the Beatitudes - Reena Goforth
Standing @ The GAP: Can Guns Really Save Us? - Sumithra
Children's Chronicles: I wish I were a Boy! - Angeline Mariyosh
Tentmaking: Set her Free - Sumithra
MK Memoirs: From the school of life to the school where I studied - Angelene Gracia
Get Equipped: Helping Amanats, Nirbhayas and Daminis have a safer world - Preena Stanly

Young & Full of Life: Young and Important - Callie Ariel
The Magnifying Glass: Empowering Girls & Women in Bihar & Beyond 

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The CALL -  April to June 2013



If I say “Science has made living easy”, it won’t sound exaggerating; as the modern advancements of Science & Technology has made communication quicker, transportation faster and living cozier. But as C.S. Lewis rightly says, “Science works by experiments. It watches how things behave. Every scientific statement in the long run, however complicated it looks, really means something like, 'I pointed the telescope to such and such a part of the sky at 2:20 a.m. on January 15th and saw so-and-so.’”. He also notes in the book ‘The Magician’s Twin’ that it is a misguided effort to apply science to areas outside its proper bounds.

The Bible points toward us a very right question, “You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” Science does makes interpretations, but not life interpretations and even more cannot satisfactorily answer the big life questions of origin, meaning, morality & destiny.

It is even more alarming to see the moral decline in those committed to Scientific & Technological advancements. Take for instance the Ranbaxy Drug Scandal of “selling adulterated drugs with intent to defraud, failing to report that its drugs didn't meet specifications, and making intentionally false statements to the government”*; found guilty, Ranbaxy has agreed to pay $500 million in fines as the 9-year long investigation came to an end this May 13th. Ranbaxy also "acknowledged that it failed to conduct proper safety and quality tests of several drugs manufactured at the Indian plants, including generic versions of many common medicines, like gabapentin, which treats epilepsy and nerve pain, and the antibiotic ciprofloxacin."+ The article The Pharmaceutical Industry–Saving lives or Saving dollars?” pitches on this issue answering moral and ethical questions.

This issue of The CALL is focused on Science & Technology and tries to answer a few major concerns. The article “Is Stem cells research a ray of hope? A biblical perspective!”, is an expert writing presenting the Biblical case for and against Stem cells research.

Advancements in Information & Technology have shrunk the world and have made all information available on our finger tips. Advantageous though, IT industry has also caused for increased immorality. “Blessing or Curse – Just a click Away!” warns the reader on the pitfalls and addresses various issues in the perspective of career and consumerism.

“Life lessons from Chemistry” are snippets of thoughts that will take you to the lab to learn life lessons from Water, Sodium & more. There is a treat for children too in “Up, Up & Up” where you will read the dream of a boy and his pursuit of Astronomy!

When we live in such a time where selfishness is considered supreme and where money matters more than moral values, it is necessary for every Christian to be a messenger of God at the workplace as the article “Missionary in the Marketplace” in the Tentmaking column suggests. The lead article “The Love of the World” sums it all up beautifully – “the intoxication of wealth & the magic of the world will aspire to draw us into its vortex”. Let us be vigilant “to know how to discern and interpret and apply the proof to this present time” and “judge what is just and personally decide what is right” (Luke 12:56,57 AMP).
Stay tuned with The CALL, as more articles on Science & Technology with issues addressing Ornithology, Food Industry & more are to be published in yet another release very soon.


* CNN Money, ‘Dirty Medicine’, May 15, 2013
+ Knight Science Journalism at MIT, ‘Fortune: Katherine Eban's stunning investigation of huge generic drug maker’, May 16, 2013

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: The Love of the World - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Science & Scripture: Life lessons from Chemistry: A Christian is called to be a buffer & not to be neutral - Ruby Manoharan
Science & Scripture: Blessing or Curs-Just a Click Away - Peter & Sumithra
Science & Scripture: Life lessons from Chemistry: A message from the formation of water - Ruby Manoharan
Children's Chronicles: Up, Up & Up - Mariyosh J
Science & Scripture: Is Stem cells research a ray of hope? - A Biblical perspective! - Reena Goforth
Science & Scripture: Life lessons from Chemistry: A message from Sodium - Ruby Manoharan
Science & Scripture: The Pharmaceutical Industry-Saving lives or Saving dollars? - Lidiya Princy
Science & Scripture: Life lessons from Chemistry: Le-Chatlier's Principle of Christian Life - Ruby Manoharan
Tentmaking: Missionary in the Marketplace - Giftson Selladurai

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The CALL -  July to Sep 2013



Travelling in a train from Patna recently, I happened to hear the conversation of two young girls, studying Law in a College in Patna. I was shocked to hear one of the girls publically use cuss words to express her anger over another college mate. We could see young people not being shameful of such profanity in the public space. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and all such Social Media are flooded with such expressions. And we cannot blame the media alone for the deterioration of values in the lives of young people; equally are responsible the parents and caretakers and elders.   

The mother of C.S. Lewis was a very devout Christian who made efforts to influence his beliefs; because she died in his early youth, her influence waned and Lewis was subject to the musings and mutterings of his friends who were decidedly agnostic & atheistic. And only in later years that he first came to a belief in God.

But many a times even our presence is seemingly an absence as we fail to make any difference. It is high time that we don’t just brush these issues under the carpet or just set high standards for our teens and fail to live by them in our lives.

This issue of The CALL addresses such issues of the teens & youths and brings in a Biblical perspective. “I am Young”, “Boundary Conflicts” and “Sexual Addiction” are well researched articles that practically and Biblically treat the issues of teens and youths.

We also have a few of our leaders who openly share theirs & their friends’ struggles of teen/youth days in the writings “My Struggles...”, “Love Letter” and “I Quit” and the young readers will not only be able to relate with them, they will also learn the way out.

The story in the MK Memoirs column is compelling evidence on the effect of the role of mentors in the life of a Missionary Kid as a teen/youth.  Having said that, I remember a line from the Christian movie “Courageous” that features the story of five families – “to break the chain of destructive patterns in my family’s history”.  Let us identify such destructive patterns in our family’s history and also help the teens & youths in our care & proximity to identify them and break them in Jesus’ name and restore the “principles of the fear of God” in our lives as the lead article suggests.


It is our prayer that this issue of The CALL would not just be an educative material but that it would bring about real transformation in the lives of the readers and would add Biblical values to their life.

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: The Underlying Principles on the Fear of God - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Young & full of life: I am Young - Sumithra Jayaraj
Director's Desk: My Struggles & Steps to Success over Sinful Temptations - Ashok Kumar
A to Z of Reading the Bible: Prince Samraj
Love Letter: Rajesh Duthie
Poem: Back from Being Backslidden - Mariyosh J
Bounday Conflicts-A Cause for Teenage Issues - Philip Pereira
Get Equipped: Freedom from Sexual Addiction-A Psychological & Biblical Perspective - Sai Bharathan
I Quit: Mariyosh J
Poem: Come let's play cricket - Joiel Akilan
MK Memoirs: From "never" to "ever" a Missionary - Surender Paul



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The CALL -  Oct to Dec 2013




One weekend as my wife and I sat to watch an animated movie, we were alarmed at the story and content of that cartoon movie. It was a story of Vampires! Review on this movie in the internet reads, this movie’s “buoyant, giddy tone may please children” and that “this movie is about enjoying a fun journey with great characters”! Following its premiere popular companies released Video & Mobile games and Mobile Digital Storybooks based on this movie. In the name and disguise of games, animation and cartoon the Devil is gaining access, attacking and corrupting the minds of children.

