Baptist Church of Mizoram

Baptist Church of Mizoram
Baptist Church of Mizoram
Classification	Mainline, Evangelicalism
Orientation	Baptist
President	Rev. Dr. K.Lalrinthanga
Headquarters	Baptist Church of Mizoram Office, Serkawn, Lunglei, India
Origin	11 January 1894 ; Mizoram, India
Members	1,69,854 (as on 2020 Assembly Report)
Official website	mizobaptist.org

Baptist Church of Mizoram is the second biggest church in Mizoram after the Mizoram Presbyterian Church Synod. As of 2020, BCM has 1,69,854 members in 663 local churches along with 148 Pastors and 3,304 Elders in 85 Pastorates and 15 Area Baptist Councils.^[1]

History

The church was founded by Baptist English missionaries, Rev. James Herbert Lorrain (Pu Buanga) and Rev. Frederick William Savidge (Sap Upa) in 1894. It's headquarter is at Serkawn, a missionary station and locality in Lunglei city, the second largest city in Mizoram, a minor part of India bordering Myanmar.

Rev. R.A. Lorrain, younger brother of Rev. J.H. Lorrain and founder of the Evangelical Church of Maraland (est. 1907), was the first pioneering missionary to the Mara people in the southernmost part of Mizoram state, completing the task of evangelizing the people of the whole state - Presbyterians in the north, Baptists in the middle and Evangelicals in the south.

Organization and structure

Assembly

Assembly is the highest table of the organisation. Assembly Meeting is held annualy which will be called by the General Secretary and the President shall be the Chairman of the Meeting. Several representatives from Area Level and selected representatives from other church organisations may attend the meeting for better diplomacy among religion based organisations.

Area Level

Area Level Meeting is the second highest table in the organisation. Serveral Pastorate (Bial in Mizo) ranging from 3 to 10 are supervised from the Area Level Table. The Area Level is headed by an Executive Secretary or Pastors elected to be the Chaiman of the Level. Every Area is affiliated to the Assembly.

Pastorate

A pastorate consist between 3 to 10 local churches. The pastorate is headed by a Designated and Qualified Pastor. The Pastorate level has separate Fellowship Organisation Departments in it's own level. Every Pastorate is affiliated to Area Level.

Local Churches

Local churches have their own church in their respective locality. The leaders of the Local Church are elected every 2 years (1 year for Chairman) from Church Elders. Every church is affiliated to Pastorate.

List of Organisational Heads

Name of Post	Name	Education	Office
President	Rev. Dr. K. Lalrinthanga	B.A., B.D., MTh., PhD	BCM Hqrs., Lunglei
President Elect	Rev. Dr. V. Laldingliana	B.A (Hons), B.D., D.Min	BCM Hqrs., Lunglei
General Secretary	Rev. F. Ramdinmawia	BTh., B.D	BCM Hqrs. Lunglei
Associate General Secretary i/c Mission	Rev. Dr. C. Vanlaldika	B.A., B.D., MTh., Ph.D	BCM Hqrs. Lunglei
Associate General Secretary i/c Service	Rev. R. Lalbiakliana	B.A., B.D.	BCM Hqrs. Lunglei
Executive Secretary Aizawl Area	Rev. Dr.R. Lalthanmawia	B.D., MTh., DTh.	Baptist House, M.G.Road, Upper Khatla, Aizawl
Executive Secretary Lawngtlai Area	Rev. R. Lalnunzira	B.A., B.D., MTh.	Baptist House. Lawngtlai

Head of Departments and Institutions Lists

Sl No.	Name	Designation
1.	Rev. Z.D. Rodingliana	Director, Christian Education Department
2.	Rev. Dr. Lalzarliana	Director, Communications Department
3.	Rev. L. Vanlalsanga	Director, Education Department
4.	Rev. F. Ramdinmawia	Organiser, F.O.D
5.	Rev. Sangliankhuma Chinzah	Director, Social Concerns Deptt.
6.	Rev. Lalremsiama Ralte	Director, Worship & Music Deptt.
7.	Rev. Lalramngheta Ralte	Finance Director
8.	Rev. R. Lalbiakliana	GM, Literature & