hope4orphans

FEBRUARY 2010

Aishwarya and Revathy


THE TRAGEDY OF
DOWRY SYSTEM IN INDIA

Dr. P. P. Job

During my missionary life of 47 years, I have found out that Dowry system also exists in Africa and other Asian Countries.
In Africa, a man has to pay dowry to the bride’s family, may be due to the shortage of ladies. In India, a man has to get money from the girl’s father. It may be due to the huge number of ladies. Actually, this proportion changed during the centuries, so the culture also changes. There is a saying that 5 brothers together married one lady who is called Panjali (wife of 5 husbands), because there was a shortage of ladies.
In India, a girl will not get any inheritance from her parents after the marriage. In one way her dowry is her inheritance. In that sense, the system is not wrong, but what happens in these years is that the dowry system has become a business of buying and selling. This also may be due to the economic poverty system in India. So people are doing business during the proposal, as to how much money a son can earn.
In many nations, marriage is based on beauty, but in India, marriage is based on economy, education and the lastly beauty. In the nature of buying and selling there is an element of bargain. A girl’s father will look for a rich man’s son with higher education beyond his capacity. Bridegrooms will consider the amounts.
If the father of the girl offers a higher dowry during the bargain for the marriage and fails to give the money, even after the marriage, there is an element of cheating. When the boy’s parents, are cheated, they kill the bride. In the court of law in India the boy’s parents can be put in prison but when they engage eminent lawyers they escape from the penalty, arguing that they did not kill the girl, but her saree (an Indian lady’s dress) caught fire in the kitchen while cooking. In Europe and America a girl or a boy finds out a partner and takes a decision. The parent’s involvement is not much. But as a result the divorce rate is very high. In the arranged marriage system in Asia, the parent’s role is much. The marriage is between two families and not between the individuals. In India, the divorce rate is very low.
Because of the dowry system when two or three girls are born in a family the parents are worried and upset. When a boy is born there is a celebration in the home. When a girl is born there is a silence. Every year five million abortions take place in Government hospitals when the conceived child is a girl. Every year, twenty five thousand brides are burned alive in North India alone, because the bride does not bring the promised amount of money from her home. Two thousand girls are missing every day in India. We do not know whether they are dead or alive.
I want to introduce (Aishwarya and Revathy), two beautiful girls whose photographs are in the front page of the February issue of ‘Tortured for Christ’. When their father saw that two girls were born to him he was shocked and disappointed. He left the house abandoning his wife and two daughters and never returned. Nobody knows whether he is alive or dead. Their mother was filled with anxieties and depression, finally died. I have adopted both these beautiful girls when they were small. Now they are grown up. Aishwarya is studying in Class XII and Revathy is studying Class X in Michael Job Matriculation Higher Secondary School in the same campus.
Michael Job Centre is trying to turn tragedies into Triumphs. We fight against Discrimination of Girl Child. There are lots of girls all over India in such situations.
Do you want to help in the project of Adoption Against Discrimination of the girl child. We appreciate more people to sponsor.


TRIBUTE TO MY MENTOR
REV. RICHARD WURMBRAND

Rev. Dr. Richard Wurmbrand


He passed away in February 2001, and he still lives in my life. There is not a sermon preached by me without mentioning his or his wife’s name.
Christianity is an Eastern religion and Rev. Wurmbrand was a man of Eastern thinking. We both have similar thinking about our vision and mission. He supported my ideas cent percent. Even though it created enemies, he stood with me until his last breath. During his last days, he could not remember names of the persons. Everybody told me that he was not recognizing people. When I entered his room, he raised his right hand and asked me “Job, how is Mary?”
When I began Michael Job Orphanage, the girls’ hostel was named “Sabina Wurmbrand Memorial Hostel for Orphan Girls.” 501 girls live here in 123 bath attached rooms.
We all salute Rev. Wurmbrand in this month of February.

TURN YOUR SORROW by Dr. P. P. Job
Legacy of a Book. Reviewed by Rev. Dr. M J Joseph, formerly Professor and Principal at the
Mar Thoma Theological Seminary. This book is translated to Dutch, German, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.

“Turn Your Sorrow” is released in Netherlands on 21st November 2009


I am a lover of books and a critic with a positive frame of mind. .Recently I had the great privilege to write a Foreword to the book, Nithyasnehakoodaram (Eternal Tabernacle of love, 2009), authored by Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios, Metropolitan of the Orthodox Syrian Church and to introduce the book, An Indian Face of the Christian Faith by Swami Sachidananda Bharathi, DCP, (2009). In both of my reviews, I could see the convictions and courage of the authors to state boldly what they believed to be best for the future generation. Who am I to belittle the noble intention of an author, if they are on the side of truth? But I have the freedom to defer.
While introducing the book authored by Dr. P. P. Job, I would like to say without a ray of doubt that it is improper for a reader or writer to negate the experience of a person. In times of testing, our experience could make us bitter or better. Dr. P.P. Job, an Evangelist with a passion to preach the Gospel of Christ all over the world, wrote this out of his deep sorrow due to the loss of his youngest son Michael in 1999 and the eldest son John in 2007. In an earlier Volume entitled, Why God Why? (2000), Dr. Job is at pains to state the untimely death of his son, Michael with feelings, emotions and deep faith in God. The book also speaks the noble traits of Michael and the bitter experience he and his wife. Mary Job, had to pass through. Dr. Job deals with the death of his son against the background of his preaching in Delhi when the Christians in India had to undergo several hardships in the hands of the religious fanatics. In the section under the caption, Pain, (pages 118-136), the author finds an answer to the problem of pain in the book of Job. In both the books Dr. Job deals with Death management in a Christian way.