Our easygoingness is easing the Enemy in easily enslaving & engineering the emotions & will of children to execute his evil designs. Parents and guardians need to be cautious on what the children are exposed to.

‘Advantages of Disadvantages...’ deals with similar issues – where in the “camouflage of love” parents end up spoiling their children; and this article admonishes parents who in their busyness, with no time for children look for easy way outs. Togetherness with the parents is replaced with Teddy Bears; Buddy-ing with the loved ones is exchanged for Barbie Dolls; Caring by the family is substituted by Cartoons!
Adverse effects of these are when we become insensitive to the inner cries of our children and the article ‘The Hidden Turmoil’ boldly and at the same time with a burdened heart addresses this issue of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). It was shocking and heartbreaking to hear Cindrella Prakash, a Christian, share in one of Satyameva Jayate shows on her childhood nightmare experience of CSA. But the good news is, following this interview Cindrella is being invited by many churches and schools to conduct workshops on CSA and share the message as she narrates, “I went through it... and now I am fine... and Jesus brought me out of it”+.

While ‘I am Ravi’ narrates the pathetic story yet the reality of many children found in the roadside Dhabas, many GEMS MKs present their views on various Children Issues in this magazine through their sketches and poems. When children could see such issues distinctly why not the decision makers? As the Cover puts forth, “Are we giving simple solutions to serious issues and are we relevant and really concerned?”

The ‘Director’s Desk’ presents Biblical parenting in a very lucid manner with the aim that Christ may be formed in every child! ‘Slow, but Sincere’ is an expert article specially meant for teachers and parents to identify & help children who are slow learners and ‘Let the little children come to Me’  shows the responsibilities and creative ways in which parents, elders and the church can lead children to Christ.
Let us cast off all ‘Hidden Pride’ as the lead article exhorts and let’s “become like children” (Matt 18:3) in nature and strive never to become a stumbling block to children (Mark 9:42) because He warns,
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matt 18:6,7)
___________________________________________________________________________+ http://www.satyamevjayate.in/child-sexual-abuse/information-activist.aspx

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: Hidden Pride - D. Augustine Jebakumar
On Christmas:  True Joy - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Director's Desk: Christ in my Child - Ashok Kumar
I am Ravi: - Mariyosh J
Advantages of Disadvantages & Disadvantages of Advantages - Philip Pereira
It's Puzzle Time: Angeline Mariyosh
Standing @ the GAP: The Hidden Turmoil - Reena Goforth
Slow, but Sincere-Identifying & Dealing with Slow Learners: Angeline Mariyosh
Get Equipped: Let the little children come to Me - Jebarani Regina
Poem: A Dream Comes True - Aminna Duthie



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The CALL -  Jan to March 2014


While this issue of The CALL was getting ready, it was alarming to know that the founder of the world’s largest Pentecostal church, David Yonggi Cho was sentenced to three years in prison and fined nearly 5 million dollars for embezzling church funds and for tax evasion. When the whole of Christendom is being swayed by Prosperity Preaching, this is for sure a wakeup call. This is not just a case of misappropriation of funds, but misinterpretation of Scriptures and not just evasion of tax, but of truth & social responsibility. “Poverty: Is Prosperity Preaching the Answer?” is an attempt to answer the moral & social perspectives of this issue.

This issue of The CALL addresses a few such Social Issues and tries to present the prospects in Biblical perspectives. The early church was so much socially concerned that when Agabus predicted by the Spirit of God that a severe famine was about to come over the whole inhabited world, the believers at Antioch sent financial aid to those living in Judea. (Acts 11:28-30). The unselfish, socially minded and acted believers were the ones who for the first time were called as “Christians”. Even these days “predictions by prophets” are widely heard, alas, those are only used to fill their own pockets with offerings.

Social responsibility is just not only about something to be done to someone afar off; it is a call to “change” that needs to start from every individual and families. What else is better to live that change than in a Wedding that suffers so many social evils like Dowry, Casteism, etc. “Grand, Gaudy or Godly Indian Wedding?” dwells on it.

Change is not alone an individual obligation, but institutional too. Taking on this position, “Church: Answer or Accessory to Casteism or Racism?” looks at this crucial matter in the light of biblical principles & historical practices. Gender bias is another such discrimination that has led forth to the recent campaign “Ban Bossy” and the article ““Ban Bossy” – Can it Cure Sexism, a Social Disease” analyzes this campaign critically and biblically. 

When India is preparing to elect its next Government and as political parties try to cash on casteism and fanaticism and woo the voters by their manifestos and speeches, the lead article “Manifesto of Compromise” rightly points out and warns of such spirit of compromises in the Christian world too. Addressing one such compromise is the article, “Eradicating Bribery & Corruption: Will the Church Bell the Cat?”; which provokes point blank & honest responses.

2014 marks the anniversaries of several massacres and genocides that I would rather call it an ‘Anniversary of Annihilation’; 70 years have passed by since the Holocaust ended, 40th year of Khmer Rouge’s ‘Killing Fields’ that massacred Cambodians, 25 years since the Tiananmen Square Massacre, 20th year of Rwandan Genocide, 5th year of Sri Lankan Genocide. Revenge is never the solution but Reconciliation is! “Kindness is a Boomerang” is not only an article for children but is the value that needs to be lived which propels us to ACT and not evade saying, “it’s not Spiritual” or “it’s not Scriptural” or “it’s not Structural in my call” as “Called Unto Action” points. 

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: Manifesto of Compromise - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Director's Desk: Called Unto Action - Ashok Kumar
Church: Answer or Accessory to Casteism or Racism - Mariyosh J
Grand, Gaudy or Godly Indian Wedding - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Children's Chronicles: Kindness is a Boomerang - Angeline Mariyosh
"Ban Bossy" - Can it Cure Sexism, a Social Disease? - Sumithra Jayaraj
Poverty: Is Prosperity Preaching the Answer? - Johnson Kanagaraj
Eradicating Bribery & Corruption: Will the Church Bell the Cat? - JJ Ratnakumar


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The CALL -  April to June 2014



Editorial
“I am late to school, it is post-lunch and I know that I won’t be permitted. But I have to go. I can’t keep it with myself” with these thoughts I cycled and as I entered the school my Headmistress was for sure confused either at the first-time-ever smile on my face or at what I said, “Ma’am, I am saved”. These were the only words that came out of my mouth as I rushed to my class of eleventh standard. I was bubbling with joy of being born again as I had given my life to Jesus Christ. Coming to know of the saving power of Christ through my classmate began the journey of making Jesus known to other students. I am so excited as we bring out this ‘Students Special’ issue of The CALL.

‘Success Statutes for Students’ presents the pointers to help every student who has started the year with lot of hope and ambition to finish it successfully. This issue is filled with many real life stories of students of various backgrounds and age groups, catering to a wider audience. Two missionary kids share their life’s experiences of being a MK and a Student in ‘I am God’s Own Tribe’ and the choices that they made and the difference those choices made in theirs and others lives.

