Southern Manipur churches celebrate 100 years of 'glorious transformation'

It will be a 100 years in 2010 since the Gospel shed its light for the first time in South Manipur way back in 1910.

Thanks to the Welsh revival in 1906 that changed the life of a young man called Watkin Roberts who visited Senvon village and later sent three young men from his raw converts from Mizoram to start a missionary work which quickly resulted in the transformation of one of the most barbaric tribal groups within a few decades.

To mark and celebrate the Centenary anniversary, denominational leaders earlier met on March 25, 2006 and formed a Committee representing leaders from more than twenty different churches and denominations of the region. Since then the Committee has been relentless in its effort to make the celebration a grand success.

Rev. Lalrosiem Songate, general secretary of the Evangelical Congregational Church of India (ECCI), formerly known as the North East India General Mission (NEIGM), founded by Watkin Roberts, told Christian Today: "The theme of the Celebration is Darkness to Light based on the text Isaiah 9:2. Public Worship Services will be held in the evenings and mornings to celebrate hundred years of glorious transformation we have experienced through the power of the Gospel."

"Workshops and Seminars will be held during the day and the afternoons on different topics. This will be a time to reflect our roles and concepts and also explore the opportunities we have in the work of missions around the world," he added.

The Gospel Centenary Celebration is planned to be held at Public Ground, Lamka, Churachandpur during May 5-7, 2010. It is befitting that the celebration will culminate on May 7, which have been observed as a Missionary Day by the churches as well as the government.

The main Speaker for the celebration will be Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe. Dr. Tunnicliffe serves as the International Director/CEO for the World Evangelical Alliance and is based in Canada.

During the workshops and seminars, James Ehrman, Executive Director, World Christian Initiatives, Yale University, will lead a session on World Christianity; Dino L. Touthang, Executive Director, EFICOR, New Delhi, will speak on Integral Mission and Ginnei Thang Ngaihte, OMF International, Manila, will touch on Missions Opportunities in the World Today

According to Rev. Songate, a Centenary Monument will also be erected to mark the hundredth year anniversary.

The arrival of Watkin Roberts and the three missionaries from the state of Mizoram namely, Savawma, Thangchhingpuia and Vanzika on May 7, 1910, had ushered the age of Gospel among the tribal groups in South Manipur.

Within a few years the North East India General Mission was founded and it vigorously began taking up the task of propagating the Good News among Manipur's fierce tribal groups.

Today the region of Southern Manipur has one of the highest concentrations of Christians in the whole of India. Many churches and denominations have sprung up over the years, but all claiming their roots from the North East India General Mission.

The North East India General Mission merged with the Evangelical Congregational Church of USA in 1986 and came to be known as the Evangelical Congregational Church of India.