{"id":22500,"date":"2023-02-21T11:10:15","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T11:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/?post_type=prayerline&p=22500"},"modified":"2023-02-21T12:08:41","modified_gmt":"2023-02-21T12:08:41","slug":"power-poetry-and-people","status":"publish","type":"prayerline","link":"https:\/\/ifesworld.org\/en\/prayerline\/power-poetry-and-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Power, Poetry, and People"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This week\u2019s Prayerline comes to you from the IFES Scripture Engagement team. Yohan Abeynaike, the Scripture Engagement Lead for South Asia, highlights recent work in the region and shares their hopes for the year ahead.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\u201cBuild me up, Lord, keep me firmly rooted<\/em><\/p>

So the truth I\u2019ve found doesn\u2019t become diluted<\/em><\/p>

Let me abound in grace and wisdom<\/em><\/p>

So I may not concede to a worldly system<\/em><\/p>

Lord, make me stronger, take me farther and deeper,<\/em><\/p>

Establish my steps, so I may be a way keeper.\u201d<\/em><\/p>Excerpt from a poem by ST; artwork by Timaandra Wijesuriya<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n

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You might recognise the verses that inspired ST to write this poem.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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ST is a member of the IFES South Asia Scripture Engagement Multipliers Network which is made up of student ministry staff and graduate volunteers. Together we explore how God engages the hearts and minds of South Asians through his Word.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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At a recent gathering of the Network, we reflected on Paul\u2019s letter to the Colossians and its impact on us today. We noticed the underlying themes of power and wisdom in the letter and how Paul helps the small Christian community in Colossae to recognize Jesus as the true source of power and wisdom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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This sparked a discussion on where power rests in South Asian society (political entities, family relationships, social structures, memories and interpretations of history, etc.) and how we witness to Jesus and God\u2019s kingdom in the midst of this reality.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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We recognized the importance of letting the word of God dwell amongst us in a communal setting (Colossians 3:16) and how God uses those conversations to reveal the fault lines in our communities as well as in areas of our personal lives that need transformation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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For South Asian Christians \u2013 who form small, minority communities in their respective countries \u2013 this experience was both challenging and encouraging. In shame-oriented and violent cultures, airing personal and community issues presents a challenge. However, the witness of Paul, whose imprisonment by Roman authorities did not stop him proclaiming the universal Lordship of Jesus, was deeply encouraging.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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As is evident in ST\u2019s poem, itself inspired by reading Paul\u2019s letter to the Colossians, God\u2019s living Word continues to speak and minister to us in our various situations. This year, the IFES South Asia Scripture Engagement Multipliers hope to continue to meet, reflect on, and listen to God\u2019s direction through his Word. In our gatherings, we want to spend time exploring Scripture engagement in terms of:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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