For many Christians the idea of dating is easily confused with the notion of courting, or courtship. There are differences between the two, sometimes, and while one might and should lead to marriage if undertaken with a Christian heart and love of each other and God, the other might be a practical way to carry on an easy friendship and casual fellowship in a Christian manner.

Both dating and courting are ways of beginning a relationship with members of the opposite sex. To start, we should all understand that carrying on dating solely with the intention of having an intimate physical relationship with someone is not acceptable for a person who believes himself or herself to be a good Christian. A good way of looking at dating – when a person is a Christian – is that it can be a method for carrying on a slightly deeper friendship with another person. A casual, fun night at the movies or attendance at sporting event and the like are all ways in which people date, but as nothing more than good friends. Courting, or courtship, is many times a serious step past that, when both people might be ready to commit to each other as potential partners in holy marriage.

Courting is a way of finding if the other person is a true believer in Jesus Christ. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 6:14-15, New International Version) reminds us that we should not marry those of us who aren’t of the Christian faith. Courtship can be a sound method for determining whether that special person is truly bound in the fellowship of Christ that all good Christians enjoy with one another. Courtship is also a time where extremely intimate physical contact should not take place, which goes without saying.

Courtship is a time of almost no real physical contact until marriage. In Biblical times and throughout much of our history, classical notions of courtship demanded that once a couple began to seriously court with one another, there was to be no touching, hand-holding, or kissing until the marriage ceremony had been performed, and when they were husband and wife.

In current times, courtship and dating have evolved somewhat. Today, of course, we know that honoring this sort of procedure might never allow the dating ritual to proceed past a certain point. Perhaps the best solution is to always keep in mind that Christ must always be honored whenever two people of the opposite sex are in courtship with one another. Besides, if courting were restricted to just public meetings and no outward expressions of love, we might never gain a glimpse of the true person within the dating or courting partner. This “true person” normally is evident on occasion when two people who think they care for and love each other might be alone with one another. This is the so-called “private face.”

Dating and courtship were never demanded in the Bible. When you scrape away all the procedure involved in dating or courtship, you find that what matters far more are the strength of the man and woman’s belief in the message of Christianity and their maturity of spirit when it comes to accepting that central message. Call it what you want: Serious dating, dating, courtship or something else, the desired result and its ending -– good Christian men and women marrying and raising families that will also love and worship our God -- will matter more than anything else.

NBC is conducting a poll to see if Americans want the words "In God We Trust" to be removed from the American currency. Here's your chance to let  NBC know where you stand on your faith. Please do it right away, before NBC takes this off their web page. Click here to vote:  Poll is still open so you can vote.

Please note that, option#1-Yes means it's a violation of the principle of separation of church and state;  Option#2-No means-the motto has historical and patriotic significance and does nothing to establish a state religion. Select option#2 if you support "In God We Trust" NOT to be removed from the American currency.

Please send this to every Christian you know so they can vote on this important subject.

The 27th Pentecostal Conference of North American Keralites (PCNAK) held in Chicago (IL) had a combined face-off session with adults and youths on the topic  of the Future of the Indian Churches in North America. Click here for seminar presentations.

Agape Partners has launched its latest survey on Indian Christian Youth  on May 16, 2009. This Survey features dozens of questions about faith, media, relationship, marriage, church and missions. Most of the questions are those that young people ask and youth leaders are interested to know to be more informed to improve their own knowledge base as well as to help others. To complete the survey, click here. 

Sunday School curriculum must be Bible based. It must provide a deeper understanding of the Bible and must be age appropriate. It must also connect with children and their life which is  culturally adaptable and must teach basic Christian principles and doctrines.

What does it do?
Communicates God’s Word to Children
Helps children to understand Biblical principles
Leads children to salvation
Helps children to walk closer with God
Helps a child become a true Christian
Paves the way for  good citizenship, fellowship and discipleship
Transforms students into spiritual champions and missionaries

Assess:
Your passion for Sunday School
Your knowledge about Sunday School
Your Bible knowledge
Your spiritual growth
Your spiritual gifts
Your strengths
Your  weakness

What do we need to be mindful of when teaching children in Sunday School?
Teens are different-they have different intellectual, emotional, and spiritual traits
You need to know your students: Sunday School teaching is a ministry that wins only through genuine relationship.
Know your lesson objectives
Cognitive – what students ought to know after the lesson
Behavioral – what students ought to do after the lesson
Pray for your students daily that the holy spirit minister to their hearts
Captivate reluctant or indifferent students
Motivate students seeking a deeper relationship with God; and committed to discipleship
Activate students to step out in service to the church and community
Teaching is not just a lecture  but it is an interaction: encourage questions, measure their understanding, generate worksheets, discussions, case studies, questions, role playing, and tests.