The Cover Story ‘From Circus to Classroom’ presents the story, the search and struggles in the life of a Nepali boy who found Christ and his life’s purpose and became a student of the Bible to learn to proclaim the Gospel. The article in the Magnifying Glass column portrays how Timothys like him are trained and prepared to transform the society through the Gospel of Jesus Christ at GEMS Timothy Bible College.

‘Showing the Saviour to Students of the Spiritual Capital’ showcases the life of a couple who came to know Jesus, coming from a different faith, during their school & youth days and how they committed to be missionaries and serve among students and raise leaders for nation building. ‘Student Worker to Student of Theology’ presents the need for every believer and Christian worker to equip themselves and shows practical ways to become an obedient Student of the Word to become an effective Teacher.

‘Rescuing, Respecting & Rising Up Girls’ is a research article that probes the reasons for the rise in crimes against girls, studying spiritual, political, anthropological and historical causes and presents the answer that “God is calling for committed students as missionaries who would pursue God’s purpose”. This article goes on to say that “Over the centuries whenever God called, people sensitive to His voice & discerning the times responded.” But all over the world there is a decline in this response. The lead article rightly and Biblically shows the way in reminding the students and the parents saying, ‘Remember Your Vows’.

According to the 2011 Census Data, in India there are 315 million students; that is India has the most students in the world. While 97,120 students went to the US & 29,713 students to UK from India for their Higher Education, 26,779 students came to India to pursue higher education in 2012 and the most number of students are from Nepal, Bhutan, Iran, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka & Iraq*. This trend presents a great opportunity to reach out to the Diaspora Indian students and the International students in India, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Respond. Rise up. Remember to fulfil your vows!

Response prompting reading,
Mariyosh J
Chief Editor, The CALL
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* UNESCO Institute for Statistics

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: Remember Your Vows - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Director's Desk: Success Statutes for Students - Ashok Kumar
Cover Story: From Circus to Classroom - Raju Shraest
Magnifying Glass: GEMS Timothy Bible College
Standing @ the GAP: Rescuing, Respecting & Rising Up Girls - Mariyosh J & Angeline Mariyosh
MK Memoirs: I am God's Own Tribe - Emmanuel Joel & Jemimah Debi
Showing the Saviour to Students of the Spiritual Capital - Paul Abraham & Eswari
Student Worker to Student of Theology - Paul Winston Bance


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The CALL -  July to Sep 2014




Editorial 
“Jumping Zapak Jumpak Jumpak...” singing came in to my office this seven year old kid, making me realize the effect of IPL Cricket on even small children. In India, Cinema and Cricket are a craze and Cricket is adored as a religion in this country and cricket stars are worshipped as gods! This brings us to a place where it becomes necessary for us to know the Biblical perspective to Sports and that’s why this issue – Sports Special!

The featured article is an interview with Brother Augustine Jebakumar on his personal engagements and his opinions on Sports as an Inspiration to Career to IPL and more.

You will read about the life, struggles and victories beyond the ground of players in these pages. While ‘Withering or Witnessing Sportsmen’ shows from the personal lives of sports people the consequences of the choices they made, ‘Salt in Sports’ presents the Biblical principles that will enable every person to make right, worthy and honourable choices.

The Cover Story ‘Wished to breathe my last in the Ground...’ is on the life of a GEMS missionary who shares inspirations from David Beckham and many others to his experiences of playing with Graham Staines; the definitive change in his life battling through Cancer and his journey towards identifying his call in Christ are remarkable.

This issue’s MK Memoirs ‘Sports – An Inspiration’ presents a GEMS MK’s thoughts on the lessons that he learnt from certain Cricket, Boxing & Tennis players that motivated him in his life’s journey. Drawing from a moment of this year’s T20 World Cup ‘To See Someone Smile & Succeed!’ shows the way to achieve true greatness.

The release of this issue of The CALL fell in place with the very first episode of the new season of the TV Show Satyameva Jeyate, ‘A Ball Can Change The World’, that was focused on Sports. It was amazing to see how Sports is changing the life of so many underprivileged children and youths. But the pathetic confessions of some of the popular international players, “I was, I am and I always will be a drug addict”, “I don't wanna die. I’m on the verge of dying, because I’m a vicious alcoholic” makes one realize that Sports alone and just the lives of successful players cannot be modelled for deeper, long lasting changes in the life of an individual or a community.

Broken lives and shattered communities around the world pose this challenge before us. When for the world, for most people, Sports is a recreation, here is a couple that uses Sports to reach out to the refugees who escape the brutality of ISIS/ISIL. ‘Reaching Out to the Refugees through Sports’ is a gripping interview with this German couple; a testament to the difference God’s people can make in this troubled world, using Sports as a medium.

Taking this one step further the Tentmaking article ‘Sports Field is my Mission Field’ encourages every sports person to be a witness in and through their Sports field.

Seeing the BBC live telecast from Pretoria of the closing arguments of South African sprint runner Oscar Pistorius’ trial, I felt very sad for him; a man who braved his disability and won several medals at international championships was on trial for suspected homicide. The tattoo on his left shoulder is the words of 1 Corinthians 9:26, “I do not run like a man running aimlessly.” In this same South Africa more than a century back, Gandhi helped establish three football clubs in Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg known as ‘Passive Resisters Soccer Club’ to propagate his non-violence movement. 

These call for Christians in and in-terested in Sports to use Sports not only as recreation or for personal recognition, but to touch and change lives; for Christian sportsmen and women to witness, as rightly put by South Africa’s newly appointed cricket coach Gary Kirsten (who coached Indian team to become world’s number one ranked Test team), “one has tremendous opportunity to lead by example and I hope that my Christian values will have an influence over many.”

Sportive reading,

Mariyosh J
Chief Editor, The CALL

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: Jebakumar on Sports - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Director's Desk: Salt in Sports! - Ashok Kumar
Cover Story: Wished to breathe my last in the Ground... - Immanuel Jayakumar
News & Views: To See Someone Smile & Succeed - Mariyosh J
Red Hot: Withering or Witnessing Sportsmen? - Rufus David


MK Memoirs: Sports-An Inspiration - Emmanuel Joel 

Tentmaking: Sports Field is My Mission Field - Sumithra Jayaraj
The Magnifying Glass: Gospel through Marathon
Standing @ the GAP: Reaching Out to the Refugees through Sports - Phil & Hannah


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The CALL -  Oct to Dec 2014



According to Wycliffe Global Alliance, at least one book of the Bible exists in almost 2,900 languages (Complete Bible: 531; NT & some portions: 1329; One or more books: 1023) and there is known active translation and/or linguistic development happening in 2,195 languages across more than 130 countries. But the two consultations of FOBA-Forum of Bible Agencies that I participated, on Scripture Engagement made me aware of the real issue – access to the Bible is much better than it has been throughout history, the problem is lack in engaging with it.

This Scripture Special issue of The CALL comes out in a highly heated and controversial atmosphere as India’s current External Affairs Minister presses for making Bhagwad Gita as the national scripture or book. 

Religious scriptures are considered miraculous and able to be appropriated only when read in a particular language or only when interpreted by a group of sacred class of people. But Bible being God’s word to all mankind is for all language, ethnicity, ages & age group!

