PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW 1 JAN - MAR 2010 Pre2sbyterian Review is a quartePrlREy newSsB mYTagaziERne cIonAceNrni nREg thVe ILiEWfe and Witness of the Church in Mizoram and other related matters, published by the Mizoram Presbyterian Church Synod. Editor : PRESBYTERIAN Rev. Dr. Vanlalnghaka Ralte REVIEW Members of the Editorial Board: VOl. XVIII January - March No. 57 Ms. P.C. Laltlani Rev. Dr. K.Lallawmzuala Contents Page Rev. Lalthangpuia Fanai Ms. Lalrindiki Ralte 1.Life and Ministry of the MPC - Rev. K.Lallawmzuala & Manager : Mrs. P. C. Laltlani 1 Rev. Rosiamliana Tochhawng 2.Highlights of the 228th MPC SEC Postal Address of the Editor: - Ms. Lalrindiki Ralte Aizawl Theological College, Post Box No. 167, 3. Financial Report of the MPC Aizawl - 796 001, Synod for the Year 2009 -2010 MIZORAM, INDIA. - Rev. Rosiamliana Tochhawng 9 Ph. (0389) 2361126 Fax (0389) 2361663 4.A Tribute to Rev. E.F. Lyngdoh E-mail:atheol @ sancharnet.in (1946- 2010) - Rev. Lalramliana Pachuau 11 Subscription Rates Annual - Rs. 100.00 5.53rd KTP General Conference Per Copy - Rs. 25.00 - Pro.Pastor Lalhriatpuia Ralte 13 To Subscribe, please contact 6.Presbyterian Bible School The Manager, - Rev. H.Biakthansanga 16 Presbyterian Review, Aizawl Theological College, 7.Mission to Bihar Post Box - 167, - Rev. Vanlalrova Khiangte 21 Aizawl - 796 001, MIZORAM, INDIA. 8. Challanges to Churches' Involvement in Health and Mission in N.E. India Printed at - Dr. C.Biakmawia 27 Synod Press O 9.Jesus Christ Reconciles Mizoram, India. - Rev.Dr.Roger Gaikwad 32 10. Ministry of the Gospel - Mr. Lal Thanzara 44 11. Felicitation to Rev. Dr. Lalchhuanliana (Honoris Causa) 47 The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent the official position of the Mizoram Presbyterian Church; each contributor is solely responsible for the views expressed in his/ her article. JAN - MAR 2010 PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW 3 LIFE AND MINISTRY OF THE MIZORAM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Rev. Dr. K. Lallawmzuala & Ms. P.C. Laltlani The Lighting Ceremony of the Manipur Gospel Centenary Fire The Independent Church of India (ICI), Manipur, had chosen one of the hills in Mission veng, Aizawl, which was previously the location of the residence of their pioneer missionary, namely Mr. Watkin Roberts, but is now the location of the Mizoram Presbyterian Synod Conference Centre, to be the venue of the lighting ceremony of the fire of their Gospel Centenary celebration. The ceremony was held in Pi Zaii Hall of the Synod Conference Centre on 6th January 2010 (Wednesday) at 8:00 PM. The meeting was presided over by Rev. C. Chawngliana, the Moderator of the Mizoram Presbyterian Church, and Elder Vanlalhuma, the Mizoram Presbyterian Synod Secretary, gave a short report. After the Moderator delivered a brief message, he lit the centenary fire and handed it over to Elder Dr. L.H. Liansanga, the vice Moderator of the ICI Manipur and the people present in the meeting lit their own candles from the centenary fire which was followed by a procession. The centenary fire was passed on to Mr. David Roberts, the grandson of Watkin Roberts, and then it was later brought to the different local Churches and mission fields of the ICI. Commissioning of Missionary The celebration of the centenary Pastors jubilee of the ICI was held at On 10th January 2010 in the Sielmat, Manipur during 4-7 Chaltlang Presbyterian Church, the February 2010 with a theme “The Synod Mission Board commissioned Power of the Gospel” which was thirteen ordained ministers of the addressed by Rev. Vanlalzuata, the Mizoram Presbyterian Church, who Senior Executive Secretary of the had been selected by the Synod Mizoram Presbyterian Church. The 2009 to serve in different parts of celebration would continue even in India as missionaries. The service the month of May 2010 for all the was chaired by Rev. churches in the southern part of Lalchhuanmawia, the Synod Manipur. Mission Board Secretary, and a JAN - MAR 2010 4 PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW commissioning message was Induction Service for Pastors delivered by Rev. C. Chawngliana, the and Pro. Pastors Synod Moderator. On behalf of the An induction service was missionary Pastors, Rev. Lallianmawia conducted on 17th January 2010 for Pachuau delivered a short message. fourteen newly ordained Pastors and Out of the thirteen ministers, two were fifteen new Probationary Pastors. going to be the Field Secretaries and In addition to this, the same kind of eleven of them would be serving as service was conducted for those missionary Pastors. Pastors who had been transferred to different pastorates by the last Advent of the Gospel Synod meeting in December 2009. The 116th anniversary of the advent of the Gospel in Mizoram Pastorate Level Conferences of was celebrated on 11th January the Youth and Church Women 2010. This was the day the two The Mizoram Presbyterian Youth pioneer missionaries first landed in Fellowship (locally known as K|P) Mizoram to preach the Gospel back had its