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Friday, 29 January 2010 16:09
In 1985 the ‘Mission Board’ was formed to oversee the mission department of the church. Thus the mission board started activity earnestly and with a renewed fervor from early 1985 under the able leadership of pro- Pastor Khaamthang (Chairman) and Kaikhohau (Secretary).

Activities of the Mission Board
The following are a brief activities of the Mission Board (from 1985 till date)

  • From 1985 itself the Mission Board has taken over the overseeing and supervising of its twin church – Christian church of Burma (CCB)in neighbouring Burma (Myanmar), till it (CCB) could look/run and managed by their own affairs.
  • Immediately in 1986, the mission board could hold its first missionary conference at Zoveng and a missionary challenge campaign there for helping the Burmese brethren yielded. More notably Rev. Ginzapao dedicated himself to be a missionary to the Burmese and was commission. He was stationed at Moreh (Indo – Burmese) border village with a monthly allowance of Rs. 200. On account of poor health, he could stay for one year only.
  • For a year or so the CCB remained without a missionary. However their needs were taken care by the mission Board indirectly from Manipur and it was also agreed that financial support of Rs.6000/- was to be paid annually to the CCB till they could stand on their own legs. However, by God’s grace this does not take long and by 1989, they (CCB) could stand as an independent church and without annual financial support was also suspended by 1990.
  • One of the most notable, perhaps novel idea towards furthering the mission work was struck upon by the a missionary minded politician by name David K. Samte. On March 3rd 1989 at one of the missionary board meeting. This innovative was that he (David K. Samte) proposed and suggested to his colleague member that every Sunday willing persons amongst the church members should ‘fast’  and the rice should be put aside for mission funds. This novel idea was readily agreed upon by the members present with one accord. He himself along with another member and pastor Rev. Nengkhanmang started this fasting prayer on that day itself. Till today, this fasting was practiced by quite a number of dedicated congregational members and the same yielded sizeable amongst for mission activities.

Chairel Mission Field and its Background
Geographically Chairel is located in Thoubal District of Manipur. The village consists of approximately 800 house holds / families. They were Hindu by faith. Majority of them, by lineage belongs to the Manlan clan of the Zou tribe. However since the past 3 generation or  so they have been assimilated into the culture, tradition, beliefs and language of the Meitei Hindu majority.  In a way they could be likened to the so called lost tribe of Israel.

Why Chairel as a Mission Field?
As already noted that the link with the Burmese brethren (CCB) was suspended in 1990, the church remained without any specific mission field to engage in mission activities in a concerted manner. After several survey and probings by the mission board, it decided to start a new mission base at Chairel village as the same is strategically located somewhere in the center of the majority Meitei (Manipuri) dominated district whereby the mission work could be expanded and spread to its neighbouring places. Adding advantage to this was the majority of them (90 %) belongs to the Zou tribe in lineage and also they (chairelites) did not have any objection in a mission based being establish there. Thus by 1991 Chairel become a new mission field of the MELC.

Mission Activities at Chairel
To begin Mission in Chairel, an Evangelist by name L. Thuamkai, S/o. Pau Khogin was appointed as the first missionary on 30th June 1991 with a commissioning service held at Zoni colony Head Quarter church. Immediately, the next day i.e 1st July 1991, he started work in Chairel. In the same year a copy of the New Testament in Meitei (Manipuri) language were distributed to every household in the village. The same year, the first fruit of the missionary could be witnessed with the conversion and baptism of 10 person. Gradually the mission works produced increasing results by the day and the following year, i.e. 1992 two new converts, Miss. Sanahanbi and Gopen Singh even joined theological training (B.Th) in Dinwiddie Bible College (DBC) in Churachandpur.

By the guidance of the Holy Spirit and through the dedicated selfless service of the missionary coupled with the constant backing/support of the church in cash and kind, prayer etc, the area of operation also increased and by 1993 a Church could be established there. Thus for there are 150 new converts and another mission field could be opened in one of its adjoining village called Pombikhok. At present the mission board runs and owns a Junior high school called ‘Chairel Faith Academy’, a house  called ‘Bethesda Inn’ (a quarter for missionary teachers and other mission workers) and cemetery.
Last Updated on Friday, 29 January 2010 16:22