The Bible is the most translated, most printed, most distributed, most read and the most number of books written are about the Bible and based on its inspiration. Not stopping there as Dr. Vishal Mangalwadi proposes in his book ‘The Book That Made Your World’, the Bible is the key that unlocked the Western mind & cultivated human dignity, compassion, strong families and triggered the passion for scientific, medical & technological advancement. The Bible not only created the West, but modern India! Dr. Babu Verghese’s massive research book ‘Let there be India: Impact of the Bible on Nation Building’ is a proof to how Bible created all the modern Indian languages, and impacted literature, journalism, education and culture. 

The pages of this issue of The CALL attempt to answer tough questions like ‘Is God cruel?’ that come up when certain passages of the Bible esp. the OT are read. Word View or World View?’ answers the questions whether the Bible is the Word of God or man, is it fact or fiction and more.

‘The Twists in the Truth’ and ‘The Problem with the Bible Seminary’ are two point blank articles. Brother Augustine Jebakumar answers questions on Prosperity Doctrine, Hyper Grace and on how does the Bible get meddled & misinterpreted and Dr. Vishal awakens us towards the reasons to the sinking of the University & students into intellectual and moral darkness.

‘Measure Your Growth’ is a treat for Children and ‘Fed in His Word’ narrates the experiences of a MK. The Tentmaking article ‘Word for Workplace’ presents sample studies from the Bible, appropriated for workplace scenarios.

Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” (John 5:39). ‘Searching the Scriptures...’ argues and presents how man’s intellectual, religious, spiritual search for truth leads one to the Bible. Meaningfully presenting the Christmas message ‘The Fifth Gospel’ says, “The indispensable gift from God, next only to His Son and His Spirit, are the Scriptures.” It’s exhortation to know the Word more diligently, to grow steadily to glow brightly to express Christ surely is very apt for this and all seasons.

Bible Software. Bible Apps. Audio/Audio-Visual Bible. Verses on Whats App and SMS. Online/PDF/Mobile/Tab Bible. Let not the adage ‘Familiarity breeds contempt’ become true to our situation of constant exposure to the Bible scriptures & messages and let’s take every opportunity to internalize and live the truths of the Bible!

Scriptural reading!
Mariyosh J
Chief Editor, The CALL

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: The Twists in the Truth: An Interview - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Director's Desk: The Fifth Gospel  - Ashok Kumar
News & Views: Searching the Scriptures - Christopher
Get Equipped: Is God Cruel? - T. Emerson
Familiarity Breeds Contempt or...? - Mariyosh J
Word View or World View? - Philip Pereira
Children's Chronicles: Measure Your Growth - Christial Christopher
MK Memoirs: Fed in His Word - Angeline Mariyosh
Red Hot: The Problem with the Bible Seminary - Vishal Mangalwadi
Tentmaking: Word for Workplace - Peter & Sumithra


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The CALL -  VOL 7 - Year 2015 - Issue 1
Administration Special





Administration Special – the idea for this issue came up when the Prime Minister of India announced 25th of December as Good Governance Day. Though there were lots of hues and cries from some political parties and groups for trying to reduce the importance of Christmas, there were others who share this opinion that the birth of Jesus Christ quite well signifies good governance. Prophesying on the birth of the Messiah Isaiah says, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (9:6)

Drawing on this inspiration this issue of The CALL presents various perspectives on the themes of Administration or Governance. Here we talk about Church, Corporate & Country governance. Why is this so important a subject to address? The recent judgment on India’s biggest corporate frauds, the Satyam Computers scam, allegedly worth over $1.5 billion sentencing its founder Ramalinga Raju to seven years imprisonment, serves as a warning.

The recurring themes in Narayan Murthy’s book ‘A Better India: A Better World’, the founder of Infosys, talks about good corporate and public governance, where he advocates transparency, integrity, credibility, trustworthiness, making sacrifices, good value system, clear conscience and character. What do you think is the source of these? Talking in this line, the article ‘Government on His Shoulders’ prescribes the Seven Indicators of Scripture based Administration. The MK Memoirs column brings out the personal experiences and expressions of a GEMS MK from his corporate and mission work in the article ‘MK in Mission’.

‘God’s Cabinet’ looks at the various ministries of a nation’s government in the light of the Scriptures that promises change and good governance. The article on ‘Biblical Governance’ shows the transition from theocracy to monarchy and gives the call to involve in nation building.

While we live in hostile times it is essential that we consider the question the lead article poses ‘Are Christians Anti-Patriotic?’ and heed to the author’s counsel that “it is imperative that we, as Christians, live as responsible and caring citizens in this nation”. To be responsible and caring requires, many a times, to be daring. ‘Risk Takers or Care Takers or Under Takers?’ is a trumpet call waking up sleeping giants of mediocrity and administration red tapes.

When we are faced with failing politicians, corrupt bureaucrats, greedy & manipulative managers there is very little chance for good governance and development. Quoting Murthy again from his book (pg. 191), “The rule of law can only defeat the perverse mind. It cannot defeat the perversity of the heart”. Hence we are posed with the question, is there any hope for change?

The life of one another person who shares two things in common with Ramalinga Raju gives us hope. Raju is a management graduate from Ohio University and the Ohio student protests were what culminated in Watergate Scandal, a major political scandal, which led to the discovery of multiple abuses of power by the Nixon administration. This led to the resignation of the US President Richard Nixon which indicted seven of his aides including Charles Colson who served as a Special Counsel to the President. As Colson was facing arrest he received a copy of C.S. Lewis’ book ‘Mere Christianity’ after reading which Colson committed his life to Christ and later founded ‘Prison Fellowship’. Colson writes in his book ‘God and Government’, “If Christians today understood this distinction between the role of the private Christian citizen and the Christian in government, they might sound less like medieval crusaders. If secularists understood correctly the nature of Christian public duty they would not fear, but welcome responsible Christian political involvement.”

‘Is Politics or Public Administration meant for Christians?’ not only answers this question satisfactorily but makes the case for Christians to consider this call, to witness and to be the right kind of leaven.

This is a voice and we wish and pray for many echoes to follow and raise God’s echelons!

Change Driven Reading!
Mariyosh J
Chief Editor, The CALL

CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: Are Christians Anti-Patriotic? - D. Augustine Jebakumar
Director's Desk: Government on His Shoulders  - Ashok Kumar
New Gen Thinking: God's Cabinet - Mariyosh J
Get Equipped: Biblical Governance - Christopher Murugan
MK Memoirs: MK in Mission - Goforth Jebakumar
Standing @ the GAP: Risk Takers or Care Takers or Under Takers? - Thangavelu Palanivelu & Mariyosh J
Tentmaking: Is Politics or Public Administration meant for Christians? - Philip Pereira

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The CALL -  VOL 7 - Year 2015 - Issue 2 (Arts Special)



The fallen ‘angel’ picture has created quite a controversy in the past weeks with the heights of ignorance reaching its peak of people believing it to be real! It is an art work, a sculpture of the Chinese conceptual artists Sun Yuan & Peng Yu. Taking “Art” to be “fallen” and “unchristian” the church has largely come to either disassociate itself with arts or to limit it. The cause to bring back arts into the Christian thinking with biblical perspectives and to see the call of the church in this form is the case for this issue “Arts Special”.

