New Coordinator

It's been sometime again that this page is lying idle.

On October 3, the alumni fellowship had a meeting and selected new members to coordinate for another 2 years.

Imnatila, batch of 2005 was selected as the new coordinator and Samuel Seiku of the same batch took over the post of Treasurer. We applaud them for their willingness to serve. I believe that under their leadership the fellowship will grow stronger among the alumni of OTS, and that we will uphold our Alma Mater's motto, "Being Transformed to Transform."

I, as the outgoing coordinator wish them all the best in all their endeavors. God bless you.

anne S. Kezo

Congratulations Batch of 2009

This year we welcome 18 strong soldiers of Christ to our fellowship. We celebrated the successful completion of their respective courses on June 15, 2009. There were 16 M. Div students and 2 M. Min students. Most of them will be serving in Local curches. We have 2 Cochin gentelmen who will go back to their land to teach; 2 Karens going back to Thailand refugee camp to teach as well; 1 to Somra of the eastern Naga tribes; 1 Mising going back to the Assam-Arunachal border; and the are Nagas from various tribes in Nagaland.
We wish you all the best in your endeavors and undertakings in your ministry!
God Bless you all!

A Report on OTSAF

By Veduzolu S. Kezo, Coordinator OTSAF

Tree Plantation: As per the resolution on January 29, for all the Alumni to plant trees on OTS campus, some of the OTS alumni from Dimapur planted some Ashoka trees on 6th February, 2009. This was followed by some more alumni from Kohima on 14th March, 2009. We encourage others who have not planted to do so whenever you visit the OTS campus or you can entrust somebody to plant on your behalf.

Fund Raise: On the 6th February, we had another gathering where we discussed some important issues. (i) To conduct a concert to raise fund for weekend practical ministry, and Timothy Elementary School. This is being carried out on 2nd May 2009. For this, we are ambitiously thinking of going to All India Radio and Kohima Doordashan for recording. (ii)To conduct seminars in different fields, where some fees will be collected and all the earnings will be used to upgrade the seminary library. For this a committee has been selected-Ellen, James and Vemuriyi.

Another important reminder is about the OTSAF blogspot that has been activated since 2007. Here the names and other details (if available) of all the alumni will be posted. So if there is any correction to be made regarding information about you or others that you know, you may feel free to edit.

OTSAF Meetings

At last some things are happening with the OTSAF!
Some of us had a meeting on January 31, in the Miglat cafe. Altogether, 12 alumni attended. And here are some important issues we discussed:
1. We decided that each alumnus will plant a tree in the OTS Campus.
2. Open a bank acount where people cn send money to help needy students or ny other needs of the OTS.
3. Conduct seminars on different topics and the earnings will go to aiding the seminary library.
4. To help Miglat ministry on February 7.

Besides that we also prayed for certain needs. Some prayer points were already answered but please continue to keep these needs in your prayers;
1. Pray for Samuel (Batch of 2005), his brother is on life support for almost 4 years and he is taking the responsibility to take care of his brother as well as his family, for financial blessings and strength.
2. OTS students will participate, along with our principal, in the Naga Convention for Reconcilication on Feb. 21, 22.
3. Khivini, from miglat ministries, she has been sick for almost 2 months.

Thanks!

OTSAF Gathering on November 28, 2007

1st Session: By Sashi Jamir
Opening Prayer : Anne Swuro

“Purpose of OTSAF is to provide a platform to have fellowship and interact…help OTS (thought not obligated).”

Words from the Principal:
• Welcomed the OTSAF by explaining the significance of yellow ribbons!
• “…the world is being operated… (1) Fellowship…and (2) Partnership….to move together in partnership.”
• Quoted from the UNICEF: “all improvements in life are the outcome of partnership.”
• That OTSAF will bear fruits.
• Move ahead but never forget OTS.
• Then he commended having an OTSAF office in OTS, and to consider having part-time personnel.

Words for the Dean:
• Commented that it is the first time to have this kind of meeting.
• Shared on the importance of Relationship in ministry, and introduced the book Mentoring: The promise of Relational Leadership, by Walter Wright.
• That, mentoring not only helps the “mentoree” but helps the mentor to develop.
• That, mentoring is choosing the right people to mentor…sharing our lives.
• That, leadership potential is in everyone…but passing on the principles we believe to the next generation is what is important.
• Not to ignore the individual we come across everyday.
• To glorify God wherever we are placed.

Neiwete voiced his reflection:
• Colleges coming up…theological differences, churches splitting…relationship with other institutes.”
• How can we bring these colleges together?
• The danger of coming up with differences in theology.
• Suggested that only one seminary should have M.Th. or post-graduate, Doctoral level study programs.
Response from the Principal:
• Mentioned the presence of a Theological Fraternity, in which the Dean, Rev. Dr. Z. Keyho, is one of the office bearers….mentioned some schools such as OTS, TTT, Shalom, CTS, and BTC.
• Mentioned the presence of Nagaland Theological Association.
• Further mentioned on the importance of partnership saying that “highly competitive agenda taking up by individual is not advisable, specially in doctoral level”…to draw the best resources from all these institutions to bring out a Theological Cluster.

