Baptist News
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Contents Baptist News A quarterly news letter of the COUNCIL OF BAPTIST Editorial 2 CHURCHES IN NORTH EAST INDIA First Dispensary in Nagaland 4 The Council comprises of Assam Baptist Convention, Arunachal Basic Counseling 6 Baptist Church Council, Garo Baptist Convention, Karbi Anglong My Short Experience about Baptist Convention, Manipur Babupara Christian Hospital Baptist Convention and Nagaland (Nisangram) 8 Baptist Church Council. EDITORIAL BOARD Administration in Baptist Churches 13 Editor: Rev Dr A. K. Lama News Capsule 22 Sub-Editor: Dr Asangla Ao Design & Layout: Siamliana Khiangte Leprosy Work 35 Circulation: The Biblical Perspective of Rabindra Basumatary Rest 40 Jatin Gogoi Jinoy G. Sangma A Life Changing Revelation 44 Subscription: One Year ` 150 (US$20) Making Greater Impact in Two Years ` 250 (US$35) Mission: Streamlining Three Years ` 400 (US$50) & Partnership 47 Five Years ` 600 (US$80) Contact information: Prepare Ye The Way of CBCNEI, Mission Compound the Lord 53 Panbazar, Guwahati, Assam-781001 Mission: Ex Deus et Phone: +91-361-2515 829 (O) Fax: +91-361-2544 447 Ex Humanus 57 eMail: [email protected] website: www.cbcnei.com Baptist News, July - December 2012 1 from the desk of editor Dear friends, We are looking for someone who could lead us as the Assistant Editor of the Baptist News. I have been juggling with too many responsibilities. Besides the office of the General Secretary, I am also looking after the office of the Secretary for the Medical Department and Leadership Training. Hence the publication of the last issue is delayed. You might have noticed that this issue combines the two issues. Please accept my apology. The primary goal of Baptist News has been to publish the news of the events happening in the Baptist family. So that through them you may sense the movement of the Holy Spirit amidst us and give thanks, pray, and get involved. Since most of us in the northeast are not keen on writing it has been an uphill task to gather the news. Most news that you might read here are from the departments of CBCNEI. Please know that we welcome the news with pictures from your church, association, and convention. We will be glad to include them in the next issue. 2 Baptist News, July - December 2012 We also welcome your article. If there are certain contextual issues that you would like to address to provoke our thinking, please write and send them to us. Our editorial team will help you to publish them. In this issue, we have included an article on REST from Johnson Raih, the Principal of MBC High School. He has done good job to underline a range of meaning of the Rest in Bible. Rev Kulendra Marak gathers some of his experience and knowledge to help us understand how men and women of God strived to serve the people of Nishangram and the areas around through Babupara Christian Hospital. Charyl Ford, wife of Pastor Clayton Ford, who was one of the resource persons in the CBCNEI Training Program, shares her thought on God who always extends sceptre of mercies to those who are in need. I have written an article to record my views and suggestions on the governance and administration in the Baptist family. Rev Taku Longkumer has written an article to prepare our hearts for the forthcoming season of Christmas. While Dr Asangla gives some tips on the basics of the Couseling. Dr Jolly Rimai and I have tried to address various issues related to Missions in our context. I hope you will enjoy reading it. The Christmas and the New Year 2013 is approaching. We wish you a blessed festive season. May the good Lord grant you a prosperous and successful New Year 2013. Dr A. K. Lama General Secretary Baptist News, July - December 2012 3 First Dispensary in Nagaland (Excerpt taken from Impur Christian Hospital Centenary Souvenir (1912-2012) Published byImpur Christian Hospital, Impur, Nagaland) But in the year 1912, under his initiative the first dispensary was opened at the hillock near the boundary with Mopungchuket village, present microwave sta- tion. Later in the year Dispensary constructed in 1916-ICH 1916 the temporary dis- pensary was shifted to With the increasing growth of just below the present Impur mission activities, they came to Christian Hospital; and contin- realize Medical Ministry for ued their medical healing min- physical healing as one of the istry till 1954. Dr J. R. Bailey greatest, urgent and pressing was not only a good physical needs of the hour for the Naga healer but a competent spiritu- people. al healer also. He worked te- diously till his death, in the year 1928, leaving behind his be- loved wife and six (6) children, viz. James, Howard, Audrey, Stephen, Barbara and Phyllis. Mrs. James R. Bailey wanted to continue as Women Missionary Dr & Mrs. James R. Bailey under Foreign Mission amongst the Nagas, but the American Dr & Mrs. James R. Bailey, the Baptist Mission Union did not first Medical Missionary carne give her permission. That’s how to Impur in 1909. For about two Mrs J. R. Bailey had to return years, he gave medicine and back to America with her chil- helped the patients from his dren. home. 4 Baptist News, July - December 2012 After the dead of Dr Bailey in the year 1954. 