Art is everywhere; walking through the Phoenix Market City in Chennai or the Marina Bay, Singapore or the IGI Airport, New Delhi, the shopper or the casual stroller or the traveller definitely stumbles upon the art forms installed here. But art is not limited to modernity or urbanity and this is evidenced through the tribal art forms of Bihar and Jharkhand that adorn the Cover of this issue. And the Bible celebrates the arts of ordinary people; the first recorded song writer of the Bible, Moses was a slave, the greatest hymnist David was a shepherd.

This issue of The CALL carries works on literature, performing arts, visual, media and culinary arts. Among its literary works this issue brings two poems, ‘Walking Thru Darkness’ and ‘Paid to be Away’. ‘The Song that turned my Life’ is a testimonial to how Scripture based songs can touch & transform people. A new feature in this issue is the Book Review on the Bihar-Bangalore connection book, ‘Booker Prize Winner ‘The White Tiger’’.

The Greek word for ‘Hypocrite’ is the technical term for the performance artist, a stage actor. The lead article ‘Practice What You Preach (and Sing)’ narrates two incidents from the life of Brother Augustine Jebakumar and shows how what we teach or preach or sing need to align with our life.

A treat for children is the Comic Strip in the Children’s Chronicles column, ‘Pyari’s Secret’. The Magnifying Glass column article ‘Reaching Children, Creatively’ features the use of arts in the ministry among children by GEMS.

‘The Greatest Literature’ recounts the reminiscence of an English teacher and ‘English Literature & my Bible Study’ of a University Verbal Faculty. There are also treats to the taste buds in the Culinary Arts section, but with a difference – the taste of eternal life in three narrations!

For people in arts it is easy to be carried away by the satisfaction of producing an art or by the appreciation it brings. The Scribe Baruch & Prophet Jeremiah belonged to the few who harkened to the word of God. While the entire book of Jeremiah is prophecies concerning Judah, in the 45th chapter we see a prophecy directly concerning Jeremiah’s Scribe, Baruch. This is the word of God to Baruch, “And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them…” (45:5).

The MK Memoir article of a GEMS MK ‘Student of Literature & the Scripture’ ends rightly with these words, “…make me an instrument, for your glory alone” and this needs to be the aspiration of every Christian in arts, “Arts for the glory of God”.

The Director’s Desk encourages the readers in ‘Heart of Art’ to “develop and apply the God given potentials with creativity and innovation through empowerment” and brings in balanced biblical perspectives to the arts of mentoring, giving, preaching, witnessing, leading and administering so that the Lord may build you as an “instrument for His noble purposes” (2 Tim 2:21).

Art is Creativity and God is the source of creativity. The art of God starts with the Creation and culminates at the Calvary and the Cross reconciles this torn world and troubled lives to God. Francis A. Schaeffer summarises beautifully in ‘Arts & the Bible’, “A Christian should use these arts to the glory of God, not just as tracts, but as things of beauty to the praise of God. An art work can be a doxology in itself.”

A(rt)ction driven reading!
Mariyosh J
Chief Editor, The CALL



CONTENTS

From Bihar With Love: Practice What You Preach (and Sing) – Augustine Jebakumar
MK Memoirs: Student of Literature & the Scripture – Blessy Cornelius
Life Sharing: The Song That Turned My Life – Mariyosh J
Poems: 
Walking Thru Darkness... – Sheela Duthie
Paid to be Away! – Preena Stanly
News & Views: The Greatest Literature – Esther Dara
Book Review: Booker Prize Winner ‘The White Tiger’ – Angeline & Mariyosh
Get Equipped: English Literature & My Bible Study – Roland Rencewigg
Children’s Chronicles: Pyari’s Secret – Angeline Mariyosh
The Magnifying Glass: Reaching Children, Creatively – Joseph V
Culinary Arts: 
Hotel Welcome to Welcoming Jesus
Even A Spoon For The Saviour
One who sold Channa, now blessed people with Heavenly Mannna
Director’s Desk: Heart of Art – Ashok Kumar

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The CALL -  VOL 7 - Year 2015 - Issue 3 (Afflictions Special)




The day before the surgery at CMC lying on the bed I was processing in my mind the words of the surgeons, “there are chances of losing or change of voice”. Though been on the surgeon’s table thrice before, there was no doubt, no fear in my heart but only the assuring presence of God and these words kept resonating within me, “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Afflictions can deter & weary us, if not for the promises, purposes & presence of God. It can turn one’s attitude & actions for the worst or to appreciate the preciousness of life and the divine precepts to preserve & practice sacredness in every area of life.  In these pages of the ‘Afflictions Special’ of The CALL you will encounter the lives of people who have suffered loss, gone through physical & mental pain; as one of the poem in this issue says you will “not only read the joys, but also the tears; not only success, but also sufferings”.

Kahlil Gibran said, “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” ‘First Seed’ is the narration of a missionary couple on the loss they suffered and culminates with how God used their testimony to help a family, suffering a similar loss, to reconcile with Him. ‘In His Call’ narrates the incidents in the life of a couple from Jaffna of how they found peace & purpose in Jesus Christ. ‘Afflicted, not Abandoned’ is another story of a couple, in the Tentmaking column, that defines how affliction brings new meaning to career & success.

Hearing Theodore’s story I wanted it to be published in this issue. When I approached him it wasn’t easy on him to recollect the past, the details of the accident and the aftermath. As he narrates his story in ‘There is more to this Form’ in the MK Memoirs, I believe this will not only challenge the MKs but also everyone who is in the same path of physical pain. It is possible to ignore the afflictions of small children, but deeply rooted unhealed scars can affect their character & personality. ‘Be My Friend’ in the Children’s Chronicles is a cartoon story of a small girl who is desperate to make friends.

Director’s Desk aptly calls afflictions as the ‘Gifted Hour of Trial’ and brings seven keys to face the same. ‘In their Shoes’, the Get Equipped article soundly addresses the needed subject of ‘Counseling the Afflicted’. In this year alone GEMS has witnessed major persecutions in eight fields; some are recounted here and the News & Views article practically shows the way in ‘Facing & Handling Persecutions’.

Times of crisis also bring the best from worst situations, like the hashtag #portesouvertes (“open doors”) used by Parisians who offered shelter to those afraid to travel home after the terrorist attacks; and the way in which strangers came together and helped each other during the Chennai Rains. “Is your dependence merely on knowledge and experience or do you seek the wisdom from above?” is the pondering question from the lead article ‘In Crisis’ which goes on to show how a spiritual leader will handle crisis.

The image on the cover is from a skit of the ‘Make in India (for all seasons)’ Convention echoing the words of Paul that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. The image of the ultimate expression of God’s love is the suffering of Christ on the cross demonstrating through our sufferings that ‘He has been there before and is with us’; that people are not alone to deal with their dukha or karma or mueana but He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses (Heb 4:15), because He himself was tested & suffered (Heb 2:18).

Let me close with the closing lines of a poem in this issue, “Every time the situation didn’t change; rather it changed my attitude towards God and His ways!”

