MELC at a Glance

Introduction

The Manipur Evangelical Lutheran Church (MELC) formerly known as Jou Christian Association (JCA) was established on the 20th February, 1954 with a few believers at Daijang Village, Churachandpur District. It celebrated Golden Jubilee of its ministries in 2004. At present it is a body of 49 local Churches with 8500 members. Its headquarters is situated at Zomi Colony, Churachandpur, Manipur. It is a proud member of the Lutheran community (UELCI & LWF).

Administration in Brief

The Bishop is the Chief Functionary of the Head Office and the Churches and he is the overall head of all departments. The Bishop is assisted by Director/Secretary and other clerical staff to run the Office

The Church is divided into 5 Administrative Districts, each under a District Superintendent who is elected for a term of 3 years. There are ordained Pastors and Evangelists in each District to assist the District Superintendents.
The ministry of the Church is divided into Mission, Education, Youth, Women and Children Departments.

Democration of Administrative District

1.    Lamka District
2.    Singngat District
3.    Gundung District
4.    Behiang District
5.    Kailamnei District
6.    Manipur Mission Field.

Statistical Data

1.    Lamka District Population
Male    :    1830
Female    :    1750
Total    :    3580
Households    :    550
2.    Singngat District Population
Male    :    1045
Female    :    990
Total    :    2035
Households    :    370
3.    Gundung District Population
Male    :    785
Female    :    815
Total    :    1600
Households    :    250
4.    Behiang District Population
Male    :    340
Female    :    280
Total    :    620
Households    :    150
5.    Kailamnei District Population
Male    :    200
Female    :    180
Total    :    380
Households    :    110
6.    Shillong Lutheran Church
Male    :    130
Female    :    155
Total    :    285
Households    :    45
7.    Delhi Lutheran Church
Male    :    40
Female    :    35
Total    :    75
Households    :    20
Total No. of households    :    1495
Total No. of Population    :    8575

MELC paid Workers

1. No. of Ordained Pastors    :    14
2. No. of Evangelists    :    04
3. No. of Evangelist Teachers    :    17
4. No. of Missionary Teachers    :    12
5. No. of Missionary in the field    :    03
6. No. of Clerical Staff    :    09
7. No. of Women promoter    :    01
8. No. of Pensioners    :    07

Mission Field

MELC has Mission field amongst the indigenous populace in Manipur’s Thoubal District. There are 9 Churches in the Mission field. In the year 2009 one Meitei Theologian was ordained as Pastor to work among the Meiteis.

Educational Institutions

MELC has 18 Mission Schools in remote areas where education is provided up to lower primary level. the church is still constrained financially to meet the demands of the members to upgrade these schools into high schools and higher secondary schools. One Junior High School is run at Chairel Mission Field called “Chairel Faith Academy”.

Theological Students

Presently, there are 16 theological students pursuing different degrees in various Theological Seminaries.

Source of income

The main source of income of the Chruch is tithes from members. Other sources of income includes daily collection of a handful of rice, faith promises, freewill offerings, contribution from well wishers, School Admission fees etc.

MELC Vision

To fulfil the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ and to transform the world into His likeliness.

MELC Missions

#    Deepening of the Christian faith among believers
#    Sending more missionaries and plant more churches among the non-believers within and be-yond Manipur State.
#    Ensure all round development of the Church members.

MELC Goal and Objectives

#    To plan more Churches
#    To train and equip Church leaders with different skills
#    To set up quality educational system
#    To take up more programmes for the upliftment and empowerment of women
#    To set up locally feasible income generating centres.
#    To root out drug abuse and alcoholism
#    To establish Orphanages and Homes for the aged
#    To fight antisocial elements
#    To establish continuum of Care Centre for HIV/AIDS affected persons.

Achievements

• Inspite of the economic hardships faced by the Church, as majority of the Church members are landless cultivators depending on Jhum (Slash and Burn) cultivation, displaced by the ethnic clashes in the year 1992 and in 1997 and also dislocation/displacement by the construction of Khuga Multipurpose Project. God is enabling the church to continue to run the missionary fields among the non-believers.
• MELC has been publishing monthly Christian Journals like Gospel Herald, Youth Bulletin and a weekly voice of Lutheran Youths in Zou dialect.
• The MELC has currently employed 67 workers including 14 Ordained Pastors. The Church has 105 Ordained Church elders.

Assets

1. The MELC has its Head Office at Zomi Colony, with one storeyed pucca building.
2. It has 4 District Superintendent Offices cum Quarters.
3. ELWA (Women’s wing) has 5 buildings.
4. The Office has 1 Vehicle (Bolero), 1 Computer, 1 Laptop, 1 Generator and 9 of its Churches are pucca buildings.

Challenge

1. In an era of gun culture, it is the biggest challenge to the Church to provide facilities that can guide the youths in the right path.
2. As more and more of the members succumbed to AIDS, it is a right time to provide intervention and care facilities.
3. The Church needs to combat rampant use of alcohol and drugs by the youths.
4. It is the burden of the Church to empower its members spiritually as well as economically.