VENUE: NITIKA, DON BOSCO, KOLKATA
13TH-15TH AUGUST 2005

Transformed to Transform
The beacon of hope for the East

A report on the HI alumni meet
The purpose of the alumni meet was to ensure spiritual enrichment and to revisit the HI vision. The HIAA, Kolkata hosted the meet. A total of 32 representatives from seven HIAAs out of eleven of the region had attended the meet. Dr. David Wong, Vice-President, International Training and Mr. P. K. D. Lee, Vice-President, International Advancement sent greetings for the success of the meet.

The theme of the meet was, “Transformed to Transform”. Alumnus Peter James Bazeley, President, HI India inaugurated the meet with a fitting speech on the occasion while Mr. Valentine Davidar and Rev. Susanta Patra spoke on the theme. Paul Balsundaram, Sundar Singh Sangma and Binoy Kumar Muduli facilitated the alumni in re-visiting the HI vision. HI national AGM Members JTA Singh, Bijoy Sangma and Rabindra Nath Dey were present on the occasion.

Day 1
At the very outset, alumnus Sekhar Shukla, President of Kolkata HIAA welcomed all, it was followed by a video clipping presented by Rev. Susanta Patra on the situation in Kolkata as well as some key information on Kolkata HIAA. This was quite impressive and challenging.

Inaugural Speech by the President, HI India

Alumnus Peter James Bazeley, President, HI India in his inaugural speech referring to the video presentation said that today people in the country are still searching for gurus without knowing the Guru of the gurus. In this framework, the HI Vision comes to us to help transforming the lives of these people. We have been called to imbibe the principles of leadership of change – to train & to transform. He expressed his desire that in all 585 districts of the country, HI should have vibrant alumni associations.

He further said that, as believers in Jesus Christ we are the microcosm of the microcosm and the challenge is to bring people into the basket of God’s harvest. In conclusion, he exhorted for a ceaseless prayer life to create a community of God’s leaders and hold a revived spirit of organizing higher-level seminars – especially National Seminars in every city every year for transformation to happen in this nation.

Keynote Address by Paul Balasundaram

In his keynote address, alumnus Paul Balasundaram, Executive Director, HI India made a presentation on a theme- “ HI India - are we relevant today?”

Explaining on the challenges of the cities, he gave the following information: 141 cities in the country with less than 1% Christians, 48 cities with 1%-2% Christians, 60% cities with 2%-5% Christians, 33% cities with 5%-10% Christians and only 18 cities with more than 10% Christians.

Paul said that there is a great need to influence the marketplace leaders with the Gospel. 250 million belonging to middle class are the opinion makers and influencers. They constitute 25% of our people who need to be reached and influenced. He referred to some of the outstanding marketplace leaders of the Bible. On the relevance of HI ministry, he said that by the year 2050, out of the 30 mega cities in the world which will have a population of more than 100 million, India will have two such cities namely, Mumbai and Kolkata posing great challenges. If our nation is to be transformed, the cities must be touched and the marketplace must be influenced. He said that today in 40% of these cities there is no HI Alumni Association (HIAA). He suggested the following strategy:

1. Identify cities having no HI presence
2. Strengthen city based HIAAs
3. Focus in high-level seminars in the cities

1. If there are committed HI Alumni with right understanding of the vision, money for ministry does not matter.
2. We need to take courage. Do not be afraid or discouraged by the situation.
3. We must focus on four areas viz., Faculty, Participant, Place and Budget. We should motivate those coming from Int’l seminars/NS seminars to get involved with the national ministry.
4. There should be a reminding/encouraging system, aim for participants higher than oneself and hold a sense of ownership.
5. HIAAs must operate on expanded vision – re-visit the vision.
6. Delegate – identify (Thinkers-vis-à-vis Doers)
7. Motivate/Mobilize (consistently and persistently)
8. Look higher!! Aim at high-level seminars.
9. Start with what is available with you. Start from within.