Uplifting Reading!
Mariyosh Joseph

Chief Editor

CONTENTS

·         From Bihar With Love: In Crisis – Augustine Jebakumar
·         Director’s Desk: Gifted Hour of Trial – Ashok Kumar
·         Poem: The Unexpected… The Unpredicted – Sheela Duthie
·         Life Sharing: First Seed – Anita Franklin
·         Children’s Chronicles: Be My Friend – Angeline Mariyosh
·         Tentmaking: Afflicted, not Abandoned – Bernardshaw Thiraviam
·         Standing @ the GAP: In His Call – Paramasamy Johnson
·         Poem: Let the people not only read… - Ruby Manoharan
·         MK Memoirs: There is More to this Form – Theodore Anil
·         Get Equipped: In their Shoes-Counseling the Afflicted – Angeline Mariyosh
·         Transforming Peoples to Transform Nations:
Persecutors Participate Along with Believers in Area Convention
Persecuted One After the Other in Madhya Pradesh
·         News & Views: Facing and Handling Persecutions – Peter Jayaraj



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The CALL -  VOL 8 - Year 2016 - Issue 1 (Missio Dei Special) 



“Where there has been acceptance of the gospel through preaching, my complaint is that there has been some motive” writes Arun Shourie in his book ‘Missionaries in India’. I wish he understands the motive behind missions, the love of God! God’s love is the motive of missions and that’s why it is ‘Missio Dei’, the mission of God. Unless one experiences the love of Christ in his life, he cannot be a true missionary; the love that sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins.

Missions is the grateful expression of a disciple lived out in complete submission to the One who saved and called Him to carry His message of love, forgiveness, salvation and hope. The picture and verse on the Cover signify this truth, that when we were gone astray, He opened the eternal way, by bearing our sins and with this thankfulness we show forth His praise to all generations. The article from the Director’s Desk, ‘The Missionary Call’ presents this as the threefold love, love for God, love for Neighbour and love for the Lost.

God seeks not only the able, but the available and equips them to be capable to fulfill His mission. Two Get Equipped articles, each focus on Training and Cultural Anthropology in Missions. It is the call for every believer to take the gospel to the ends of the world and to provide such an opportunity to train laymen and women for missions, GEMS started a new program, Missionary Preparatory Training Course (MPTC) and the Magnifying Glass column is focused on this initiative.

The Tentmaking column poses the question “Are we serious enough with the Mission at the Marketplace?” sounding the clarion call that “it’s time for the Christians at marketplace to live out as Salt and Light leading the professionals to taste the love of our Lord Jesus and to bring them to the light of salvation.” Deploring the deplorability of “Christian ministry (that) present God as the ultimate capitalist whose paramount attention is on successful living evidenced by financial prosperity”, the New Gen Thinking column article, ‘Call Centers for Christ’ addresses the practicalities of workplace evangelism and presents the big need to reach out to the BPO industry.

The Children’s Chronicles column ‘Use Me’ will be doubly exciting for children; it is cartoon with coloring pages. When their exams get over, parents, teachers and wardens can teach the children the truth of the story that God has called children too to partake in His mission and let them have the fun of coloring.

The field focus of this issue is on the Rohtas Hills and one article talks about the Oraon people of the hills giving an anthropological and apologetic view and another article brings out a beautiful testimony of a tribal woman who left witchcraft to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Missions is about God; and He uses people to fulfill His vision and it is imperative that the carriers of the gospel are cared for. ‘Caring for God’s Servants’ is a Standing @ the GAP article that shows the need and the nitty-gritty of Member Care from recruitment through retirement.

Just eleven days after her husband Graham Staines, the missionary in Orissa who was burnt alive with his two little sons, Gladys answered to an interview on what would she say to young people considering missions, “once you are sure of that (your call from God) then just be prepared for whatever, even if it costs you loss. We must learn not to hang on to our own lives; we must learn to allow God to use us… So if the Lord has called them and they are sure of their call, then... don't stay at home.”

The fulfillment of the purpose of this issue is perfectly presented in these words of the lead article ‘Embracing God’s Global Vision’, “If the youth catch the vision of the nations and if missions becomes the talk of the church and at every meal in houses then an entire new society will be born and the family and church will fulfill this heavenly vision.”

Missional Reading!
Mariyosh Joseph

Chief Editor

CONTENTS

·         From Bihar With Love: Embracing God's Global Vision – Augustine Jebakumar
·         Director’s Desk: The Missionary Call – Ashok Kumar
·         Poem: Channel of His Blessings to Nations – Sheela Duthie
·         Get Equipped: Making Fishers of Men – T. Emerson 
·         Magnifying Glass: Missionary Preparatory Training Course – Isaac Jayakumar
·         Poem: His Missionary – Mariyosh Joseph 
·         Tentmaking: Missiona at the Marketplace – Sumithra Jayaraj 
·         New Gen Thinking: Call Centers for Christ –  Sai Bharathan
·         Children's Chronicles: Use Me – Angeline Mariyosh
·         Poem: On the Roadway of Missions – Preena Stanly


·         Get Equipped: Role of Cultural Anthropology in Missions – Vincent Jeyaraj
·         Transforming Peoples to Transform Nations: 
                             Oraon People of the Rohtas Hills – Martin
                              From Sorcery to the Saviour – Mariyosh                      
·         Standing @ the GAP: Caring for God's Servants – Lois Sampath


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The CALL -  VOL 8 - Year 2016 - Issue 2 (Media Special) 



A young boy was brought to be counseled. Surprisingly, he not only knew and accepted Christ solely through the Internet (he is from a place that is hostile to the gospel); he had also grown much in the knowledge of the Bible. But the sad thing was internet had taught him a very wrong eschatology.

The greatest challenge today to Christian media is the standards of world media as (in the words of Malcolm Muggeridge) “their light is darkness, their facts are fancy, their documentation is myth”. This Media Special issue of The CALL is an attempt to bring a biblical perspective to media and in this issue you will read articles on social and digital media, broadcast media and print media.

Majority of this world’s population is now identified as either digital migrants or the digital natives. ‘Facebook Vs Face the Book’ throws light on this issue and gives a balanced biblical view to use and to conquer social media for Christ.

Christianity has a long and rich tradition of music from the Bible and history, but sadly a lot of Christian music has become a “performance or entertainment” rather than a message with all the attention on the musician or the music. The News & Views article ‘Biblical Perspective to Christian Music’ not only deals with this issue but the author shares his own testimony of how he left the cinema music industry and became a missionary. Likewise the Red Hot column carries an interview with Brother Raju a song writer & Worship leader, who answers honestly questions on the deplorability of Worship being used as a platform for personal fame.  

Cyber bullying and facebook depression are on the rise and quiet often children get abused online by strangers. Recently Godfruits ran an article on how three teens died in mysterious ways and the investigation led to an App that they downloaded; which allows users to stay anonymous with features of instant messaging and sending pictures & videos. These children participated in a challenge through this app which led them to their death. This is the danger when the virtual meets the real. The article for youths, ‘Web-O-Sphere’ warns on the dangers of indulgence in social media and lays the rules & checklist to safeguard oneself from becoming prey and polluted.

In MK Memoirs column article ‘From Missionary Family to Mass Media’, a missionary’s daughter shares how God’s providence took her to the Mass Media and on the need for Christians to be there to change the trend of news & programs for viewership to present truth.

Born as digital natives, this generation of children are not only comfortable with gadgets but crave & cling to them. ‘Danny and his Xbox’ in the Children’s Chronicles column narrates the story of a boy whose gaming becomes an addiction to the point of giving him nightmares. While this warns children on the effects of gaming addiction, the Standing @ the GAP column article ‘Clean as Comics and Cartoons?’ raises the mounting concern over the contents of seemingly harmless animation movies, comic books and character depictions and sounds the trumpet for parents and elders to watch out for the content children are exposed to.