Sunday School Teachers Training
We need to equip our Sunday School Teachers with comprehensive training. Sunday Schools Network International (SSNI) has conducted several training in various cities in the last 5 years. These training modules are based on needs and available for churches and can be arranged in various cities upon request. The Training modules are professionally presented with handouts, State of the Art Training Sessions with Audio Visual Aids with several Training Sessions to Choose from.
Introductory Workshop
Combined Teachers & Parents Workshop
Teaching Methods Workshop
Classroom Management
Origin & History of Sunday School
Role of a Sunday School
The Sunday School Teacher
The Jesus Model of Teaching
Elements of Effective Sunday School Teaching
Effective Communication
Contemporary Teaching Methodologies
Handling your difficult students in class
Motivating your students
Conducting Effective Examination

How can you improve your school ministry?
Use bible based curriculum
Arrange annual training for sunday school teachers
Invest time, talents and  resources in our children’s moral and spiritual development
Establish Sunday Schools in needy areas aimed at transforming the lives of our young generation 
Be a resource person for Teacher’s Training, and Networking

For more information about sunday school ministry, curriculum, teachers training, please visit: www.sundayschoolnetwork.org or call at 781-223-0082

True Christianity is a collection of sixteen messages by Charles Finney (1792-1875). Divided into four sections -- repentance, prayer, witnessing, and spiritual growth -- the book defines the simple essence of the Christian life. Written primarily for those who call themselves Christians and want a deeper walk with the Lord, each chapter will challenge you with Finney's bold and clear teachings. Compiled and edited by F. G. Kuruvilla, the 1800s language has been updated for the twenty-first century reader. To view the book in pdf format, click here.

The GM News has added audio visual media that provides resources to Students, Ministers and Truth Seekers.  This includes Bible study video, testimony, Bible Study MP3, Music, Documentary and Features. Visit at: www.thebiblevision.org

Agape Partners is dedicated to South Asian families in US and around the world through Christian education, counseling, training, consultation, research and publications.  The seminars and workshops are conducted in various cities in partnership with local churches and youth organizations.  The recent seminars for 2009 are as follows:

June 19    Family Seminar, Floral Park, NY

Mar 21    Parenting Seminar, Nashua, NH
Mar 14   Youth and Family Seminar, Tampa, FL
Feb 28   Christian Parenting Seminar, Greenwich, CT
Jan 18,   Challenges Facing Indian Families

For additional info about seminars, click here:

The Indian Christian community has been facing some unprecedented challenges in the past couple of years. Agape Partners International (API) was approached by many families, churches, and organizations for providing resources to deal with some of these problems. Even though there has been numerous efforts have to help out those in need in many ways, the problems are getting more complex as days pass. API sponsored a consultation on January 18, 2009 at First Church of God, as we approach another year with conferences, conventions and camps, to openly discuss the critical issues of our community and possible solutions. This event was an informal gathering of a selected group of concerned men and women of God who are doing ministry or are interested in helping young people and families in various capacities. The purpose of the meeting was to create an environment where attendees could learn from one another's experience.

The participants of the consultation represented people from diverse background including Social Workers, Psychiatrist, Chaplain, Counselors, ministers, other leaders representing various churches such as AG, Church of God and IPC, and other organizations such, PYFA, Parivar International, Redeemed Music, NextGen, YWAM, and Agape Partners International.

