ETC Campus children presenting a special song during the inaugural programme of launching the Master of Arts in Holistic Child Development at Cooks Chapel Hall, Eastern Theological College (ETC), Jorhat on April 28.
Introduces Master of Arts in Holistic Child Development
Dimapur, April 29 (MExN): An inaugural programme was organized by the department of ILEMA to mark the introduction of the Master of Arts in Holistic Child Development (MA-HCD) at Cooks Chapel Hall, Eastern Theological College (ETC), Jorhat on April 28.
Dr. Dan Brewster, Director, International Academic Programmes, Compassion International who initiated and helped launch this programme at ETC attended the event. In his speech Dr. Dan Brewster, who travelled to more than one hundred countries during the last 29 years for the cause of children said, “In 2008 I planted a tiny seed at ETC and it is happening to grow today. Children are in a big trouble everywhere, not because of their fault. They are suffering and starving people group, and they are unwanted and exploited generation. Our children of North East India are crying tonight and God wants us to hear the cry of every child because they are the future of the Church and our society.”
He thanked ETC for joining the family of world seminaries that offers MA-HCD and challenged the ETC to stand out as the model not only for North East India but also for the whole of India in this endeavour.
In his introductory note, Dean of ILEMA, Rev. Dr. Razouselie Lasetso said that the MA-HCD is being introduced in the context of numerous painful experiences in the North East India (NEI) such as poverty, illiteracy and backwardness, in which the most affected are the children. He further said that few privileged children are living and undergoing studies in towns and other cities, but 80% of the children in the NEI are deprived of even basic amenities. Majority of them do not have the opportunity to live and experience normal life.
Professor Razou lamented that children are not provided adequate teaching and care, churches cannot visualize beyond present Sunday school system etc. At the backdrop of all these realities, the course-MA-HCD is launched with an aim and vision to train and equip leaders and teachers who are committed to educate and bring changes in the lives of the children.
In his welcome and introductory speech, Rev. Zhabu Terhuja, President of ETC said that introduction of the new programme is not only another milestone in the history of the ETC but also ‘it is a noble venture of ETC. It is a matter of preparing for future ministers of the church’ and therefore he urged upon the ETC community to give sincere and conscious effort.’
ETC Campus children taking the main parts in this worship was one unique feature of the inaugural programme. Programme personnel from the children were Veisuonai, Aienla Jamir, Rakmi Shimray, Rahanai, Jenti, Grace, Cidi, Adelo, Mima, Avi James, Remrem, Sophia. Talijungla Longkumer, Pastor of Jorhat Ao Baptist Church offered a special prayer for the children and for MA-HCD programme. The inaugural function ended with a prayer and benediction by College chaplain Dr. Sashikaba Kechutzar. All together 23 students are enrolled in the first batch for this course.
