DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 23 (MExN): The 32nd National Annual Course on ‘Pastoral Care for the Sick and Suffering’ organized by the Christian Medical Association of India (CMAI) concluded on Saturday at the Training Centre, Development Association of Nagaland, Chekiye Village Dimapur with Rev. P Bonu Resu as the valedictory speaker.
He thanked the Christian Medical Association of India for organizing the annual course for the first in the North East and encouraged the participants to inculcate compassion in their ministry for the sick and the suffering. He also handed out the certificate to the participants.
The course commenced on September 11 with 28 participants from all over the country which consisted of pastors, missionaries and church workers. It is a two week annual course offered by the CMAI once in a year for church leaders and individuals who have a heart for healing ministry. The course covered topics on basic skills of counseling, palliative care, community visits, bio ethics, healing ministry of the church, intercultural ministry etc.
The Resource persons for the course were Rev. Dr Ezzeckiel Shanthakumar (Director, Medical Counseling Association of India), Dr.Stanley C Macaden (National Co-ordinator, CMAI), Dr. Sedevi Angami (Director, CIHSR), Dr. Atsung Aier (CIHSR), Dr. Rohan Michael (CIHSR), Dr. Rebeki Momin (CIHSR), Sr. Dr.Rosemary (CIHSR), Inaholi Asumi (CIHSR), Dr. Moa Imsong (Counsellor, DABA), Moatemjen Jamir (Nehemiah India), Mang Ngaite (Director, Home Fellowship Movement, Shillong), Ms.Seno Pongen (Youth Evangelist, KABA) and Sentilong Ozukum (Civil Servant, Author)
A press note from the CMAI reported in the feedback given by some of the participants. Rev. Thomas Cheriyan form Jharkhand summarized the course into three words: "Disturbing, Challenging and Empowering."
Anungba Imsong, Pastor, Medziphema Town Ao Baptist Church meanwhile commented that the course was an enriching one and that he learnt the real meaning of counseling and to act as facilitator to the client through the course.
Major J. Liankhama of the Salvation Army Church, Kohima supplemented that every lesson and every class in the course was an enriching experience and that he was equipped to be a better counselor, preacher and teacher. Pastor Ranga Seb of the Nagamese Baptist Church Dimapur said that the Course was a great one to equip oneself to further equip others.
Meanwhile, Kewi form Convenant Baptist Church, Dimapur commented that the "Pastoral Care for the Sick and Suffering" course has been an enriching experience where I learned basic yet so relevant counseling skills.
“The course has given me new perspectives as to how we as pastors and the church as a whole should become a healing church. It was also a time of bonding with friends from different denominations where I learned to embrace and respect each other's denomination.”