Major Challenges of the Community

·         Relationship Issues:-There is a very powerful agenda in the media lobby to influence the society especially young people with the intent of ‘normalizing’ previously deemed ‘abnormal’ practices such as homosexuality. Removal of ‘homosexuality’ from deviant behaviors from DSM–IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is a major example. Acculturation or Cultural Assimilation has led to an erosion values in the Indian Christian Community which is also cited as another reason:-

o    Cohabitation before and In lieu of Marriage

o    Uncontrolled Dating

o    Interfaith marriage

o    Sexual Relationships outside the boundaries of marriage

o    Homo and bi sexual behavior

o    Marital conflicts, separation and Divorce

o    Domestic Violence and Abuse

 

·         Church Issues

o    Weak churches – Lack of resources to deal with problems faced by the members

o    Shallow Spirituality – Lack of consistent and powerful teaching of God’s word in the churches

 

·         Individual Issues

o    Internet Addiction – Pornography, Unrestricted chatting leading to sexual perversion

o    Drinking and Drug Use

o    Gang Involvements

o    Unrestricted Spending

 

 

 

Analysis of the Problems

·         Family is the basic institution for the development of any individual – Families have failed to instill the values and transmit them effectively to the younger generation

o    Communication between parents and children does not take place effectively

o    Parents do not prepare children about appropriate relationships – The values are not instilled early enough

o    Children often cross boundaries impulsively (immature behavior)

o    Commitment is often given to ‘partners’ prior to communicating to parents and praying about their ‘choice’

o    There is no awareness that marriage involves ‘two families’ and not ‘two people’ especially in the Indian community

o    There is relatively very poor awareness among parents about ‘acculturation and assimilation’

·         The failure of the ‘church’ in helping ‘families’

o    Pastors do not speak openly about above stated problems

o    There are no trained ‘people’ in churches to deal with such problems

o    Services are ‘program’ oriented and ritualistic and not geared towards proactive measures or solutions to problems

Proposed Solutions and Available Resources

·         Churches must emphasize having ‘trained counselors’

·         Pre marital and marital counseling must take priority in the coming days in the church agenda

·         ‘Topical’ messages and ‘contextual’ Bible study series are essential

·         Church infrastructure must be changed to gear its focus towards ‘spiritual growth’ of young people (Peer groups, informal awareness gatherings etc)

·         Retreats and other Informal gatherings to help parents to deal with ‘needs’ and ‘problems’ in a practical way

·         Churches must provide ‘support’ (financially, emotionally …..) for young people to come up in ministry with a focus to deal with the problems of the ‘now generation’

·         Transform programs and services of churches with a focus to build a ‘relationship’ and ‘trust’. Young people and parents must have confidence in ministers that they are ‘capable’ of helping them solve their problems without breaching the principles of confidentiality.

 

Immediate Course of Action

The gathering unanimously agreed to have a joint venture of a one day training of Pastors, Ministers and Youth Leaders

·         Focus will be on the most crucial problems of the community and possible solutions

o    Creating an awareness of the felt needs

o    Review resources available in the community

o    Discuss and strategize reinforcement of the institutions of family and church

o    Develop practical measures for adequate pre marital and marital counseling

o    Change church environment to a place of ‘equipping’ and ‘discipling’

·         PYFA and Citywide Pastors Fellowship will take initiative in coordinating the event with support from local organizations such as ICPF, Parivar International, Redeemed, PYPA, Regional church fellowships etc.

·         Agape Partners International will provide the needed resources as well as identify resource persons for the seminar, presentation materials etc.

·         A joint letter signed by the PYFA President and Pastors Itty Abraham and Wilson Jose will be sent to all churches regarding the initiative ASAP.

·         More details of the proposed plan of action will be discussed via conference calls and e-mails after the joint letter is sent out.

For information, please contact:

Leslie Verghese, 917-669-0275 lverghese@agapepartners.org

Thomas Idiculla, 781-223-0082  tidiculla@agapepartners.org

Agape Partners International www.agapepartners.org

Are you looking for a Indian Christian Group or Bible Study, Prayer Group? Are you a student or family recently moved to Boston?

We are a group of mostly Indian Christians in Boston and the nearby region. We are Bible based Christians, committed to doing God's will and serving the people of the South Asian community in Boston, Waltham, Nashua, Manchester, and nearby areas in New England. We seek to glorify God by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and advancing His kingdom through prayer and Bible study,  and caring ministry.

Please join us for our prayer and Bible study on Friday at 8pm (Waltham, MA) and Sunday at 4:30pm (Nashua, NH). We are a friendly and welcoming group, and dedicated to the spiritual growth of children, youth, and families.

For information, please contact tidiculla@gmail.com or 781-223-0082