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Christian Campus Ministry of
Myanmar SCM
by
The birth of Myanmar SCM took place on January 13, 1913. Today, it is 82 years old. Throughout this period, the Myanmar SCM experienced several changes: it stood as an independent organization as well as a Student YMCA, MBC and MCC dependent organization. Today, owing to various circumstances, it has become a leading department of the ecumenical movement under the MCC. It may quite rightly be envisaged that this movement will become an independent unit in the future, and there is a fervent hope for this to be a reality as soon as time and situation permit. It will then once again be re-established as an independent Myanmar SCM.
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University Christian Work and
the Students Today
Today the University Christian Work (UCW) is a department with the MCC. Although all activities and programmes of this department are conducted under the name UCF (University Christian Fellowship), every individual is familiar with the name SCM. However, it must be frankly admitted that owing to unfavourable circumstances the term SCM cannot be overtly used, though it is preferred.
In
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There are over 20,000 Christian students of different denominations
valiantly and wholeheartedly participating in various activities carried out by
the SCM, serving God in the forefront of the students' ministry. It is the only
student body in
The Myanmar SCM, therefore, has to change its strategies in carrying out its activities. Cooperation, fellowship, spiritual promotion as well as social development activities are implemented with a full awareness of the need to be in tune with the political climate of the time. Examples of these activities are work camps, leaders' seminars, FMRC, management and promotional course, etc...
If students, apart from those studying in professional institutes such as technology, medicine, agriculture, are asked what their prospects are, a majority of them would quite spontaneously state their uncertainty. The sole objective of these students is to finish their studies as quickly as possible so that they will get their degrees which may help them secure a job and earn a living. However, what assurance is there for these students?
As it is to be expected of all developing countries, unemployment rate is high and in many cases graduates seldom manage to secure the kind of job related to their academic training. Ever since the 1988 unrest, the government has to contend with every aspect of socio-economic demands of the country among which is the need to streamline the academic calendar in order to clear the backlog of students whose studies were affected (until now there is no specific academic calendar). In spite of the good intent behind this measure, an influx of graduates on the job market could create fierce competition and this may not help to mitigate the unemployment problem.
Under the current rules and regulations only the cultural and literature associations of national groups/races are permitted to be formed in universities and colleges. As a
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result, the Myanmar SCM, a religious movement, has to function outside the campus. Nevertheless, the Myanmar SCM still, by the grace of God, manages to maintain a close link with Christian students pursuing higher education. Hence, it must be observed that Myanmar SCM is the only ecumenical organization functioning steadfastly for the spiritual uplift of Christian students in the institutes of higher education. For this we are grateful to the good Lord for His bounteous blessings and we also hasten to acknowledge the legacy left to us by our Christian leaders, and the support of senior friends and churches as well as Christian teaching staff. One observation that may be made here is that there have been several attempts by a few deviant Christian groups to win over the Christian students. However, the university campus has always been and shall continue to be the sole concern of the Myanmar SCM for its religious programmes, only because the current leaders of the churches and religious organizations are former SCMers, who are constantly supporting in various ways the Myanmar SCM.
While some organizations
abroad may consider the Myanmar SCM a purely religious movement, some churches
and religious groups in the country regard it as being too concerned with
social and political aspirations. No matter how extreme such opinions are the
Myanmar SCM shall strive to carry out its mission of giving spiritual uplift to
the Christian students in ways that are appropriate to the local religious,
social and political outlook, so that all spiritual and social needs of the
students will be met adequately through inter-fellowship meeting, Bible study
classes.
Owing to limited funds, the Myanmar SCM has this strategy of human resource sharing (e.g. appropriate technology, computer training/promotional courses, medical team, etc.). During the past years this was carried out in association with the YMCA, YWCA and MCC-URM (e.g. hydro-power project, etc.). Under the guidance and leadership of the Myanmar SCM are also students from various institutes such as Myanmar Institute of Theology, Institute of Medicine, Institute of Agriculture, Institute of Technology, Institute of Economics, Institute of Education. Therefore it may not be wrong to say that the Myanmar SCM is the only
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student organization that works hand in hand with other religious
and social groups.
The Myanmar SCM is also engaged in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS by holding seminars on sex education and providing counseling services through the Myanmar SCM Women's Desk, especially for those young women who are exposed to detrimental socio-economic pressures.
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Conclusion
To summarize, it
may be pointed out that the Myanmar SCM represents the entire student body made
up of students from university and college campuses all over