INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS DAY; A CHALLENGE TO NEPALI CHURCHES

International Migrants Day is an internationally observed on December 18. This date was chosen because it was on December 18, 1990 that UN adopted the International Convention on the Protection of all Migrants Workers and Members of their families. Since year 2000, the international community has used December 18, International Migrants Day, to highlight the human rights of the migrants community across the world (The United Nations).

Migration has been considered one of the defining global issues of the twenty first century as more and more people are on the move than any point in human history. The issue of migration has been on the zenith as we read migrants news in every day’s newspaper.

This paper tries to extract the role of the churches in a changing society where people’s movement is on the climax in this borderless age. How the churches should undertake the mission in this age? This has been the alarming question in this generation.

Why Migration?

The Migration is an undeniable fact as this trend will accelerate more and more in the years to come. In fact Marshal MacLuhan was right to bring the world in a global village and it is more shrinking due to the ever-increasing connectedness of human beings. Therefore we are not isolated from others. Now, Christianity is surviving in this generation. The question is how can we tackle with the mobile world? Precisely speaking, how the Nepali churches would see this phenomenon from the Kingdom growth perspective? Dr. Rick Wood throws question in the Mission Frontier’s editorial heading; can the church cope with Mobile Mission fields? I will give a pause for a moment.

Looking at Nepali migration, there are certain things that we have to see it very precisely here. I never opt to give an exclusive statement saying that Nepalese should stop migrating to abroad. On what base can I say so? Our government has been utterly failure in sustaining development of the country. In fact I should be ashamed to address such a statement here.  However, we have crossed the limit to put the trust in our leaders who have devastated the economy of the country due to the unresolved political crisis. The Nepal Migration Survey carried out by the World Bank in 2009 on 3,200 households shows that around 77 percent of the returnees were interested in going for foreign employment again. (The Kathmandu Post, 29-06-2011) Why? They know that they do not see any future here in Nepal expect political unrest and bandh every now and then. Now, the trend of migrating to abroad especially to gulf countries is on high.

According to the Department of Foreign Employment, around 2,000 people at present are seeking permission to go abroad every day.  Official government data show around 2.2 million people—7.30 percent of the total populations—are working in various countries. However, the actual number is said to be much higher than that. A majority of these workers are between the age of 20 and 23. The contribution of remittance to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is said to be above 20 percent, as no exact figures are available. According to the National Migration Survey Report, Nepal received Rs 260 billion—19 percent of the GDP—in 2011. (The Kathmandu Post, 2012/02/06)

The Government has been in benefit from migrants. Can we put this statement in other way around? International Organization for Migration and the Ministry of Labour and Transport management reported a fact that 40 to 50 percent of the total migrant workers went abroad through irregular channels. These workers are more likely to suffer more.

Hypothesis: the Divine Maestro

From socio-culturally speaking, there are lots of factors behind the migration. In fact it is a complex matter of different elements such as war, economy, poverty, freedom, justice and so on. However the church should understand the riddle in midst of these chaos that how people have been moving along with the circumstance. Now my point is, therefore to make the church much wider, flexible and bring them out of the surface and letting them to watch the horizon. I would put this framework into two different contexts. Firstly, the government’s failure to sustain the development and find an opportunity to the returnee migrants is the main issue to upsurge the emigrants more rapidly. Secondly the movements of people is just not a happenstance rather it softens their heart to hear the good news (Acts 17:26-27). This seems that migration has been a positive factor in achieving God’s mission. Someone may have query on how the Mission of God backs up to the migrational trend! To understand this phenomenon, we have to get into the crux of the Mission that the creatures cannot be isolated all alone and, it inherits an assimilative nature to incline with the creator and vice versa. Throughout the history, this had been a trend of the Mission that God used to fulfill his grand plan. Be it Israelites wandering on the wilderness or captivity of Babylon and Persians over the Holy land, the scattering and gathering have been a part and parcel of the Kingdom. Therefore, we do not need to surprise to hear that God is on the move and it is important to consider migrants as an important part of the Mission. Putting this hypothesis in mind, I draw a line that assimilates the migrational and Missional trend as in the parallel position.  Hitherto, the God of the ages is still in control while all of creation groans for his return (Romans 8:22).

Nepalese Migrants and God’s scheme

The heading seems to be astounding for some of you. I have been pondering a thought that Bosch has unveiled in his book “Transforming Mission,” where he says that the church is privileged to participate in Missio Dei and this “enunciates the good news that God is a God-for-people” (David Bosch, 1991). This leads me to contemplate that people’s movement also carries God along with. This strategy is important for the church as we strive further in reaching to people. Last week, I was interpreting a sermon in one of the church where the speaker was lamenting and crying for the favor of God over USA. He even urged the local Nepali church to send at least two missionaries to USA within the next five years.  This is the urgent need that Nepali churches should come up and think of sending missionaries to abroad. This is with two motives; 1. Flow of Nepali migrants is at rise, 2. Need of evangelism to the ethic Americans. I was quite convinced with the speaker’s strategy as the church should not THINK about the gathering the people rather it is the time to send away their crème that would impact others.

