Union of Evangelical Students of India-Delhi

A BRIEF REPORT ON THE NORTH DELHI ICEU REVIVAL CAMP, HELD FROM 31ST OCT – 2ND NOV 2009 AT ST. MARY’S SCHOOL, SAFDARJUNG ENCLAVE, NEW DELHI UNDER THE THEME “WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN?” 31st October 2009 Saturday Report prepared by: Ungshungmi Campers started arriving at the camp site by around 5pm, from different regions around Delhi: particularly from North Delhi and South Delhi. Wearied from the journey of more than an hour’s travel, the campers were exhausted. Yet, their spirits lifted when they got to know each other better, and everyone got ready for a more hectic schedule and looked forward to being a part of the camp and participate it to the full. 26 campers reported for the camp on the first day: some undergraduates, some post graduates, and 3 EGF members. Altogether, 35 members attended the camp; including some who visited now and then to attend the sessions. There were 4 EGFs and 1 staff members to guide and teach the campers. Having heard a word of introduction fro

By Aakar Patel, Mint, July 4, 2009 Some characteristics unite Indians. The most visible is our opportunism. Why don’t we worship Brahma? We know he’s part of the Hindu trinity as the creator, but we worship Vishnu, manager of the cosmos, and Shiva, its eventual destroyer. The answer lies not in religion, but in culture. But in what way does our religion shape our culture? Weber explained the success of capitalism in the US, Germany and Britain as coming from their populations’ Protestant faith. This ethic, or culture, was missing from the Catholic populations of South America, Italy and Spain. Protestants, Weber said, extended Christianity’s message of doing good deeds, to doing work well. Industry and enterprise had an ultimate motive: public good. That explains the philanthropists of the US, from John D. Rockefeller to Andrew Carnegie to Bill Gates. What explains the behavior of Indians? What explains the anarchy of our cities? To find out, we must ask how our behavior is different.

As of now homosexual practice can be criminalised in India. The politicians have difference of opinion on the matter. The media however seems to have ganged up in favour of legalising homosexual practice. The religious leaders stand on the other side of the fence. Yet the matter has to be decided not just by a tiny section of the population. Just to appease few homosexuals or religious leaders one cannot be forced to accept one's opinion. The question that should concern all is which position will be the common good for the society at large.

General election is fast approaching, and political parties are busy breaking or forming alliances. We have two seasoned politicians as PM candidates: Manmohan Singh and LK Advani. Can one say Mayawati is the third PM candidate! Which one do you think will be the better prime minister for India? Any political party that comes to power determines the course of its national history. Politicians have the power to destroy a nation; they also have the same power the build a weak nation into a rich and powerful a nation. Isn't this a reason good enough for a person to go out and cast her/his vote? What are some guidelines to bear in mind as one votes?

1. Kotagiri/ 25th May-8th June ( Billy Sam) 2. Darjeeling/ 28th May-10th June ( Sumanta Singh) 3. MHOW/ 8th June-22nd June (Richard Masih) 4. Dehradun/ 18th June - 29th June ( Christopher Thomas) 5. Ranchi/ 25th May- 6th June ( Thomas Abraham) 6. Khandala/ 15th May – 23rd May (Emmanuel Benjamin) NB : The names within the bracket indicate the director of the programme.

I’m ready to be a “fool” for the cross, the resurrection, the Virgin Birth and may be many more other reasons. But I can not afford to be a fool by interpreting the initial chapters of the Genesis as a Science text book and thereby hinder many brilliant scientists from accepting the God of the Bible. The more and more I read, I’m more and more convinced that these scientists became agnostics or atheists not because of the sciences but because of the way Christians interpret the Bible and the way they live. Definitely what we believe and what we profess has a bearing on other peoples’ beliefs. I don’t really bother whether Darwin’s theories stand or fall. Neither am I going to rejoice or lament if it is proven to be false. A Christian who has accepted the theory of evolution by properly understanding the Bible and the theory (of evolution) and come to the conclusion that they do not necessarily conflict one another has nothing to lose even if the theory (of evolution) is proven to be w

North Delhi EGF in collaboration with Kingdom International (KI) North and Union Evangelical Fellowship (UEF) is organising a talk on Darwin’s Bicentennial Birth Anniversary & 150th Year of The Origin of Species On Thursday, 12th Feb 2009 At 2099, UEF Centre, Outram Lines North Campus Time 3:45pm Abstract No other person in history has generated as much controversy as Charles Darwin. This year, February 12 marks the 200th birth anniversary of this enigmatic man, and 150th year of The Origin of Species. To many, Darwin provokes two extreme emotions which often feed each other. Either he is a notorious charlatan and the chief disciple of Lucifer out to deceive the faithfuls. Or at the far end, atheist fundamentalists like Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett and others proclaim with dogmatic certainty that Darwin’s work has obviated any place for God, thereby making it possible for the first time to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist. Outside of narrow academic circles, ignorance abou

In the Bible we read of Jesus practicing a radically inclusive Table Fellowship (TF) with the 'others' as a central strategy in his announcement of the in-breaking reign of God. In his message and table praxis Jesus thus challenged the existing boundaries of gender, ethnicity and class. In the Church at Galatia, constituted of the Paphlagonians, Phrygians, Pisidians, Lyconians, Isaurians, and Jews, Peter's table praxis with the multi-ethnic church members there was an official stamp of approval on the union and equality of Jews and Gentiles. Peter later, however, pulled out of the TF when Jews from Jerusalem came and told him that his TF would harm the mission engagement among the Jews in Jerusalem. On this Paul had to oppose Peter head on because the single most pressing issue for the churches at that time was the relationship between Jews and Gentiles. And failing to rebuke Peter then would have led to a split within the church on ethnic lines. Paul then went on to unders