SHORT TERM EXPERIENCE IN MINISTRY

 SIX MONTHS WELL SPENT By Herbert Mwalukomo

HOW IT STARTED

I first heard about Short Term Experience in Ministry [STEM] at the International Fellowship of Evangelical Student [IFES] leaders conference which took place at Kamuzu Academy from 27th December 1999 to 2nd January 2000. I learnt from this conference that lack of staff is the major problem to most of the movements in the Southern Africa sub region, SCOM inclusive.

In trying to address this problem several movements mobilize graduates to work as staff for a short time before going out to look for employment elsewhere. Little did I know that by that time, SCOM was already in the process of adopting this idea although no one had attempted.

Later I heard the previous General Secretary talking about STEM at a National General Council meeting which was held in April 2000. He later on made an appeal to SCOM- UCS Executive and branch leaders at an Annual General meeting which was held in June in the same year. He also spoke about it at the SCOM-UCS Conference of that year which was held in July. Mwai Makoka who was elected SCOM-UCS Chairman at the same conference made an appeal in his persuasive address at a prayer meeting after atteding a students conference in Kenya.

It was against this background that I had to seriously consider joining SCOM on this programme. I realized that the impact that SCOM had had on my personal life was all because some people had committed themselves to serve God in this ministry. Like any other graduate, I had also wanted to get a well paying job soon after coming out of college. Yet the truth is that there is much more to life than immediate satisfaction. What I had to do was to put into practice my knowledge of this truth.

DEFECTION TO SCOM SOUTH.

When I joined STEM my original intention was to be affiliated to SCOM-UCS. SCOM UCS is a strategic intervention to the spiritual and socioe-conomic status of the nation because it deals with people who are just about to be in influential positions in the nation. This section has a challenge of producing quality graduates who will uphold biblical values and be committed to the building of this nation with social justice and moral integrity.

This task cannot be fully done by the executive of this section because it (the executive) comprises of students. For this reason, working with SCOM-UCS was going to be a great opportunity for me.

The turning point came about as a result of a Northern Region branch visitation. This visit opened my eyes to the spiritual, moral and academic state of most of the secondary school students especially in the rural areas. Their overwhelming response to the gospel is what made me to realize that the students are willing to change and to learn, but they have not been exposed to the gospel and the right information.

Students and members of staff from almost every secondary school that we went to pleaded with us to pay them another visit. This showed us that our visit had a tremendous impact upon their lives.

Several things became clear to me. Secondary school, students are more receptive to the   word of God than those at post secondary level. Dealing with this young group would ensure more coverage since not all of them would make it to college. To those who will end up in College, this interaction would somewhat help them not to be negatively affected bv the transition from secondary school to college life.

In the face of these realities, I found it equally worthwhile to affiliate myself to secondary school section in the Southern Region Office.

EXPERIENCE

Branch visitations were the major experience.I had the opportunity of meeting students in Blantyre, Zomba, , Mzimba, Mzuzu city, Nkhatabay, Rumphi and Karonga. The Students themselves found these visits to be very helpful. Many of them gave their lives to Christ. Some of them wanted to learn more and thev needed my address. I still correspond with some of them.

It is worth mentioning that I learnt a lot of elderly insights for life and service from the SCOM staff team. I will definitely miss the close fellowship that exits among staff members in SCOM.

Going to places where I had never been and interacting with people of diverse culture was a special privilege for me during this period. I wonder if ever I will go to some of these places again in my lifetime.

Technically speaking I had a very rare opportunity of doing all that it takes to run an office all by myself. Perhaps the biggest treasure of the experience was the privilege of knowing people, the benefits of which are not as short as the programme itself was.

THE WAY FORWARD

Why should we talk about STEM when we can give our money to support the work of SCOM? Is it necessary to talk about STEM when we have staff and associates around? The truth of the matter is that the magnitude of the work both in the office and in the field is far much greater than the amount of human resource available. As such, availability of people on this programme in succession will definitely be the way forward.

It must be pointed out in clearest terms that there are no special qualifications for eligibility to join this programme, apart from the willingness to serve. Neither does one need to attend an IFES Conference to join STEM.

Although six months is more ideal for an experience, STEM is not about serving for six months. Infact, a longer period is much better to ensure continuity.  Time spent for God is never wasted.

CONCLUSION