The Dean pronounced the closing prayer for the session.

Then we broke tea (tea-break), 10:00-10:15 a.m.


2nd Session: By Imli Jamir
• Mentioned how the OTSAF started through the initiation of James, Imli and others….
• Threw in a challenging thought worth mentioning: “How will this kind of fellowship contribute to the society in 25, 50 years from now?”

Time of Speech by Ma’am Alongla
• Read Acts 20:24…and encouraged us to finish the race, to complete the task…and mentioned that to ‘finish well’ is the core passion.
• How are we doing in this race we have all begun?
• Beginning with the end in view gives right perspective.
• Finishing the race kept him (Paul) in the right perspective.
• Mentioned about Victor Frank on how he was able to rise from misery.
• Encouraged us to:
 Keep the end in view: let eternal values draw us.
 Persevere in obedience: it has to be a long obedience in the same direction.
 Deepening life of prayer.
• Are you faithful long-term?
• God’s grace is sufficient to finish what He had begun in us.

Business Hour
1. Co-ordinator: (Outgoing) Sashi and ( Incoming) Anne
2. Treasurer: (Outgoing) Imli and (Incoming) Mathew Maram

Treasurer report by Imli Jamir.
Minutes considered during the business hour:
• Alumni office—coordinator in charge
• Blog
• Open account.
• Membership fee / contributions Rs. 100/-
• Entrust class representatives
• Pledge cards to raise funds.

3rd Session: Panel Discussion, on “Pastoral care”, consisting of 12 panelists:
Pastoral care as:
• Preaching / teaching
• Care & counseling
• Leadership / administration
What is pastoral care?

OTSAF general meeting: 28 November, 2007

Dear OTSAF friends

Greetings!

I trust this letter cum program will find you in the best of your health and spirit. The purpose of this letter is to inform you about an important program that we have all anticipated for a very long time now.

I am glad to inform you that some of us—who reside in Dimapur and OTS campus—met twice on the 25th August 2007 and the 22nd September 2007 to seriously discuss about organizing a program for OTSAF within OTS campus. The outcome of the meetings was that we agreed to have an OTSAF general meeting on the 28th November 2007 with the purpose to have a fellowship with the seminary authority; among ourselves; and then have a panel discussion with the present students on the theme “Pastoral care in context,” with the alumni as the panelists.

The schedules for the day are as follows:

 7: 45 A.M. : Bus leaves for OTS from Nagarajan (the school bus will be provided for both ways: Nagarjan ↔OTS)
 8:30 A.M. : Arrival at campus
 9:00-9:45 A.M. : Meeting with OTS authority
 10:00-11:00 A.M. :Alumni gathering
 11:30 A.M. : Lunch
 1:00-3:00 P.M. : Session with the present students
 3:30 P.M. : Departure

For friends who will be traveling from distant places, we encourage you to contact us (see below our contact numbers) so that you can come a day ahead and stay here in the campus. I expect friends from Dimapur and Kohima to be present. Please remember our work will be endless but, this is once in many years. I will advice you to give a call and confirm your coming. Let us pray and give a conscious effort to make this program a success.

Thanking you

Shalom

M. Sashi Jamir
Coordinator
OTSAF

Contact numbers: 9436423476
03862-263223
03862-263414
sashi_jamir@rediffmail.com




Agenda for our gathering

To meet the principal and his colleagues and discuss about what and how they want OTSAF to exist.

To catch up with one another after all, we are one family.

To select a new co-ordinator and his team.

To interact with the present students and to share our experiences with them. This will definitely motivate them.


Panel discussion

There will be five panels. Each panel will have five/six panelists. The panelists are expected to discuss among yourselves the issue of pastoral care in our context and later present during the forum. There will be a moderator to facilitate this forum.



Panel One
Phom Lee
Vevotso
Vezopa
Bumo Moba
Veziengu
A-anne

Panel Two
Teyong
Titus Aien
Muluvoyi
Nukshila
Ketholezo

Panel Three
Thujo
Sunep
Newete
Akaena Kamei
P. Chishi
Khrozote

Panel Four
Ongmang
Apise
H. Asangla
Lily
Longdapau
Moba

Panel Five
Wepre
James
Asenla Longchari
Neli
Matthew
Sato



P.S: You will see this information in the local papers before the meeting.

I AM

I was regreting the past
And fearing the future.
Suddenly my Lord was speaking:
'My name is I am.'
He paused.
I waited. He continued,

"When you live in the past
with its mistakes and regrets,
it is hard. I am not there.
My name is not I was.

When you live in the future,
with its problems and fears,
it is hard. I am not there.
My name is not I WILL BE.

When you live in this moment
it is not hard. I am here.
My name is "I AM."
- Helen Mallicoat.

( Courtesy: Neiwete Chirhah )