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Aten's
Occasional Newsletter
From:
Ramesh Khatry (PhD), Executive Secretary, ATEN
Date:
Thursday, 18 November 2004
God,
be merciful to me a sinner!' (Luke 18:13b)
Dear
Praying Friends,
C.H.Spurgeon
calls the tax-collector's plea above the required basis of all
prayers. In modern terms, we may call it the 'the mother of prayer.'
Approaching God as a sinner, cleansed by the blood of Christ,
does result in better praying.
Bachelor of Divinity Study Programme.
On
April 16, Drs Tiwari, Gladstone, and Jathanna, appointed by the
Committee on Academic Administration (CAA) of the Senate of Serampore
College, visited ATEN. Nineteen leaders of churches and Bible
schools/colleges were present to greet them. In the evening, all
three inspected the library, and considered it adequate for the
Bachelor of Divinity (BD) studies. (Thanks to our librarians,
Durga and Divya, and to all who have helped our library in cash
or kind.) In July, the CAA gave ATEN provisional affiliation to
run BD studies.
Knowing the situation of Christians in Nepal, the registrar of
Serampore, Dr Ravi Tiwari, suggested not using the word 'college',
rather the phrase?'BD Study Programme.' Since Serampore itself
will grant the degree, esteemed worldwide and equivalent to an
MA in India, lack of its recognition in secular Nepali society
becomes less painful.
Planning for maximum self-support for the BD studies, I suggested
that all churches and institutions represented in the ATEN board
contribute a substantial annual membership fee and thus become
sponsors. Only on October 5, full 97 days after the idea was first
floated, a majority of ATEN board members decided in its favour.
The general body meeting on October 13 voted to change the constitution
so that three categories of members can now join ATEN: sponsoring
churches/institutions (minimum annual contribution of Rs 10,000),
sponsoring individuals (Rs 2,000) and associate institutions (without
vote but with library-privileges, Rs 5,000).
Advertisement both for students and teachers have gone out from
mid-October. The deadline for applications to be received is December
31. A committee consisting of Rev Gopalji Adhikary (Chairman),
Messrs Nima Ghising, Sashidhar Chapai (Treasurer), and Ramesh
Khatry (Secretary) will deal with matters relating to the BD programme.
(Dr Graham Simpson, also a member, soon leaves Nepal for good.
ATEN thanks him and Heather for their help.) BD studies should
begin on August 1, 2005, provided God sends the students. Three
have taken the application forms so far. Pray for more!
Book Review Prize Programme.
From March, ATEN library offered a prize of Rs 100 for every reader
who presented a book-review on a work at least 200 pages long.
I went to advertise the scheme to many churches (and ended up
also preaching in some). The money allocated for the prize finally
ran out, but 91 readers took membership.
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The
Library in Pokhara.
My apologies?the proposed library has not yet begun because
we have not yet found the right person. Recently, a lad
with good English has applied. He MAY take the library training
in January, 2005.
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Book
Release.
Gospel
for Asia Publications is preparing my book, 'Effective Expository
Preaching' (in Nepali), for release on November 28 during the graduation
ceremony at Nepal Bible Ashram. I am on chapter one of the next
project, 'Shalom, the Background to the Old Testament' (in Nepali).
When completed, this should prove valuable to most Nepali Christians
for whom the Old Testament is frightful, unknown territory.
Proclamation.
At the invitation of InterAct, during mid-May, I preached in their
Congress (at Örebro, Sweden) and at the 'Pink Church' in
Örnsköldsvik. In Copenhagen, Pastor Leif Christensen
kindly hosted me in his own flat. I preached twice in his Church
of the Holy Spirit. He had also arranged for me to meet officials
of DanMission, who rejoiced that BD studies MAY begin in Nepal.
Back in Kathmandu, on most weekends, I go to different churches
to advertise the BD programme, and also preach as requested.
Personally.
After
a busy, praying, scholarship-raising wait of roughly one year for
Shanti and me, on August 18 Jivan our younger son finally received
the student visa for USA. Four days later, he left for Hesston College,
Kansas. Hesston is a Mennonite institution, and has facilities for
students who have the Aspergers Syndrome, which has affected Jivan.
In addition to savings from our Oxford days, a few generous sponsors
in the UK and USA made Hesston possible. Thanks. You have kept Shanti
and me in Nepal! God blessed Jivan's first two months of studies.
He has received three A's and two B's. Our elder son Ujwal is doing
well at work. His wife Roshani, presently studying BSc Nursing in
Mangalore, should join him in Nepal just before Christmas.
The approaching Christmas reminds us of God's mercy to us sinners.
Having Jesus, the Greatest GIFT, we have ALL.
Sincerely
in Christ JESUS,
Dr
Ramesh Khatry
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