In the afternoon, there was a Panel Discussion on the following three topics:

1. HI Training and its usefulness in fieldwork – Led by Dr. Aby P.Mathew
2. HI Training and its importance in Church – Led by Mrs. Ratna Jiwanmall
3. HI Training and its relevance in Mission Leadership – Led by Rev. L. R. Colney

1. HI training for Mission CEOs be conducted.
2. How can HI be effective? - The answer lies in the fact of our life - sharing and life - demonstration. No theoretical teaching. It is the integrity of leaders that matters.
3. There are three aspects of HI training: Knowledge – God’s standard, Experience – Faculty being a practitioner and Skills transfer – Applying in one’s life situation
4. Build the Church by building people.

Speaking on the theme, Rev. Susanta Patra exhorted on transformation of heart. He said, “We live in an age of more Bhaktis (devotions) without Values.”

He further said that for every Christian leader, there are three problem areas viz., Ego, Love of Money and Boundaries of sex. He suggested three kinds of tests against these three problems such as:

1. Inner Life Test – our motivation (Job 1:9-11), our stewardship (Lk 12:16-21)
2. Outer Life Test – our credibility (1 Sam 16:7, Gal 2:11-14), our use of authority (1 Sam 24:2,4, 6-7), our forgiving (Heb 12:14-15; Mk 11:25,56), our ability to stand against adversity ( Ex 13:17; Jer 12:5)
3. Eternity Life Test - how we use our time and opportunities (Esther 4:14; Gal 6:9), how we handle Lordship/Leadership over people (Lk 5:4-7; Joshua 1:8)

Finally, he challenged that we are consistently in a battle. Therefore, one should consistently look for:

1. A fresh glimpse of God
2. A fresh recognition of himself – inner condition
3. A fresh hunger for God’s visitation

Cultural Program

In the evening, there was good cultural program with a singing group presenting Bengali Gospel songs.

Message by Valentine Davidar

In his message, Valentine spoke from Mathew 19:28-30 and related the portion with 1 Tim 1:15,16.

He said we must look at ourselves beyond an HI Alumni. God is evaluating us of the work entrusted to us. We should not be, with our experience, talking at shallow level. Is it more commitment or more effectiveness?

In his sharing, he brought out the following principles of transformation:

1. The ministry is costly – the standards are high. We must aim for high standards.
2. We must let go of all our deep attachments.
3. Our Lord Himself is our reward.
4. Let us join His work – how are we approaching the work?
5. The issue of payment – it is the issue of the heart
6. The issue of the heart needs to be resolved. Otherwise the ministry is ineffective.
7. Many are called; few are chosen.

After the message, many came forward and prayed committing themselves in tears.

Day 2

Mr. J. T. Amrithasingh chaired the meeting on the day.

In the morning, there was a communion service. Binoy Muduli, Regional Director (East) shared God’s word quoting from Nehemiah 8:1-10. In his message he shared:

1. Are we joyful in joining the work of the Lord?
2. It is only the transformed heart where the joy of the Lord is our strength.
3. It is a privilege to be chosen of the Lord to work in His vineyard.
4. We then are graduated as His co-worker only when His work is our passion and His joy our strength. (2 Cor 6:1)

Like a Mustard Seed: Sundar Singh Sangma

Then alumnus Sundar Singh Sangma, Director (Ministry) shared on the growth and future perspectives of the HI India ministry. In his presentation, he informed how HI India is being perceived by different cross-sections of individual leaders as well as Christian Institutions and the Church in the country. He also informed how the HI training is being widely recognized and expanding in various sectors. The trainings are taken to different Christian Institutions like Medical Colleges, Theological Colleges and Mission Organizations besides market place leaders. The ministry, which began in India 1988 like a mustard seed, has grown up into a big tree permeating its ethos on Christian leadership.

Speaking on some individual transformed lives through HI training, he referred to senior Police Officer alumnus Prateep Philip who was very closely moving with late Rajiv Gandhi when on the day of assassination. Today, Prateep is an effective witness regularly teaching HI seminars sharing his transformed life with others. He also made a reference of the cost of leadership of alumnus Francis, a Cabinet Minister to Govt. of Manipur. As an HI alumnus, his transformed life antagonized the underworld to take away the life of his daughter Elizabeth. 8-year-old Elizabeth was kidnapped, murdered, and thrown into a swamp. Though deeply grieved on his daughter’s killing, Francis with a forgiving spirit uttered, “Use my pain and agony to give life and light to this nation. Forgive them — I already have.” Such profound statement of love and forgiveness of a transformed leader was really heart moving testimony. India saw the Gospel come alive. This is the kind of leader HI can train for Christ.

