Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, Oct. 18 (EMN): Most Christians would agree that evangelism is a good idea and there is a deep burning desire in the heart of many to spread the Gospel as once preached by the American missionaries in the late 19th century in Nagaland.
However, missionaries in outreach fields often face hostility- in expression-like assault, indirect hostility, irritability, negativism, resentment, suspicion, and verbal hostility with the native people of certain geographical areas because of the cross-cultural clash, said Limaonen, a theologian.
To shun the barriers of cultural shock among the missionaries, IICS will train trainees from foreign countries and across India to prepare what they will expect and how to deal with the situation, said Limaonen, who will be the co-ordinator of Institute of Inter Cultural Studies (IICS) under NBC which is going to start from November this year.
During an interaction with the media persons at Nagaland Bible College (NBC) at Artang Ward, Mokokchung on Friday, Dr. Sentila Ao and the faculty of the college observed that many missionaries who go to the mission fields often face cross-cultural shock.
This was disclosed while sharing some insight about IICS.
Dr. Sentila Ao said NBC was founded by late Rev. Chuba Ao and his wife Tiala Ao (co-founder) in 1977 with a vision of training young people from the interior areas and send them back to lead the churches with the motto “Equipping Servant leader, learn love and Serve.” She added that IICS is an extension of the vision and endeavour of NBC to fulfil its mission to train and produce missionaries to send out to the South Asian countries.
“NBC’s deeper burden is to reach the unreached areas, therefore, training and sending out people into the mission field is the next natural step of NBC to undertake and fulfil the vision of reaching the unreached by crossing boundaries and carrying Christ,” said Dr. Sentila Ao, daughter of NBC founder.
She also maintained that Nagaland been situated at the heart of the major unreached part of the world, can trained missionaries unhindered. “There are potentially thousands of young Naga people who are ready to be sent out if the Churches have the right cross-cultural mission vision,” she asserted.
Twenty five trainees, five from foreign countries and 20 from across India, will undergo six-month intensive diploma studies at IICS. They will be connected with other mission agencies and mission fields if they opt to embark on a mission.
IICS is an inter-denomination institute and open for anyone who wants to carry out mission work. Anyone who have passed class 10 and has three years working experience in church ministry or class XII passed can pursue the course.
Meanwhile, NBC officials also informed that a programme called Colour of Praise will be organised on October 25 evening at NBC Discovery Hall, where around 15 neighbouring churches will participate. They have invited the public to attend the programme.
