Council for World Mission

Rebuilding faith

Wednesday, 01 October 2008 04:14

CWM missionary and HIV and AIDS tutor Deepak Yohan talks about how working at the United Church of Zambia’s theological college is shaping his faith.

Since I have come to Zambia as a missionary, my faith, spirituality and thinking about God and his work have undergone great changes.

Even though I didn’t come to the United Church of Zambia (UCZ) theological college as a student, my faith has been affected through talking to students and staff. I have spent the last couple of years rebuilding my faith in God.

Valuing education

The most important thing in this process was the Christian education I received from home. It has become a vital asset in rebuilding my faith and in understanding God.

A number of congregations are decreasing in some parts of the world, and when I look at the emphasis put on Christian education for children at UCZ and at my own education, it makes me realise just how much it can help children throughout their lives (Proverbs 4:1-6).What I gave to God is small but what he gave me is beyond human imagination

Another blessing I received is through CWM. When I first came to Zambia I was a bachelor. I met my wife, Kiran, at the first CWM Face to Face programme in Zambia. In India the possibility of our meeting was zero. We got married in December 2004 and were blessed with our first born in 2005. We were blessed with a second child in 2007. What I gave to God is small but what he gave me is beyond human imagination.

I am working as an HIV and AIDS tutor and coordinator at the theological college and as a coordinator for the UCZ synod. I have developed three modules for the students which they learn in their first and second years. In the third year we provide them with psycho-social counselling training.

My former students tell me that what they learnt at the college was vital and really helps in their ministry. A large proportion of the population in Zambia is infected and affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The number of deaths in the congregation is very high because of HIV and AIDS. People need holistic support.

At the moment I am working to develop a programme where these students will learn income-generating skills so that when they go into the field (as a minister and deaconess) they can use this training to help the congregants and to help themselves.

I would like to say thanks to CWM, the United Church of Zambia and the Church of North India for their encouragement and the support they have shown me in my work and my faith.

Each month we’ll be asking someone from the CWM community to share a few words about a particular person or factor that has had a real impact on shaping their faith in God.

Have a story to tell? Contact us if you’d like to share what has influenced your faith.