No.3, September - December 2002

Christmas is approaching again, in the midst of a potential war in Iraq and Middle East, of escalating violence, of increasing hunger, poverty and injustice in the world. As a community of Christian students, we hear the cries of the suffering people and witness the very spots where the life of God's creation is vividly negated.

We are situated at a critical juncture of time confronting with the most crucial call to our faith: the call to arise from death to life! We are challenged by the fact that Jesus Christ calls us to come out of death and to hear the voice of life. How can we hear this voice? And how can we rise up from death to life? In this Christmas season, we should be able to find time to reflect all these challenges.

The Asia-Pacific region will host the 33^rd General Assembly of the Federation next year in Chiangmai. Guided by the theme "Talitha Cum: Arising to Life in Abundance,"(Mark 5:41), the Asia-Pacific region together with the Federation will critically reflect on the Kairotic significance of the "Life" and articulate its life-centred vision and mission in responding to the question of "Life".

In this issue, we highlighted the significance of Peace through our anti-war statement. Peace in the world is at critical moment. We, as student should not be silent. We should voice out against any wars that destroy the life of God's creation.

In Perspective, Glenda Rocas, one of the Exco members articulated SCM's vision and mission in conjunction with the globalisation. In Human Rights & Solidarity, one of our interns, Natalia Bachelor gave an overview of the plight of the people living in Myanmar. The Women's Space covered a session taken from the programme, Women Doing Theology 2002, in which to instill the leadership potential of women students.

Finally, on behalf of all movements in the region, the Asia-Pacific office would like to bring our sincere Christmas greetings to all Praxis readers.

Shin Seung Min
Regional Secretary