Rev. Dr. Mar Atsongchanger delivering the Keynote address at the joint consultation on Holistic Child Development in North East India at Eastern Theological College, Jorhat on January 29.
Dimapur, January 30: In connection with Master of Arts in Holistic Child Development course, a joint consultation on holistic child development in North East India is underway at Eastern Theological College, Jorhat from January 29 and will be held till January 31.
Regional consultation on holistic child development underway at Eastern Theological College
The consultation under the theme, “Holistic Child Development: Ministerial Approach” is jointly organised by the Institute of Leadership Enhancement and Ministry Augmentation (ILEMA), Eastern Theological College and North East India Theological Association (NEITA).The delegates for the programme comprise of general secretaries and executive secretaries of various church associations, principals of different theological colleges, theological teachers and students.The keynote address was delivered by Rev. Dr. Mar Atsongchanger, Executive Secretary, ABAM. Dr. Mar highlighted the dominant issues faced by children today such as poverty, lack of access to education, child neglect, child labour, child prostitution, internet child pornography, child trafficking and slavery, violence through indoctrination, military use of children, life as refugees, infant mortality, HIV/AIDS and children with disability. At the backdrop of such issues faced by children, they are confronted with hosts of problems such as, fear psychoses, sleep disturbances, health problem, negativism, lying, rebellion, rejection, confusion and hatred.
Dr. Mar said, “In such a context in which we live and do our Christian ministry, initiatives towards holistic child development is a matter of calling by our Master Jesus Christ to be salt of the earth. This is also a matter of bridging the gap between our Church Ministry, Christian theology and the Gospel.”
He further added that a holistic approach to child development seeks to simultaneously address the physical, emotional, relational, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of a child’s life. In this regard, Dr. Mar appreciated the Eastern Theological College for the pioneering initiatives in the theologizing process. He said, “Your committed efforts have made the theological education in India more pragmatic and the communication of the Gospel ever relevant to our people of North East India”.
The speaker also pressed that the issues surrounding children are not only to be addressed in terms of research, seminar, consultation and documentation but more importantly in terms of practical action because children are precious in God’s sight, and that the consultation being held will be directed towards becoming action-oriented.
Dr. Razouselie Lasetso, Dean of ILEMA delivered the introductory statement wherein he stressed that the present consultation is organised with an aim to equip dedicated young men and women who are committed to involve themselves in the children ministry particularly in North East India. The programme is a part of the Master of Arts programme, a sincere initiative taken by Eastern Theological College, introduced from the academic year 2013-2014.
The inaugural programme started with an opening hymn followed by invocation prayer led by Rev. Dr. YangkahaoVashum, faculty member of Eastern Theological College. It concluded with benediction offered by Rev. Zhabu Theruja, President of Eastern Theological College. This was stated in a press release issued by Dr. L. Imsutoshi Jamir, Dean of Tribal Study, ETC.