pastorate level conference in 1894. This year the Presbyterian in the different pastorates during 22- Church of Mizoram had selected 24 January 2010. Certain pastorates two themes for the morning and that could not be able to organize evening services of the day, namely their conference on 22-24 January “I am not ashamed of the Gospel” due to unavoidable circumstance (Rom 1: 16) and “The Gospel of had their conference on 29-31 Peace” (2 Corinthians 5:18; January. There are now 174 Ephesians 6: 14,15), which were pastorates under the Mizoram addressed in all the local churches. Presbyterian Synod. Inauguration of the New The Church Women Fellowship Pastorates (locally known as Kohhran Twelve new pastorates Hmeichhia) also had its pastorate consisting of four within Mizoram level conference during 12-14 and eight other in the different parts February 2010. The programmes of of India outside Mizoram, which are the Youth and Church Women under the Mizoram Presbyterian conferences are normally a Synod, had been inaugurated on 16th combination of singsong fellowship, January 2010. Bible study, and worship service. JAN - MAR 2010 PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW 5 Each pastorate usually selects a particular theme for the conference A Week for Healing Ministry which is addressed either by a local The Presbyterian Hospital, preacher or a speaker invited from Durtlang, carried out its campaign other place. for healing ministry during the week 8-13 February 2010 following the Partnership Agreement with programme made by the Christian CRWM Medical Association of India The Synod Mission Board and (CMAI). The theme of the week the Christian Reformed World was ‘Relief of the suffering and Mission (CRWM), North America, burden’ which was sub-divided into had signed their partnership six sub-themes and they were agreement on 5th February 2010. addressed by different speakers. Rev. Dr. Russel Palsrok and Rev. Jeffrey Bos, who are the in charges Training for English Medium of the CRWM ministry in Asia, School Teachers came to Mizoram. Rev. Dr. Palsrok Training programme was signed the agreement on behalf of organized for teachers who are the CRWM while Rev. working in the English Medium Lalchhuanmawia, the secretary of School under the Mizoram the Synod Mission Board, signed on Presbyterian Synod during 23-26 behalf of the Mizoram Presbyterian February 2010 at the Synod Church. Committee Room, Zosaphluia’s building. Two trainers from the The Synod Mission Board and Light Education Ministry, Australia, the CRWM had started their namely Rev. Richard Wilson and partnership in 2008 and they had Mrs. Evelyn Lorraine came to give already worked together in various training. 58 representatives from 76 places. This new agreement would different schools came to attend the be meant for another three years training. partnership in mission ministry. In this partnership, they are now jointly Synod Executive Committee sponsoring ten missionaries in The Synod Executive Committee Myanmar, two missionary teachers had its 228th committee meeting on at Darjeeling Hills Bible School & 23-25 February 2010 in the Synod College and four nurses in Nepal. Committee Room. Out of 135 JAN - MAR 2010 6 PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW members of the committee 117 General Conference of the Youth members could attend the meeting. Fellowship They had discussed several The youth fellowship of the important agendas including issues Mizoram Presbyterian Church related to the emerging same-sex (K|P) had its 53rd General relationship in Mizoram. They left Conference during 4-7 March 2010 the matter to the Synod researchers at Mamit town. The theme of the for further investigation. They conference was “Get up, call on decided that a mass prayer of your God!” based on Jonah 1:6, confession and a prayer for the state which was addressed by Rev. should be organized in all the local Zosangliana Colney, one of the churches on 4th April 2010. They Executive Secretaries of the had also appointed Rev. Mizoram Presbyterian Church. Lalpiangthara, the Pastor of Tuikual Other important issues concerning pastorate, to be the leader of the church mission and contemporary Kristian |halai Pawl (Youth social realities were also addressed Fellowship of the Mizoram by different speakers. Presbyterian Church). Church Women Business New Students of the Aizawl Meeting Theological College The Mizoram Presbyterian On 29th January 2010, the Church Women had its general Theological Education Board (TEB) business session on 11th March 2010 of the Synod had selected 14 M.Th. at the Electric veng Presbyterian students who would join the church. The meeting was attended programme from the new academic by 343 members consisting of 296 session that will be started on 2nd representatives from 151 June 2010. The students consist of pastorates, 37 Central Committee 4 students for Christian Theology, 4 members, 4 Synod officers, 2 for Missiology, 3 for New delegates from the Youth Fellowship Testament, 3 for History of and 4 from Association of Christianity.