Tamil churches should play a more active role in social ministry in order to be more visible and effective in reaching out to their communities. At a recent conference for Tamil pastors and church leaders, Dr Daniel Jayasoria urged the participants to learn from the English churches, which have been actively serving their communities.

The Executive Director of Yayasan Strategik Sosial suggested some ways Tamil churches can help, such as organising tuition classes for needy Tamil students, holding festive parties for children within the church’s community, and arranging caring programmes for Tamil students in the universities.

Dr Jayasoria was one of the speakers at the October conference – attended by 82 participants from all over Malaysia – organised by the NECF Malaysia Tamil Commission.

Earlier, NECF Vice-Chairman Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng spoke on the necessity of integrity in daily living based on the life of the biblical Daniel, who though a captive in his captor’s country, rose to great heights because he lived by his strong principles. Dr Eu urged participants to be "loyal to God and loyal to their sheep", and to conscientiously care for their members.

When opening the conference, themed "Unity Through Fellowship", Commission Chairman John Nagamuthu told the participants to set aside their differences and work together to usher in revival.

The conference ended with a dinner fellowship, a ‘bonding activity’ that contributed to the conference’s unity objective.