1928, Impur Dispensary went At this time Dr Ngangshi Aier through some lapses due to the was serving at Jorhat Christian lack of proper residential Med- Hospital very actively. Even ical Doctors. though he was working there, So it was at that time, Dr J. A. he had a deep concern for the Ahlquist, a missionary doctor improvement and the well be- from Jorhat Christian Hospital ing of Impur Dispensary. frequently visited Impur Dispen- Therefore under his pioneering sary and helped the patients. leadership he brought several It was very encouraging to see mobile unit teams from Jorhat the good helping relationship Christian Hospital to Impur to between Jorhat Christian Hos- cover more Ao villages with pital and Impur dispensary, better medical treatment. since both the ministries were According to the official record, under the American Baptist mis- Dr Ngangshi Aier brought the sion. first mobile medical unit from In November 1953, when Rev Jorhat Christian Hospital to Im- Truxton was the field incharge pur Dispensary on Apri16, 1954. of Impur mission centre, Dr. In his first trip he stayed for 3 Ngangshi Aier, Dr O. W. Hassel- days at Impur Dispensary, dur- blad, Rev. Truxton and Rev Ki- ing which he gave treatment to jung had a meeting for the im- 34 Impur students and 17 out- provement of the Impur Dispen- siders. sary. Also, it was at this difficult time After much prolonged discus- that SDMO (Sub Divisional Med- sion for the possible option to ical Officer) from Mokokchung improve. Impur dispensary , it made monthly visits and helped was finally decided to start a Impur Dispensary as required by Mobile Medical Unit from Jorhat the Medical mobile unit team Christian Hospital with one of (1958). the Doctors to visit and help Impur Dispensary monthly from ***** Baptist News, July - December 2012 5 By Dr Asangla Ao, Women’s Director, TLA Ministries BASIC COUNSELING Not everyone is cut to be a of counseling, and keeping the counselor. But in ministry counseling “tools” sharpened whether you are trained coun- will certainly help us stay ready selor or not, you can’t wash your for any moment of need. More- hands off from the responsibil- over; counseling is a skill—the ity of offering counseling min- more you practice it, the better istry to those who are in need. you become. Many are hurting around us and BASIC ELEMENTS FOR AN EF- extending a helping hand to FECTIVE COUNSELING those is inevitable for a pastor COMPASSIONATE HEART: One or for those who are in full time must have a compassionate ministry. Whether you want it heart to observe, see, and act or not, people will come to you in order to render a helping hand seeking advice, looking for so- to those who are in need. Jesus lutions to their problems, or was a compassionate person even to unburden their troubled who saw, had compassion, and heart. With all good intention met the needs of people (Matt while helping an unskillful 9:36) counselor might cause more damage than healing. Incompe- RELATIONSHIP: The art o coun- tence of a counselor may lead seling runs through the fabric to failure of the whole counsel- of healthy relationship. So, the ing process. ability to connect with other person is paramount in an ef- Learning some basic principles fective counseling process. A 6 Baptist News, July - December 2012 healthy relationship itself can by the counselee. Listen to be therapeutic—encouraging both verbal and nonverbal mes- counselees understand them- sages and respond accurately. selves and their situation bet- COMMUNICATION SKILLS: The ter, find the available resources, quality of communication be- and learn to manage their lives tween counselor and counselee more effectively. is an integral part of effective EMPATHY: It’s being with and counseling. We communicate understanding the counselees nonverbally much more than in and through the context of verbally. As you listen to verbal their lives. Being able to dis- messages, do not ignore the cern, touch the emotions a nonverbal messages (facial ex- counselee is experiencing, and pression, body posture, eye then respond accurately may movement). The conversation open the ‘gateway’ to his /her between counselor and coun- world, helping you to see the selee should be therapeutic. bigger picture. “All Scripture is inspired by God TRUST AND CONFIDENTIALITY: & profitable for teaching, for It is a vital part of counseling.