Therefore, this is also a reminder to the Churches and Christian organization as we remember International Migrants Day, we need to realize the opportunities for the Christian organizations and churches what we can do for the migrants that reside in the next door.

The Unconditional Hope

Our county is in the severe crisis at the moment. No one knows where the county is heading for! Have you ever seen the politicians like this who changes their speech in every other day? Years were passed by in the hope for the Constitution but output was nil even after spending millions of dollar in drafting the constitution. Therefore, I would term this decade as the most tragic that Nepal had ever faced in the history. The tussle between the opposition parties and government seem to be a never-ending drama. In one side, the government is threatening to bring full budget without political consensus which most believe will ignite confrontation only. At the same time, Oppositions have already chalked out agitation plans against government.  Therefore it can be assumed that the Maoist turned to be an utter failure in running the government after leading the simple and uneducated people in the people’s war for almost a decade. What happened to them who lost their life during the course of war? I would like to highlight some of the public voices here in the blog.

 

Here are some of the painful memories of the war who have lost their dear ones during the insurgency in the hope for betterment/welfare.

“We do not need another war to snatch away our dear ones; we hope there will never be any war in the country.” - Birsha who had lost his four-year-old son during the war said, “War took away the children of the poor people like us and the leaders who were against each other during the war have come together now. We do not feel any change in our lives, so sacrificing our lives was a heavy price we paid for.”

“We have lost everything, now we do not even have tears left in our eyes to weep for the loss.” Lamented Suka who lost her right hand in the war.

Simple Nepalese were betrayed and cheated by their own people. Now I have some different illustration for you all. People give hope which would not come true in reality. Nevertheless, here is the true incident that happened in the history.

In fact this is not a fairy tale, but the fact. This is about the Person whose name was Jesus who spreads the hope to the hopeless. He was born in 2000 years ago in the city of Bethlehem, now in Palestine. While he was in thirty he started to visit people in nearby places and started to tell about the Kingdom of God. His teachings became like a boom to the high profile people of that generation. The religious leaders did not like to hear from him as He was speaking about the fact about God. His own people disliked him and his teachings. As it is obvious that people cannot digest the truth, so happened to the people of that time. He spoke about the truth and told people to follow the truth but people did not like the Truth which he himself was. Finally after completing three and half years on the earth, he was taken to the Cross in the accusation of provoking people toward the false teachings. Now years have been passed away. His words of truth are still a fresh. People have been changed trough his teachings. He did not promise like a human being or put any condition in return of the Hope. He simply offered his hope of eternity to those who could put his/her trust in him disregard of cast and color. This is the Unconditional Hope.  

Politicians demand a life of our dear ones; Jesus demands fromus a complete changed person. Therefore, do not fall into trap of human promises who fail in one way or the other but God’s promise is different from others.  He knows the plans for you and me. And they are for our welfare and not for harm and to give us a future with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of International Nepal Fellowship; A reflection on Missional Impact in Nepal

50-60 years ago in Nepal the words “Christian,” “Bible,” “Church” was not found in the usual vocabulary. Now almost a generation has passed by and, here we all stand together with a grateful heart, remembering the legacy of our heroes of faith who endured hardships and struggles, despite the government’s opposition and hostility at that time.  They established a platform from which those who came after could follow in the tracks they had set. How marvelous is He who has saved wretches like us!

 

This paper tries to give a brief history of International Nepal Fellowship and its impact in the country and finally tries to evaluate the strides of Mission from the early days until now.

A BRIEF HISTORY:

The history goes back to 1936 when Dr. Lily O’Hanlon and Hilda Steele arrived in Nautanwa for medical work, since Nepal at that time was closed to the gospel.   However, it would be unfair to overlook the legacy of Dr. Kathrerin Harbord, who had worked for many years in Nautnwa, before the arrival of Dr. Lily and Hilda. Therefore, Nautanwa can be considered as a springboard for early Nepali missionaries to prepare for a greater height. People like Philip Gurung, Daud Masih, David and Premi Mukhia (from Darjeeling), Tir Bahadur, Buddhi Sagar and Putali Gautam were the pioneers and the heroes of faith who counted “Prayer” and “Trust in the Lord” as their tools for the Missions. Tom Hale vividly writes in his book “Light Dawns in Nepal” that “It is essential to emphasize at this point that the INF story and indeed the development of the entire church in Nepal has not been the worked solely or even primarily of foreign missionaries.” The work in India continued even though it was not registered with the government. The group consisted of a team of ten expatriates and nineteen Nepali volunteers by the end of 1940. Eventually the team took up the name as 'Nepal Evangelistic Band' which was registered in Lucknow on the 22nd February 1943. The political scenario in the world was changing. There were two major historical events occurring during the early of 50s. Firstly, the Rana’s rule in Nepal collapsed in 1951 and, secondly Britain subsequently granted independence to India. Of course by then the World War II had just concluded. Into this perfect timing, the whole team of Dr. Lily and Hilda along with Buddhi Sagar trekked into Pokhara, Nepal on November 10, 1952. The Christian mission in Nepal was then started by Buddhi Sagar and Putali with the five Nepali members of the Band, forming the first early church (Ramghat Mandali) in Nepal. A transition took place in 1972 changing the name from Nepal Evangelical Band to International Nepal Fellowship, officially for three main reasons; 1. It reflected the increasingly international flavor of the mission, as not only from English-speaking world and Europe; but also from Asia, 2. There was a transition in the leadership of the mission and, 3. The mission was becoming more and more involved in cooperative ventures with the Nepal government. (Tom Hale, 2012)   

