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Kuala Lumpur (VOCR) 28 Oct: Amidst high security risks from recent public gatherings of anti-christian groups, the much-awaited annual conference of MCCF (Malaysia Chin Christian Youths) was successfully exercised Wednesday in Zophei Christian Fellowship Center. The Center is being rented by Chinese Assembly of God, Jln Pudu, Kuala Lumpur.
It was the fourth year the conference has been held since its inception in 2008 with per annum election conducted at the end of one term. Remarkably, it was also the first event for Chin youths living in Malaysia—a landmark gathering from all parts of tribal-bound communities. This event serves to help ignite a united purpose among the Chin youth, in both language and politics.
The attendees were recorded in the five hundreds in the two-story Chinese Church of Assembly of God. The whole day-long program was divided into two sections, morning and afternoon worship services that also, interestingly, included a quartet competition and debate in addition to their normal worship bulletin. The room was bursting with the noise of applause and laughter and clapping hands at the end of every performance.
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| A group performing on the stage. (Photo-VOCR) |
Many tense issues were discussed, and ideas coming up during the debate signal that many Chin youths are eagerly recognizing CNF (Chin National Front), urging everyone to see CNF as our revolutionaries, as they are the ones who made Chins open their closed eyes regarding human rights issues.
Historically, there are forty-nine different dialects spoken in the Chin state and there has been no common language created to date. This is sole reason for our great division as a people. Chin leaders from all areas struggle to create and foster a common drive that could solve the great challenges facing our population. The diversity in our society is the leading instigator in the founding of this organization, with a purpose of fostering stronger relationships between us, so that the now-generation can create a mechanism with which to forward these interlinked objectives.
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| Chairman of MCCYF speaking to the devotees. (VOCR) |
Excerpts from an interview with MCCYF president, Johnny Thawng Lia;
VOCR: What is your (MCCYF) true purpose for 2011?
Johnny: Mainly, our purpose for 2011 is set “Love Each Other” as in 1 John 4:7. In addition to that, helping each other shoulder to shoulder in terms of huge problems and great challenges facing the livelihood of our population during the indefinite wandering period in Malaysia is another aim we are trying to implement. But I am not sure how far we could go forward.
VOCR: How would you organize this event—making such a huge gathering possible?
Johnny: It is in fact a concerted effort that together with executive members and office barriers who are representative of their mother fellowship could make this event possible. Every decision we made in meeting was effectively passed on to their owned community and fellowship. On other hands, local media (published in Chin dialects among refugee society) also helped us in ways of making awareness for this conference.
VOCR: For youths in Malaysia, what do you see that there needs to be done in each of their respective communities?
Johnny: Regardless of this, there are a lot of things we could do for the good of our people. But first of all, MCCYF needs to be able to stand as an organization body so that we will be able to help the really needy ones, especially our fellows who are the true victims of drug addiction, alcoholism and going astray and leading them in the right path for their future—creating a rehabilitation center for them.
VOCR: To what degree can you engage in community activities or make significant changes?
Johnny: Compared with past years, day after day, youths are more and more engaged in community activities, playing a vital role in the growth of our fellowship and community despite some challenges of skepticism and conservative elders. Nowadays, gender is no more problem but equally shared in any activities conducted by youths.
VOCR: What is the significant thing you have accomplished during your tenure as MCCYF president?
Johnny: To be honest, I remarkably made a training called “STEEL WORKER” and in it more than 50 representative leaders attended in this year. Without hiring anyone from outside, I myself run the training and in it issues of servant-hood, behavioral ethics, coping with culture-shock mostly occurred among youths are well addressed. On top of concerns, we should be aware of where we are in and needing to be watchful over the circumstances.
VOCR: What would you be your message left for youths after your terms?
Johnny: MCCYF should be committed to making educational campaigns for our children and brothers and sisters who are hungry for higher education and doing effective awareness for drug addicts among our society. And, no matter what happens among us, we should be united and go hand in hand even though our dialects are different, and finally we will surely achieve what our fathers could not make it. Thus, it will be what we are supposed to be accomplished while we have life on earth and the will of God.
Reporting and interviewed by Simon
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