As I was reading the book, Jeremiah 29:11 flashed across my mind: “For surely. I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you”. Dr. Job believes that his divine drive to adopt 501 girl children of persecuted and martyred Christians and to establish Michael Job Centre at Coimbatore is his humble response to Christ.
Dr. Job has narrated several instances in his life where he could feel the presence of God in human affairs. In the book of Genesis, the story of Joseph alludes to the glory of suffering in God’s plan. Dr. Job finds consolation in the shadow of several Biblical texts. It is indeed surprising to note that he joins the chorus of the Psalmist in Ps. 119:71, “It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn your (divine) statutes”. Dr. Job entertains a prophetic conviction throughout the book as recorded by the weeping prophet, Jeremiah. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you” (Jer. 1:5). As a biographer, he has the right to share his experiences with us. Some may raise their eye-brows and others may believe Dr. Job. As he passes through the valley of the shadow of death, he remembers his mother with gratitude. Men of repute like Abraham Lincoln and Emerson give credit to the role of a mother in the affairs of people. As the Jewish proverb goes “God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers”. Dr. Job believes that he was trained to sing the hymn of suffering. At times the author becomes philosophical when he writes that the first step in turning one’s sorrow into joy is to become an eyewitness to God’s glory in daily life. The author is at pains to say again and again that the Michael Job Centre which was started with 31 little orphan children from different states of India has grown to 501 children today. The Centre is a complex of buildings with all the modern facilities catering to different groups of people. A visitor from US whose testimony has been quoted in the book. “This story (of Michael Job Centre) humbled me into realizing that when we surrender ourselves to God, He will lift us to heights that we cannot imagine”. This echoes what St. Paul wrote in Rom. 8:28.
The author quotes several instances in his journey of faith how God’s hand of care and support for this noble cause was experienced. The Greek saying, “Know thyself” makes better sense as one looks back with gratitude to God. The author again and again speaks of the abundant and overflowing grace of God in his life. The photos of several gatherings included in the book bear testimony to the power of the Gospel as a transforming agent making the impossible possible. The words of Amos, the prophet reverberate in our ears when he uttered:
“The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord has spoken; who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:8). The author quotes St. Paul and St. Peter to illustrate his launching into the deep for new vistas. For the author, wind, rain and lightning” have a purpose to serve in one’s life. The author repeats the slogan of Mother Theresa: Adoption of children is better than abortion. Dr. Job believes that he is specially commissioned by God to continue the mission of Rev. Richard Wurmbrand (author of the book Tortured for Christ) and his wife Sabina all over the world with courage and hope. The author believes that when touched by divine grace, money is no problem. For he believes that the heavenly Father supplies all his wants according to the riches of His grace. The Michael Job Centre which was originally started with 2 acres of land has now an area of 60 acres. It is indeed surprising to know that Michael Job Centre has facilities for the education of children from Kindergarten to Ph.D.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step” (Chinese Proverb). I am sure the motivating spirit of the founder of Michael Job Centre carries a message for all. “I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good thing, therefore, I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it for I shall not pass this way again” (Stephen Grelet).
The reviewer has his own opinion on the attitude of the author to conversion and other theological perspectives on matters of faith and doctrine. I reserve my right to dissent. But I appreciate the work of faith and labour of love manifested in the humanitarian work of Dr. Job, the Christian Evangelist. Thomas A Kempis has rightly said, “Jesus has many lovers of his heavenly Kingdom, but very few bearers of his cross”.
The book is well printed. The repetition of certain ideas could be regarded as the way of affirming the author’s convictions. The book is worth reading by all those who would like to undertake a journey of faith and to speak the language of kindness and compassion.
Contact : Dr. P. P. Job, V-31, Green Park Main, New Delhi-110016, India.

2010 International Conference
of Friends of Martyred & Persecuted Christians

2010 International Conference will be held from 25th to 27th June 2010 at Michael Job Centre, Near Sulur Boat Lake, Coimbatore, South India. Registration fee for an Indian delegate is Rs. 1000/- by M.O./Cheque/DD in favour of Love In Action Society, payable at New Delhi. Address: V-31, Green Park Main, New Delhi – 110 016, this includes food and accommodation. If you are interested, please send one photo along with registration fee. Our centre is 25 k.m. away from Railway Station and 15 k.m. away from Airport.

80G for Michael Job Orphanage
The Government of India has granted 80G for Michael Job Orphanage.
Now onwards whoever donates money in favour of Michael Job Orphanage
will get a tax exemption certificate from 1st April 2009 onwards.
Michael Job Orphanage, Near Sulur Boat Lake,
Ravathur (P.O.) Coimbatore – 641 103.

A NOVEL WAY TO CELEBRATE
BIRTHDAY! WEDDING! WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!
BIRTH OF A CHILD!
With 501 orphaned girls of Martyred and Persecuted Christians

Breakfast Rs. 5000/- Lunch/Dinner - Rs. 10,000/-

This will provide one meal to 501 girls plus 107 staff members. Send in your photograph (hard or soft copy) and cheque one week before the occasion. The photograph will be shown on the large screen in the Dining Hall where all the children gather. The children will sing “Happy Birthday” or “Count your Blessings” with your name and pray for you. You can witness this through a CD of the day’s celebrations which will be sent to you later.

All crossed Cheques/DD’s/MO’s for the Orphan Children
at Coimbatore may be sent in favour of :

Michael Job Orphanage
Near Sulur Boat Lake , Ravathur P.O.,

Coimbatore - 641103, Tamil Nadu.


E-mail: jjob@pobox.com
web: www.drjobsmission.com

Please visit our web: www.drjobsmission.com for live programme