In the Movie Review of ‘Life of Pi’ Dr Vishal Mangalwadi presents the postmodern challenge where “truth” has been reduced to “story” and how it no longer matters which story is true, but only what one chooses to believe; and its effect on the presentation of the Gospel.

The Tentmaking column carries a PROFITeer’s testimony, ‘Creativity for the Creator’, of how one’s creative talent when correctly identified and nurtured can be greatly used for God’s glory and His purposes.  The Magnifying Glass column chronicles the origin and developments of GEMS Media Ministries.

“The danger comes” says the General Secretary Brother Augustine Jebakumar, “when man lacks discernment about two important aspects: the source of the message and the intention behind it.” Feeding and fueling narcissism are the various forms of social media. And scientists have found a new unit to measure narcissism, N=S/h, Selfie per hour! This generation has moved from ‘I think, therefore I am’ to ‘I shop, therefore I am’ to now ‘I pose (& post), therefore I am’!

In his foreword to Muggeridge’s book ‘Christ and the Media’ Billy Graham nails it when he says, “The problem of the media is but a symptom of a deeper problem – the problem of the human heart, alienated from God.” One of the greatest challenges is for this Selfie Generation to find the value of their true self in the Saviour, “who, though he was in the form of God... emptied himself, taking the form of a slave… And being found in human form, he humbled himself” (Philippians 2:6-8).
Let this image obsessed tinsel world meet with the Imago Dei!

Mariyosh Joseph

Chief Editor

Contents
From Bihar With Love: Jebakumar on Media – D. Augustine Jebakumar
Executive Director’s Desk: Facebook Vs Face the Book – C. Ashok Kumar
News & Views: Biblical Perspective to Christian Music – Prabha Karan
Young & Full of Life: Web-O-Sphere – The Breathing Place of The Present Generation – Ashish Daniel
MK Memoirs: From Missionary Family to Mass Media – Rollet Grace
Children’s Chronicles: Danny and his Xbox – Evangeline Joseph
Red Hot: Raju on Worship and Music – Raju
The Magnifying Glass: GEMS Media Ministries – Gideon M Durai
Tentmaking: Creative for the Creator – Bobby Leonard
Movie Review: Life of Pi – Vishal Mangalwadi
Standing @ the GAP: Clean as Comics and Cartoons? – Mounting Concern – Mariyosh Joseph

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The CALL -  VOL 8 - Year 2016 - Issue 3 (Mentoring Special) 



The words that my mentor spoke into my life, when I left for Bihar 16 years back, has been a guiding light through my young years. He reminded me the words that Paul exhorted his young assistant Timothy, “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example…” (2 Timothy 4:12)

This Mentoring Special issue is for teachers, parents, children, youths, missionaries, pastors, leaders and working professionals. This is both a mentorship manual and an enjoyable material for the casual reader.

“Teaching helps to understand what to think, but mentoring trains to know how to think” reads the article ‘Have your Paul & Know your Timothy’ pointing out to the purpose of mentoring and encourages everyone to mentor and to be mentored with five principles. ‘To Go Beyond Oneself’ in the Red Hot column takes this truth further by showing what selfless mentoring looks like.

‘Why We Do Not Mentor?’ dwells into the reasons behind failures in mentoring and recommends corrective measures to handle the dearth of leadership.

‘Proven Gold’ in Calltoon and ‘Frustrated Ryan’ in the Children’s Chronicles columns bring a double treat for children and teens with interesting and inspiring stories. In ‘His Hand, Upon Me’ a GEMS MK shares how God’s word and His grace acts in his life to mould him towards God-ordained destiny.

‘Parental Mentoring of Children’ in the Get Equipped column practically teaches the principles to follow at home. ‘Mentoring Girls to Become Deborahs’ chronicles the work of GEMS in training young girls through DBTC (Deborah Bible Training Center).
Reminding the call of God to be His witness at the workplace, the Tentmaking article ‘The Mantle & The Marketplace’ prescribes the ABC’s of mentoring to sustain and develop the momentum of ministry at the marketplace.

“Mentoring is not only about developing people to take up the leadership position, but imparting the vision” prompts the lead article ‘Pass the Baton’ which presents the practices of leaders in the Bible in mentoring people to carry forward the vision and mission.

The Chairman & CEO of PepsiCo India Shivkumar in a recent interview on dealing with the Millennials (whom he says are 2/3rds of the country) is vocal about this different generation – they do not believe in hierarchy & top-down leadership, they want to race against time and they believe in progress, the values of the organization & open communication.
It is this generation that God is calling us to mentor and to raise as mentors.  

The quote on the cover by Janet Thompson says, “Mentoring is: Sharing Life's Experiences and God's Faithfulness”. The Message version of 2 Timothy 4:12 ends, “Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity.” Let’s mentor through our life and be mentored to reflect God's Faithfulness.

Mem(nt)orable Reading!
Mariyosh Joseph
Chief Editor, The CALL

Contents – Mentoring Special

From Bihar With Love: Pass the Baton – D. Augustine Jebakumar
Executive Director’s Desk: Have Your Paul & Know Your Timothy – Ashok Kumar
Red Hot: To Go Beyond Oneself – Jeyasingh David
MK Memoirs: His Hand, Upon Me – Jeremiah
News & Views: Why We Do Not Mentor – T. Emerson
Calltoon: Proven Gold – Angeline Mariyosh
Get Equipped: Parental Mentoring of Children – Sheela Duthie
Children’s Chronicles: Frustrated Ryan – Esther Dara
The Magnifying Glass: Mentoring Girls to Become Deborahs – Chitra Krishnamoorthy
Tentmaking: The Mantle & the Marketplace – Sumithra Jayaraj


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The CALL -  VOL 8 - Year 2016 - Issue 4 (Medical Special) 


The memorial at Einsiedeln, Switzerland applauds Theophrastus Paracelsus, the 15th century physician & philosopher as, “erneuerer der medizin, vater der chemotherapie… eigenwilliger denker und demutiger christ, freund der armen” (the regenerator of medicine, the father of chemotherapy… the self-sufficient thinker and humble christ, friend of the poor). The field of medicine is such that it raises its practitioners to such admiration. This Medical Special issue of The CALL is an attempt to present the true calling and purpose of the medical field.

Exhorting that the call to heal the sick is a call from the Master, ‘Caring is our Calling’ shows how the church and missions have been pioneers in global healthcare and sounds the clarion call to venture into new and needed avenues in healthcare. A resurgence to this end is needed and this is possible only when we commit towards an ‘Overflowing Life’ as the lead article suggests so that there may be healing of nations.

The News & Views article ‘Sin, Sickness & Suffering’ answers the cause and connection of these baffling issues and helps understand trials and God’s silence meaningfully. When our sense of value is often tied to our job or possessions, people who are confined become non-performers and are pushed into feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. The Get Equipped article ‘Giving Hope: Counselling the Sick’ exhorts to encourage such to help them understand their worth in Christ and teaches the Do’s and Don’ts of counselling at such times.

‘I Want to be a Missionary Doctor’ and ‘For His Purpose’ in the MK Memoirs column are inspiring testimonies of two GEMS MKs who surrendered to God’s will and persevered through to realize the passion to become a missionary doctor.

