Page 6 - CC-Jul-Sep-2022.cdr

Right from the time of induction, we
Language Teaching were familiarized with what was ahead creative for the situation we found
ourselves in that country where it was
of us and what to expect. We were told against the law to talk about and engage
as Tent-making in a closed country we would be heading into a situation in religion, and where the ordinary
where conventional ways of evangelism student was an atheist. They would be so
would not be at all possible. In fact, it was incredulous to encounter teachers who
drummed into us that we would not be had religion because in their mind
allowed to openly share the gospel with religion was an occupation of the
just anyone. And in our organisational superstitious. With such a milieu whose
communiqués, we were not even psyche had been effectively sanitized
allowed to use words like 'God' or against religion, the thought of the
'church' or 'Jesus Christ'; not even in existence of the spirit world is ‘unscienti-
email or through phones. Everything was fic'. How do you even start to open their
monitored strictly by the State. We were minds to God then?
trained not to directly share the gospel
or even directly approach any citizen of According to our organization, it has
that country with the gospel in any form! to be by our excellent life and profess-
I remember being amazed by this rule. ionalism in the sight of our target group.
How on earth were we to make the good This is a creative approach. By being
news available then?! excellent in profession and exemplary
living there will be attraction of attention
However, when we entered the to why you are different from others.
(There are names that cannot be named here for security reasons as there country and got familiar with life in that And when someone notices you are
are people and work going on that can be affected.)
country, particularly its strict authori- different and asks you why it is so, there
tarian rule of government, I understood you have the opening for giving your
Times are changing very fast. And it is been able to go back ever since. We
headed towards the world becoming came away with only holiday clothes. the wisdom of the modus operandi of reasons as to why you believe what you
more hostile to the gospel of the Lord Much later our important possessions our organization. The university authori- believe, which is the reason why you are
Jesus Christ, and also more alien to the like personal documents were mailed to ties made it very clear multiple times different! The excellence of Christ
Christian world view. There is an air of us. That country is yet to open up to that we should concern ourselves only cannot be slurred by the mediocre life
urgency as windows are closing Indians. with the matter of teaching, and to avoid and behaviour of His nominees was the
everywhere. Even while they are open, In the year 2009, my wife and I with politics and religion, especially with the bar that was set for teachers of that
there is a need for creative witness and our youngest daughter flew to a new students. Later, we got to learn that organization.
urgency to impact as much as possible in field to teach the English language at a every class had a monitor who reported
whatever little time is given. Situations very top notch university. We had been directly to the political secretary of the In practice, this translated into
around the world are so fluid that accepted as members of a North Ameri- university on any political or religious having to spend hours every day for the
suddenly it is possible to find yourself can professional teachers' organization episodes in the class. It was also a new day's lessons although it might be a
stopped or shut out from your field. consisting of committed Christians and experience to find CCTV cameras that rehash and you have taught it several
which sent teachers to countries where recorded what was written on the black times already; reading up new develop-
This sums up my wife's and my witnessing was acutely required. This board and said in class. ments on techniques and ideas, learning
experience in a closed country for 12 organization had established quite a technical stuff to back up your assert-
years which clanged shut its door to us reputation in the countries it had already The approach adopted by our ions, the history of things, and finding
while we were vacationing in a entered and teachers coming through it organization which every teacher better ways of explaining things to the
neighbouring country when Covid-19 were accepted without reservation. inclined to follow and live by was to focus level and in the culture of your students,
had started forcing countries to close Wherever these teachers taught, there on being excellent in teaching as well as etc., to dressing decently for every class,
down their borders and we decided to was a demand for more which the in living, rather than speaking out our and being on time every time, to never
wait it out at home in India. We have not organization could not meet. faith straight away. This strategy was showing ugly attitudes and responses
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