He quoted from Micah 4 on transformation, and made a beautiful graphic presentation. He explained on the three elements of movement such as Inward, Upward and Outward. This brings in thirst – hunger – and meeting with God eventually resulting in transformation.

He said every ministry should go above the movement stage. We should have “Purpose-driven Alumni Associations”, he said. The only way to accomplish the God-give task is to-

1. Catch the Vision
2. Keep the Vision
3. Obey the Vision

The participants interacted on this and came out with the following road-signs:

Road-Signs

1. Focus on Quality Training – Quality
2. Begin from within – Ownership (The Nehemiah Model)
3. Empower people – Give responsibilities to others. Let go the lust of positions.
4. Discover new talents - Bring in new people to the ministry

Rev. Susanta asked, “What keeps the Alumni together?”

Seminars/Trainings?
Weekly Meetings?
Committee Meetings?
Information flow?

He suggested finding out more creative areas to stay connected.

1. Meeting together has to be edifying – not just business – Paul Balasundaram
2. Discouragement brings disconnections. Our fight is not against any person…against principalities, powers of darkness. Pray. – Valentine Davidar

East Beacons: Binoy Kumar Muduli

Binoy Kumar Muduli, Regional Director (East) made a presentation on the HI ministry in eastern region. Highlighting the ministry performance of the last three years (2003-05), he said, “There is every reason why we should be rejoicing in Eastern Region. Even though there are few hiccups, yet some good indicators of the ministry growth bring joy and hope in eastern region.”

Some of the positive indicators are:

1. There is a gradual reduction in the shortfall of seminar goals and achievements – both in number of seminars and participants.
2. There is a cumulative growth of Alumni in all levels of seminars.
3. The per capita donation from individual donors has increased.

Some of the challenges he shared:

1. To organize higher-level seminars.
2. The ratios of participants in various seminars are: 80:13:7 – Most Alumni are from local seminars.
3. Each HIAA to recruit more participants for NS/SLS and Int’l seminars
4. To increase the ownership of the ministry
5. Launching of Eastern Regional Council
6. Increasing the district coverage from 27% to 35% - covering 10 more districts

He also informed that against the first quarter budget of Rs.83,000/- in 2005, a total of Rs.1,00,000/- has been received – an excess of Rs.17,000/-. This was received with great applause from the participants.

Sundar Singh Sangma expressed his appreciation and thanked God for all the openings in the Eastern Region. Delma Dharni was requested to pray for Binoy & the team.

Message by Rev. Susanta Patra

The second part of Rev. Patra’s message focused on transforming others. He said HI programs are like an Altar (Ex 30:1-10).

As sacrifices are offered on the Altar, he asked what sacrifices are needed to be made by us? God is only interested in multiplication – not just addition. That is why Devil is angry.

He said, the Altar is a sign of God’s presence, protection, holiness, comfort, strength and blessing. It is the holy life, which only makes a holy leader – leading others in holiness. He compared the HI seminars with the Altar and said a sacrifice need to be made at this Altar. Transformation will not come from our powerful teaching; but from the burnt offering of ourselves. How is our Altar? He expressed his concern saying, “Sometime ministry can be so man-made”. In his concluding remark he said, “Doing God’s work in God’s way will bring back God’s power for transformation.” He put three questions for reflections:

1. Is my Altar built or ruined?
2. Is my Altar repaired?
3. Is my Altar acceptable to God?

The evening cultural program was lively with items presented by participants from Chattishgarh, Bhilai and Bolangir. Their songs and skits encouraged all.

Message by Valentine Davidar

In his second part of the message, he again reminded all to put themselves into the shoes of Peter. Referring to Luke 9:20-35, he said, “Peter was saying things he did not know”. Connecting this to I Tim 1:15,16 again, he said we are the blundering people so easily identifying with Peter. In his message, be brought out the following issues:

1. How does God transform the transformed to transform others?
2. We need to bring changes in specific areas.
3. God invests in us – we must work in those areas of our life we aren’t aware.
4. Long suffering is a pattern – we must become a pattern for others.
5. Transformation is mandatory – I need to let God change me.
6. I become a bridge for others or a hindrance – there is no third option.
7. Influencing people through small things – silence can influence.

