Richang Imchen
Dimapur | November 4
With the motivation to execute theology into a way of life, the director of the ‘Friends of the Poor Society’, Dr Bendangjungshi had started the nonprofit organization in 1998 based on Biblical principles.
A theological journey that started since 1989 has evolved to work for socio economic developments of the downtrodden both in the material and spiritual world. Over the years the ‘Friends of the Poor Society’ has been actively engaged in various activities, such as: street evangelism, education through networking, providing assistance or emergency relief work during natural calamities, health and other programmes to achieve sustainable human development and to promote social justice and human dignity for all.
The ‘Friends of the Poor Society’ is a movement whose vision is to enable the disadvantaged to live a dignified life. Some of the aims and objectives of the ‘Friends of the Poor Society’ is to promote the process of democracy by enabling people to participate in decision making processes. It also seeks to promote the gender mainstreaming into society with respecting women’s rights and also endorses on life sustaining development by protecting environment and respecting indigenous values and principles.
In a brief interaction with Dr Bendangjungshi at a youth spiritual camp in the GCYM, Sovima Dimapur Friday evening, he emphasized on how the ‘poor’ populace of the world becomes the subject of all developments. ‘Friends of the Poor Society’ under the motto “where there is charity, God is surely to be found” thus assumes an important factor and a source of influence to shape His vision for the “kingdom of God on earth.”
When asked on how ‘poor’ are the Nagas today in terms of the land being called a Christian state, Dr Bendangjungshi replied, “if any NGOs or ministries want to do something for the people or kind of people’s movement Nagaland is the best laboratory.” The reason was evidently pointed out because of the rampant corruption present in the society. Corruption being an impediment to all developments, Dr Bendang stressed on the importance having a clear cut principles and directions. He pointed out that if religion (in terms of Christianity) itself could make a community Nagaland could have been a better place. On the other hand he lamented that due to the lopsidedness in the religious outlook today the social evils only tend to multiply as a trend. “Nagas want an event but not a process,” he stated.
Thus keeping the holistic ‘process’ in mind with youths being the target, this youth camp was organized by the ‘Friends of the Poor Society’ in collaboration with the Bethesda Prayer Home from November 4-6, 2016 at GCYM under the theme “Be armoured in the Lord” Ephesians 6:10-14. On the opening night of the crusade, Dr Bendang shared on the “Identity in Christ.” The second day would witness two sessions on the Christ understanding of ‘Work is Worship’ which will also include a session on career guidance.