The Red Hot article ‘Changing Face and Challenges of Healthcare’ throws light on the changes and contemporary challenges in healthcare and sounds the alarm that “Healthcare has become more profit driven from being service driven.” The article also presents the needed areas to focus and develop so that healthcare may not just become profit-based and practice-based, but patient-care-centered.

It is this vision of patient care that drives ‘GEMS Medical Ministries’ and the Magnifying Glass column shows how it accomplishes this vision to transform people by meeting their physical, mental and spiritual needs. Medical mission is pivotal to the ministries of GEMS as the founding of GEMS in itself is the fruit of prayers of two medical missionaries Caroline Paint and Sylvia Beadwell who served in Bihar in the late 60s & early 70s. We also remember and salute the contributions of Olive Jarvis & Joy Bath the pioneers of medical ministries at Dehri-On-Sone and Susie Rollet who sacrificed her life on the Rohtas hills while serving the Lord for the medical cause.

Heaven celebrates the sacrifices of such and GEMS medical missionary Arlene gave her life while serving on the Rohtas hills. When medical practitioners, in these tough places are victims themselves it’s an urgent reminder of the priority of medical care for every missionary. Hence ‘Missionaries Health Services’ is an initiative towards meeting possible total medical care assistance to missionaries across India and beyond.

Young medical missionary, General Surgeon Prerit Thomas Jacob who served at Evangelical Hospital in Orissa, who went to be with the Lord this January 2017 wrote & sang, “Help me to choose, what I cannot lose… Help me to fight till the break of daylight… For the sake of the Call”. This is a high call!

Answering this call, during the second world war the Army Medic Desmond in the heat of the battle on the Hackshaw Ridge, though tired and battered himself kept crying, “Please Lord! Help me get one more… help me get one more” and he carried 75 wounded men to safety! He remained characteristically modest, giving all credits to God for this accomplishment.

Renowned and accomplished neurosurgeon, author & politician Ben Carson writes in Gifted Hands, “I became acutely aware of an unusual ability - a divine gift, I believe - of extraordinary eye and hand coordination. It’s my belief that God gives us all gifts, special abilities that we have the privilege of developing to help us serve Him and humanity.” And he says that knowing God that He sent His Son to die for our sins is very empowering and knowing that He loves me, gives me encouragement and confidence to move forward.

Empowered by His love and encouraged with His presence let us serve humanity; raise up generations to answer this call and bring healing to the nations (Rev 22:2).

Healthy Reading,
Mariyosh Joseph

Chief Editor

Contents – Medical Special

From Bihar With Love: Overflowing Life – D. Augustine Jebakumar
Executive Director’s Desk: Caring is Our Calling – Ashok Kumar
News & Views: Sin, Sickness & Suffering – Stanly Gladson Daniel
Get Equipped: Giving Hope: Counselling the Sick – Preena Lynette
MK Memoirs: I Want to be a Missionary Doctor – Joy Elizabeth
Red Hot: Changing Face & Changes of Healthcare – Antony Arockiadass
MK Memoirs: For His Purpose – Beulah Grace
The Magnifying Glass: Missionaries Health Services – Rajesh Duthie

The Magnifying Glass: GEMS Medical Ministries

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The CALL -  VOL 9 - Year 2017 - Issue 1 (Unity Special) 


While on one hand we see nation against nation, community against community, family against family, man against man; on the other we see baseless arguments like that of Rajiv Malhotra (in his book ‘Breaking India’) that Christian work feeds and flourishes on the disunity within Indian communities. A lack of proper understanding of the Bible on unity is the reason.

Since there is no provision or possibility of uniting people without any differences and discrimination within any other framework and religious system, he attempts to degrade and dismantle the only Faith that can give equal rights to all people irrespective of their colour, language, geography. And the last book of the Bible shows us a glimpse of what it will be like when Christ returns and in His kingdom, “After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…” (Revelation 7:9 NRSV).

The world’s pursuit of unity yields not much results because of its failure in not pursuing the Truth as C.S. Lewis aptly words it, “Seek Unity and you will find neither Unity nor Truth. Seek the light of truth, and you will find Unity and Truth”. The oxymoron phrase ‘Unity in Diversity’ makes sense and the meaningful and possible coexistence of unitas and varietas becomes achievable only when there is the pursuit of veritas (Truth). Devoid of Truth, the world’s sophomoric attempt at unity meets only with more disunity.  

In his article ‘To the Unity of the Faith’ the General Secretary compares the church, church leaders and ministers of the first century and present times and shows the dilution of truth in life and in proclamation. This is a clarion call to stand on the truth without compromising the Word.

The article from the Associate General Secretary’s Desk, ‘Clarity in Unity’ presents four foundational principles of Unity to help understand that unity is not uniformity rather a process of maturity.

Unity and Love as abstracts cannot be understood unless we come to the Personhood of the Trinity.  The more we learn and grow in the knowledge of our Triune God, the more we grow in unity. The Get Equipped article ‘Trinity: Understanding the Three in One’ is biblically sound and encourages the reader to grow in unity and to practice godly love that exists within the Trinity.

Unity in essence needs to be experienced within a person (aligning oneself with God’s word), with people and in God’s purpose. The New Gen Thinking article ‘Walls: Build or Break?’ expounds on these and brings unity lessons from walls of historical significance. The ‘Let Us Beat Swords into Plowshares’ sculpture in the UN Art Collection and the inscriptions on the Isaiah Wall across the UN building, “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4b), is complete, meaningful and possible only when people walk in Truth, in God’s paths and when God shall judge among the nations (Isaiah 2:3,4a).

The Children’s Chronicles story ‘Raju’s Projects’ is a definite treat for children which shows how when small children come together they can make a big difference in someone’s life.

‘Till Death Do Us Part’ is an excellent article for married couples and for those preparing for marriage which points out to the importance of commitment and not compulsion to be the anchor of marriage life.

The Tentmaking article ‘Dichotomy in Calling: Unifying Skills & Spiritual Gifts to Serve’ removes the dichotomy of secular and sacred and helps the reader to understand work as a calling from God and to unify and use one’s skills, abilities, gifts for God’s glory and for His purpose. 

This year, 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. “To gather with God's people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer” remarked Martin Luther. This is a stark reminder for the need of unity within the church community. We are called to build the kingdom of God and not our own kingdoms.

We need yet another reformation, that will bring unity with the clarity that we are not called to compete with each other but to complement our graces and gifts; not to fight on fundamental doctrines and yet not compromise on sound doctrines; not to become self and church-obsessed, but to be kingdom-minded.  

Unifying Reading,
Mariyosh Joseph
Chief Editor, The CALL

Contents – Unity Special

From Bihar With Love: To the Unity of the Faith – D. Augustine Jebakumar
AGS Desk: Clarity in Unity – Ashok Kumar
Poem: Stay with the Flock – Esther Dara
Children’s Chronicles: Raju’s Projects – Angeline Mariyosh
Get Equipped: Trinity: Understanding the Three in One – Christopher Murugan
New Gen Thinking: Walls: Build or Break? – Mariyosh Joseph
Standing @ the GAP: Till Death Do Us Part – Packiyarani Stephen
Tentmaking: Dichotomy in Calling: Unifying Skills & Spiritual Gifts to Serve – Sumithra Jayaraj

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