IMPACT OF THE MISSION IN THE RURAL NEPAL:

INF arrived in Nepal at the exact moment when there was a need for somebody who could perceive needs. Fortunately, the NEB was just waiting at the door step and looking forward to seeing the doors opened. The International community invested in the development of the country as a whole. Due to the link with Buddi Sagar, Dr. Lily O’Hanlon and Hilda Steele and the team landed in Pokhara. I wish Buddhi Sagar’s home would have been further West of Nepal. However, INF did not confine its territory to the developing cities but instead ventured into the remote parts of Nepal. Recently INF is pioneering in Bajura as well.   Moreover INF plans and objectives have not strayed far from those first ideals as it looks to help those who are in need as physically and spiritually both.

History tells us that when there was no organization in western Nepal, INF missionaries could see the needs of the people. Having based themselves in Pokhara, they reached out to Kaski, Kapilbastu, Dang, Banke, Surkhet, Jumla, Mugu, and Bajura as well. Health, Human Development, rehabilitation and community development were some of the projects that INF has been doing in the Western and Mid-Western parts of Nepal. Therefore, we cannot forget the contribution that INF has invested in the lives of poor and marginalized people in West Nepal.      

MISSIOLOGICAL STRIDES: Then AND Now

Missions were vivid and fresh then. Those young women had never searched for a comfort zone. There were no vehicles, no internet and computers, no transportation, yet people had a passion and a zeal for service and could not withhold the God’s unfailing Love. Their hearts were restless for the gospel. They were always desperate for people. I always use two key words whenever I talk about community development work, viz., People and Relationship. This is the essence of the INF organisational set-up.

I however find difficult to equate such things to this generation. There are two great pitfalls that I have observed among the National workers as we undertake the job cycle; starting at 10 o’clock in the morning and ending at 5 o’clock in the evening. We are more concerned with salary than with the service we provide. We are very worried about our rank or post and, give much priority to the hierarchy which is not positive at all, as far as we are concerned, for the Mission. In fact, this is not limited to INF employees only but in general with other Christian organizations, be it World Vision or United Mission to Nepal. Secondly it was due to the lack of the heart of God. I do not believe that we serve better when we are ignorant of the heart of God. And this detracts from the motives of working with INF or any other christian organization. Why do we work with INF? Is it because I would have better serving opportunity and God wants me to be there? Or is it because my career is safe and sound. This is a challenge to the national workers.

Let us look back at the history for a moment. What sustained INF? “It was prayer more than money that sustained the Band during those difficult days, and the same has been true of INF ever since.” (Tom Hale, 2012)

Evaluation: 

What can we do then? We should remember our history now when we celebrate the 60^th anniversary. The International community has always had a positive concern for the Nepali churches. However it is wrong to say that Nepal’s churches were dominated by foreign missionaries, unlike India where church administration and leadership were controlled by foreign missions. Nepalese churches have had their independence from the earliest stages. Moreover, Churches of Nepal had their freedom in leadership and decision making from the time the missionaries came to Nepal after Nepal became accessible to foreign nationals. However the International community assisted and empowered in terms of the capacity development in both the secular or and spiritual.

By highlighting this, I would like to suggest to the International community to encourage the churches to engage in the community more. The fact is, that in the most of the organizational set up, more than 50-60% of the finance goes to the administration costs and only 30-40% towards the community work. I think this is neither fair to the donor agencies, nor to the target groups. I assume that this can be improved if we apply the aspect of partnership with the national churches and let the churches take the mission to the community, rather than being a separate entity or body from the community development work.

In conclusion, I marvel at looking the beginning phase of NEB and current phase of INF. NEB mission started with the Nepali migrants who were in Nautanwa and now, INF is reaching out once again to the Nepali migrants in India. INF’s India Migrant Initiative (IMI) serves among Nepali migrants in partnership with the local Nepali churches in Delhi and NW of India. I think we are also on the right track today.

 

Note:  The idea expressed in the paper belongs to the author himself and he is responsible solely. This has nothing to do with INF.