Stories like these reached the ears and touched the hearts of members of a small organisation based in Dimapur, called the Sinai Ministry. Getting into action, the Sinai Ministry leadership team started to pray asking the Lord to guide and show them the way. This was how the ‘Building Community Project’ took birth. This project seeks out poor widows who need help to repair their home or basic household and material assistance. So far, the project has helped five families. The goal is to help at least 12 families in a year, one family every month.
Besides making lives better, the Sinai Ministry members had already been cleaning the streets of Dimapur for two years as an act of social transformation under another initiative titled “Gloria Patri”. One must note that this was even before the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi had officially declared the Swachh Bharat Mission. What was so amazing about this initiative to clean the streets was that it inspired a lot of young people not only from Sinai but from various churches, tribes and schools etc to come out and help clean the streets.
Sharing the story behind these small acts of change, Wabang Longchari, Director of Sinai Ministry states the Sinai members are keen not only to bring spiritual changes but social transformation in the community. We call it the “S 2-Spiritual and Social Transformation”. He explains that there are so many poor people in the community but the ministry decided to focus on widows because they are the most forgotten and neglected in society. So we started by first identifying widows in the society, after that getting to know their hardships and their pain and finding out what they need the most.
It is the desire of ‘Building Community Project’ to open the eyes of the community. They hope to inspire people from other districts and to take the initiative forward. Wabang narrates how several people after hearing about this project called him to refer certain individuals and families who are in need of help. The Sinai Ministry is a small Christian faith based NGO in Dimapur and so it has time and financial limitations to reach out to other districts. It is also not their intention to gain name or popularity but only to obey what God has instructed.
Wabang opines that Nagaland State is not very big and if every community takes responsibility for their own locality, Nagaland would be in a far better situation. He adds, “We end up sitting back and complaining all the time. But if people are really serious about development, we should just take matters into our own hands and start building the community with our own labour. If we do this, even the government will start taking development seriously. My challenge to public is to take responsibility for your own locality.”
He also points out the irony that Churches in Nagaland are so big and rich but even the roads leading to the churches are so badly in need of repairs. “Maybe instead of waiting for the Government to act, the churches could do something about it. This would benefit not only its church members but the community as a whole. I say this not to criticize, but with a vision for our community to be more involved, to initiate. I want to encourage that,” he says.
Sharing a burden in his heart, Wabang says that we are losing the spirit of love in our community. He explains, “It feels like love does not go beyond our families. If we are truly a Christian State, our love should go beyond our families.”
If you are thinking about money and how the project is funded, listen to this:
“We are not spending any money on Building Community Project. People think we are getting plenty of funds and donations. This is a big misconception. All we do is we just share our plans in our small Church-The Lighthouse Church. We don’t even go to people individually to share our plans. It is our Church members, well-wishers who give from their own pockets and volunteer to assist. Sometimes it is not necessary for the items to be new. As long as they are useable. Today, I would like to declare that we are not receiving any funds from any Government or Agencies. We have no intention to ask for help and even in future we will not. Everything should be voluntary and free will. I say this because I have had instances where people call me asking for help and how they could avail funds since we seem to have good connections. People assume we are a rich Church. But God knows the truth.”
This man of God and vision is looking forward to bring positive changes in the community. But it is not a one man show. Kudos should be given to the dedicated team of leaders and members in the Sinai Ministry. From picking brooms and cleaning the streets of Dimapur, to praying for sick and hungry, climbing thatch roofs for repair. In just a few years time, a lot has been achieved.
The Sinai Church leaves a challenge for all of us, saying, “If a small church can do so much with so little, just imagine if all the Churches of Nagaland unite and initiate similar community building projects for their own members and locality. Imagine how many poor people would benefit?”
Imagine- a better Nagaland!
