Some things in this world are too hard to comprehend, like a country that doesn’t recognize some of its people who are born and living there for generations, including children, as citizens. That means they aren’t allowed to attend government schools, utilize the public health system or even travel, because they and their parents are undocumented.
In the 1950’s, Malaysia became independent from Great Britain. Not all of the rural and ethnic Indian population were documented and therein lies the problem. Many are poor and illiterate and therefore, don’t have the means to spend on obtaining the documentation. So generations are living in ‘their’ country without any benefit of citizenship. Unless they are able to resolve the situation, they will die as ‘invisible’ people. Hartini Zainudin founder of an organization in Malaysia is helping one child at a time with meals, a place to sleep and to gain their citizenship (see link below).
There are nearly 8 billion people on the planet and approximately 10 million people around the world are stateless. In some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, one doesn’t automatically obtain citizenship by being born there, certain conditions must be met.
What is citizenship? Being recognized under the law of a sovereign state as a member or belonging to the state with bestowed rights and protections. Recognition by a state as a citizen generally carries with it civil, political, and social rights, that are not afforded to non-citizens.
As followers of Messiah Jesus, we are citizens and joint heirs with Christ to the promise of the kingdom to come. Jesus the Victor is coming back to earth to establish, rule and reign from that kingdom eternally. We belong to our Heavenly Father through the Lord Jesus and he doesn’t forget us. We’re not stateless, no matter what man says; we belong--we are visible people.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5 (NRSV)
"See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands......" Isaiah, 49:16 (NRSV)
For more information on work being done by Hartini Zainudin for impoverished stateless children in Kuala Lumpur see website: