PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW 1 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2010 PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW 2 CONTENTS 1. Li fe and Ministry of the Mizoram Presbyterian Church ..............3 2. Arunachal and Assam Mission Field “West” :Mizoram Presbyterian Church ................................................................................... 8 3. Special Reports of the MPC Ministry ......................................12 4. Synod Social Front Activity Report - 2010 ..............................16 5. Presbyterian Hindi Bible School ...............................................20 6. RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR SMTC...........................23 7. A BRIEF REPORT ON MASIHI SANGATI KENDRA .........31 8. REPORTS ON PRE-EDINBURGH CONFERENCE, NEICCWA & NEICC MEETINGS, ISPCK-PCI & PCI CONSULTATIONS ................. 34 9. A REPORT OF THE 36TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SYNOD LAY WORKERS’ FELLOWSHIP...........................42 10. ORIGIN OF THE CONFESSION OF FAITH OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF INDIA.... ......................45 11. Reflection: JESUS’ POLITICS VS CAESAR’S(EMPIRE’S) POLITICS............................................................................. 55 12. Obituary ................................................................................. 57 JULY - SEPTEMBER 2010 PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW 3 LIFE AND MINISTRY OF THE MIZORAM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Rev. Dr. K. Lallawmzuala & Ms. P.C. Laltlani Health Sunday: Health Sunday and Hospital Sunday was observed on the 4th of July 2010. The theme for the Health Sunday which was observed in the afternoon service was ‘Individual Health’ and the theme for the Hospital Sunday observed in the night service was ‘The Healing Ministry of Jesus’ Health Sunday and Hospital Sunday had in the past, always been observed on separate Sundays. But as was resolved in the 2008 Synod, the two Sundays were observed on the same day from this year. Choir Conductors Training: Lausanne Congress on World The 15th Residential Choir Evangelization at Cape Town, S. Conductors Training, organized by the Africa to be held from the 16th to Synod Music Committee was held at the 25th of October 2010. the Synod Multipurpose Training Synod Revival Speaker’s Retreat: Centre from the 6th to the 10th of July Synod Revival Speakers Retreat 2010. Choir conductors from 8 was held at Chandmary pastorates attended the programme. Presbyterian Church from the 23rd to the 25th of July 2010. The theme ‘Buhfai Tham’ Documentary Film: for this years retreat was Mr Alex Ganta(Media Director), ‘Holiness’(John17:19). There were Mr Savio Rodrigues (Media also paper presentations followed by Producer)and Mr Mani Kumar discussions on various topics (Cameramen) from Joyce Meyer relating to the need of the revival Ministries, Hyderabad came to speakers of today.The retreat was Aizawl on the 16th of July to film a attended by484 speakers and team documentary on Buhfai tham (A members from70 revival teams. handful of rice). Buhfai Tham is one of the most important ministries Graduation Day: of the Women Fellowship and has The 10th Graduation day for the in fact reached its centenary this outgoing 29 nursing students of the year. This documentary film is Presbyterian Church Hospital was proposed to be shown at the Third held on the 30th of July 2010. JULY - SEPTEMBER 2010 PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW 4 Aid to Landslide victims: service was held in the library on The Synod Moderator Rev. C. the 23rd of August 2010 which was Chawngliana handed over aid money attended by the faculty, staff and of RS 5000 each to four families in students along with Mrs Neihthangi different parts of Aizawl whose and her extended families. It was house were destroyed by landslides. followed by a tea fellowship with He also gave Rs 10,000 each to the refreshments sponsored by Mrs families of Timothy Lalhmingthanga Neihthangi herself. and VL Malsawmtluanga who lost their lives in a landslide. Seminar on Sex- Video and Pornography: Dedication of Grace Home: A seminar cum workshop on Sex- A new building for Grace home Video and Pornography, organized was dedicated to God on the 12th of by the Synod Social Front was held August 2010 by the Synod on the 26th of August 2010 at the Synod Moderator, Rev. C. Chawngliana. Conference Centre. It was attended Grace home, which is part of the by242 participants representing Presbyterian Church Hospital is a different churches and youth home for people living with HIV/ fellowships within the Aizawl area. Dr AIDS and those struggling with Robert. S. Halliday presented a addiction. With the new building, research paper on ‘The status of use Grace Home now has an extra20 of sex amoung the mizo youths’ and beds, making it a total of 30 beds. Mr Lalramzauva, advocate on ‘The Since it’s inauguration in 2003, 980 legal implications of sex and patients had been cared for so far. Pornography’. A paper on The Presbyterian church of Wales ‘Pornography and sex Video: the donated Rs 47 lakh and the Central present scenario’ written by Ms. Youth Fellowship 2 lakh for the Vanlalremi and Ms Laltlansangi was construction of the building. also presented. The presentations were followed by meaningful discussions. Donation of computers for ATC: Mrs Neihthangi , Zarkawt donated Seminar On ‘Issues Facing 10 sets of computers complete with Christians Today’: the computer tables to ATC in A seminar on ‘Issues Facing memory of her late husband Mr Christians Today’ was organized by Lalthanzama. A small Thanksgiving Calvin Study Centre of Aizawl JULY - SEPTEMBER 2010 PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW 5 Theological College on the 28th of Training of Church Elders: August 2010 at Khatla Presbyterian Training for church elders on Church Hall. In the forenoon session, ‘Pastoral Care and Counseling’ was Rev.Lalchungnunga presented a paper held at Synod Multipurpose Training on ‘Misuse of sex in heterosexuals” and Centre from the 1st to the 14th of Rev.Dr.Lawmsanga presented a paper September 2010. It was attended by on ‘Homosexuality’. The topic for the 17 church elders. This is the 13th afternoon session was ‘Eschatology: time such trainings were organized from the biblical perspective’ presented and in all, 249 elders had attended by Rev.Dr.K.Lallawmzuala and these training sessions. ‘Eschatology: from the doctrinal perspective’ presented by Synod Finance Meeting: Rev.Rosiamliana Tochhawng. The The 93rd Synod Finance meeting seminar was well attended by was held on the 2nd of September representatives from the churches within 2010. According to the secretary Aizawl and the presentations were all report, the amount received from followed by fruitful discussions. April to August was Rs 224,197,427/ - which is Rs 36,405,715 more than Media Ministry: the amount received during the same The synod Moderator, Rev. C. Chawngliana inaugurated a new media period last year. The amount spent ministry called ‘Susamachar so far is Rs284,629,412/- which is Prasaran”on the 31st of August 2010 at Rs 48,747,974 more than last year. Pi Zaii Hall. It is a TV programme in hindi language aimed at spreading the Children’s Sunday’s School gospel to the hindi speaking population Conference: of Aizawl. It will be broadcasted in the The Presbyterian Church local TV channel every Sunday evening Children’s Sunday’s School between 4.30 to 5.00 pm. Conference was held on the 12th of September 2010 throughout Mission Sunday: Mizoram. The Senior Department Mission Sunday was observed on meet was also held on the 19th of the 31st of August 2010.The theme September. This year there are 862 for this year is ‘I am not ashamed Sundays school, 38,967 teachers of the Gospel’(Rom1:16,17) which and 343,614 students under the was preached in all the churches. Presbyterian Church. JULY - SEPTEMBER 2010 PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW 6 Beihrual: Presbytery Meet: The month of September is often The Presbytery Meeting of the 40 known as ‘Beihrual Month’. Beihrual presbyteries of the Presbyterian is a month long programme, which Church Synod was held from the 7th th was initially practiced as a united effort to the 10 of October 2010. The to evangelize to any non- beleivers Moderator and the Executive within the area of the local church. Secretaries attended different As majority of the mizos became Presbyteries. Dividing into groups, the students of ATC also attended Christians, this tradition has been different Presbyteries. Many agendas carried on by the Synod in setting were discussed and passed in the programmes for every evening meetings out of which 55 agendas throughout the month. This year the were set aside to reach the Synod. topic for the first week is based on There are 63 applicants for Jesus commandments to spread the probationary Pastor, 176 church Good News to all nations. The next elders were ordained oh the sunday two weeks the focus was on morning service, the ordination of 16 education and the last week was elders were removed and a memorial observed as a Christian family week. service for 70 elders who had passed away in the preceeding year was held ATC student’s Examination: The during the Sunday afternoon service. examinations for BD and MTh students were held from the 21st of PWF Biennial Conference cum September to the 1st of October. Silver Jubilee: The Presbyterian Women Moderator Visits Mamit: Fellowship Biennial conference cum The Synod Moderator Silver Jubilee celebration was held Rev.C.Chawngliana visited Mamit, at Jaiaw Presbyterian Church, Shillong from the 20th to the 31st of a village where many families October 2010. 358 delegates from suffered huge loss of property due different PWF unit attended the to large deep cracks in the ground meeting. 99 delegates were from the on which their houses stood. He Mizoram Presbyterian church handed over a sum of Rs 2000 each Synod. The conference was also to all the affected families along with attended by Rev. Catrin Roberts other material needs of the hour. and her husband Rev.Ifan Rh JULY - SEPTEMBER 2010 PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW 7 Roberts from the Presbyterian Asst Secy -Mrs. G.P Pohshna church of Wales who preached on (KJP Synod Mihngi) the Sunday morning and afternoon Treasurer - Mrs.Rachelbon worship service respectively.