EMOS WOMAN'S TEAM

BACKGROUND
EMOS is recreating mission history in India. At the turn of the 20th century mission agencies working in India realized that to reach India with the liberating message of Christ they have to enter homes, that is, reaching women who are bound by the walls of homes by traditions of a paternal society. Almost all the mission agencies started women's ministries, often called "Zenana Mission".

Women are the most oppressed in Indian society. Though they have achieved a certain level of independence in urban areas, those living in rural India are still under the iron hand of a patriarchal society. They bear much of the burden of domestic life. The picture on the right shows women in a gospel meeting and the one on the left shows the hard tasks women carry out.

This effort to meet women in homes had another reason. Till then most of the people who embraced Christianity in India were from the lower castes, most often called the scheduled castes, or even the untouchables. Mission agencies were unable to reach the so-called high castes, because the high castes associated Christianity with the low castes and were hesitant to enter the church. Often those courageous souls from the high castes who dared to join the church were driven out of their homes or even killed by their high caste men. The Zenana Mission reached the women of high castes in their homes, thereby capturing the high caste societies from the inside. Stories abound on how converts from high castes stood for Christ even in the midst of suffering.

EMOS leadership realized the strategic importance of women missionaries to reach the high caste societies, as well as the lower castes, with the liberating Gospel. But the practical problem of finding capable women - with personal experience of knowing Christ, basic level of theological training, an innate charm and charisma, an ability to work as a team and good communication skills - and finding the resource to support the teams daunted them.

[EMOS leaders realized that these women's teams will be more effective in North India where women education level is lower than the South. This does not mean that the ministry will not be effective in the South. Sociologists inform that a vast number of North Indians migrate to southern states seeking peace and prosperity. Cities of South India are growingly become "North India". The women's teams have a vast field even in South Indian cities like Chennai (Tamilnadu), Bangalore (Karnataka), Vishakapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), and Cochin (Kerala). EMOS's wider concern is to reach the North Indian high caste families both in North India and South India.]

After much deliberation and searching for capable workers EMOS started the first women team in July 2004. Lucy Chacko, educated in Vishakapatnam and a theological graduate was appointed as the leader of this team. This team is placed in Kunnapuzha, where EMOS has its head office. The team is placed close to the head office and under the direct supervision of the Director is to evaluate how the team works. The team will be evaluated for a period of one year. This is a learning experience for the EMOS leaders also. An earnest search for capable women workers has begun.

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