Limeka Achumi
Dimapur | December 15
The inception of the Disciples Upper Room Ministries founded by Hotoli Shohe was in 2017. The founding idea evolved on a principle, which Shohe always maintained as, – ‘Sharing the love of God.’
The ministry is located in Rio colony, (Signal Basti) Dimapur which also serves as a venue for the Sunday fellowship and for the free tuition classes.
Shohe’s decision to work among the indigent community in her neighbourhood was because she believed that ministering among the down and out gentiles who lived in close proximity to the churches was equally important in comparison to the mission programmes initiated by the churches to send missionaries among the rural areas in Orissa, Bihar, etc. While several others focussed on the outside, Shohe had her lens zooming inside.
Up to this point, the ministry has been rendering spiritual and financial aid to almost 25 families of the community. The ministry has also initiated a programme which provides free tuition classes for the children who cannot afford to attend schools and private tuitions. Around 30 – 40 children are making use of this opportunity. Regularly the children are also provided free stationery. The programme aims on providing both education and discipline. On Sundays these children are invited for Sunday classes where the ministry focuses on teaching them songs and the word of God.
Shibum, a dynamic child was easily spotted playing around the locality and when asked if he knew about a ministry nearby, with a twinkle in his eye he quickly said, “There is one, near my house and it is run by our tuition miss.” It is to be noted that there is only one ministry in that locality and it goes by the name, Disciples Upper Room Ministries.
Other programmes include the Sunday fellowship and the Grocery and clothes distribution among the community. When the question popped up about how the programmes were planned, Shohe said that it always involved a secret ingredient, an emphasis she always laid, which is – ‘Action speaks louder than voice.’ She believed that only words would not suffice and that the ministry was built to help the destitute through all means.
Raj Kumari Devi, a widow was more than willing to give few statements when asked if she could talk about how she has been benefited; her testimony went on about how she received help in bringing her vision, both spiritually and physically.
The clichéd yet a crucial question was asked, it was about the impediments that came on the way while starting the ministry and how it was dealt with, Shohe’s reply was “To be honest, financially we were at rock bottom but I believe it was our spiritual strength that summed up for it.” When asked about the current road, she said that financial struggles still existed but so did her faith which in comparison was much larger.
Everyone has had and have someone behind them who stood there providing support and encouragement, and it came off as no surprise when Shohe mentioned that her standing pillar was her mother. But the intriguing part of this mother – daughter relationship was the lengths to which the mother went while providing all her care and support.
“Be the light in the darkness to inspire and to enlighten others,” as quoted by Debasish Mridha helped frame a question on inspiration which was asked to Shohe, and her reply was “I think I found inspiration from Dorcas, a person from the Bible who had lived her life providing food, shelter, clothing and medical care for the under-privileged.”
Shohe, as a child had always enjoyed Christmas, so from the very beginning of the ministry she had planned that she was going to bring the joy of Christmas to the community she is working among, in its real sense, by conducting a service program and ending with a feast. The previous year had also witnessed a jubilant Christmas celebration which brought together few members of the community and Shohe along with few of her family members. This year also Shohe has gone one step ahead by decorating and conducting an advent Christmas programme.
For long, Shohe’s prayer request has been that the members of the community, who have come to believe in Christ, keep growing in the faith and soon open up about the gospel and the salvation they have received.
The writer is currently an intern in The Morung Express.
