Training Program of Stube-HEMAT Sumba

CHURCH & SOCIAL PROBLEMS

Wai Wei, January 23 – 25, 2015

The current social problem flush turns more and more complex, both in society and church life. Such condition requires intervention from many stakeholders. Church as one of the society elements needs to be proactive to observe social problems, that’s in line with the calls of a church: fellowship, service and preserve faith.

During the ministry, Jesus declared not only His death, resurrection and ascension, but also heal the sick, fed the hungry, cared for the poor, casted out demons and fought against injustice as His way to presence of kingdom of God. Likewise, church should be able to see many social problems that exist in society or congregation.

As written in Isaiah 61: 1-2 'Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me: He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to help people who are brokenhearted, to proclaim release to those prisoners and to those who confined deliverance from prison, and to notify the grace of God." Based on the verse, Stube-HEMAT Sumba were called to do something by equipping students to deal with and doing action to resolve social problems.

In order to realize goals above, Stube-HEMAT Sumba organized a training, with theme "Church and Social Issues". This event was held in the Hall of Bina Karya Swadaya Foundation, located in Wai Wei, district of Lewa, East Sumba on January 23 – 25, 2015. This event was attended by 26 students from various campuses in East Sumba.

The speakers in this training are Rev. Dr. Tumpal, MPL Tobing, Mag.Theol, (board of Stube-HEMAT) who served school in Jakarta, then, Rev. Umbu Bolu, M.Th, Rev. Irene Umbu Lolo, M.Th, vicar Juliana W. Kilimandu, S.Th, Rev. Dominggus Umbu Deta, S.Th, and I Gusti Made Raspita, an environmental activist in Sumba. Each speaker revealed social problems that exist in Sumba and how the community and the congregation respond them. Speakers also provided input to solve these problems.

The training was very special, because the training was attended by coordinators of Stube in Germany, which gave opportunity to the participants to share experience they gained from each region. There was important message from Angelika, one of Stube coordinator in Germany, she said, "You've got incredible natural resource, and never think to change it, because when you want to change it, you can never go back to the beginning. Your natural resource is very quiet and keep them for the world". This may expressed spontaneously, but for us it is like a great hope imposed to the participants and the community of Sumba.

At the end of the training, participants were invited to visit the plantation around Yayasan Bina Karya Swadaya, to sprout the love of nature, preserve nature and encouraged to use organic fertilizers when managing the farmland. Participants are also expected to be information conveyers to public society, about the important to maintain nature that God has entrusted to manage. (ABN)