1. Heart issues – inner life issues (Col 3:5)
2. In the areas of our words (Col 3:8)
3. In my relationships (Col 3:12)

He concluded saying, “HI ministry is not about seminars, it is about a change – change in you.” Transformation is not a gimmick; it is not technique or good faculty – IT IS YOU!! We cannot slip into heaven somehow, but entering with Angels welcoming us, cheering!!

At the end of his message, many again came forward to commit themselves in prayer with tears in their eyes.

Day 3

Alumnus R. N. Dey was the chairperson of the day.

The day being the 59th Independent Day of India, the participants spent few moments in celebrating the same. Rev. Susanta Patra displayed a very heart touching video on the National Anthem sung by some of the best singers in the country. Everyone present stood in honor of the National Flag being hoisted and sang the national anthem. Paul offered special prayer for the nation seeking God taking control and establishing His eternal name in this nation. All those in power and authority were also remembered. The prayer was for peace and progress in the country.

Investing into the HI India Ministry

This was followed by a presentation by Paul and JTA Singh on “Investing into the HI ministry vis-à-vis the role of each HIAA”.

He brought out following principles on financial stewardship & giving powerfully:

1. I can’t build enough resources for God’s work. The requirement is too high. Coming on our knees on floor is the only sustainable business.
2. Resource mobilization is God’s call
3. Giving arises out of the grace of God – the starting point
4. Giving precedes blessing
5. God’s call x Our willingness= Blessing

Then Paul briefly explained on the overall cost of seminars with front-end cost and back-end cost. He told that the total ministry cost for 161 seminars in 2004-05 amounts to Rs. 83,00,700. Therefore the cost per participant is calculated to Rs.1780 per participant.

JT Amritha Singh’s Presentation:

JT Amritha Singh posed three questions:

1. Who owns? He compared ministry ownership with buying shares to become a shareholder. He explained unless we partner with HI ministry, we can’t be a stakeholder. Without financial partnership, there is no partnership. He emphasized on owning by investing.
2. Why owning?
   (a) There is a purpose
   (b) For self-interest (dividends/bonus in share market)
   (c) For interest of others
3. How can we taste the Lord? – By giving
   Then JTA Singh invited all to make financial Pledge. The Pledge Card was distributed to all. A total of 17 Pledge Cards were collected with a financial commitment of Rs.93,800.00 (27% of eastern region budget).

In his final message, Valentine portrayed Peter as our representation. Referring to John 21:1-19 and 1 Tim 1:15,16, he expounded on the interaction of Jesus with Peter. On Peter’s going back fishing (v3), he said often our old-self keep emerging. The effect of such decisions in life has influence on others. If we don’t work in Spirit – we work in flesh.

He brought out three areas to love God:

1. Obeying God in all circumstances (Jn 14:21,23)
2. Loving people in all circumstances (Jn 13:34/ 1 Jn 4:7,17)
3. No personal agenda – it is God, God alone (2 Cor 5:15)

When love of Christ fills our life (1 Thess 1:5):

1. People become followers of us (v 6)
2. We become examples…in every place (v 7)
3. The transformation begins to flow.

Then, finally Valentine offered a dedication prayer.

Binoy informed that the Patna would be the next venue for the 2nd Eastern Alumni Meet as the President, HIAA, Patna has extended the invitation for the next year’s meet.

Thereafter, the participants were invited to join the special fellowship lunch after which there was sightseeing trip in the City of Joy.

The participants finally departed around 8 O’clock in the evening to their respective destinations with cheerful hearts and tearful eyes to see one another in Patna next year.

Feedback:

The following two participants gave their testimonies:

“I am enriched and fulfilled. A fire is lit in my heart. A transformation has begun in my mundane life.” – Alumna Delma Dharni

“I am richly blessed by the deliberations/sharing. I want to use the road signs in my life and do not want to miss the chance.” – Alumnus Pradip Mahanty

Special Thanks
To the HIAA Kolkata and the Worship Team for making the event lively and memorable.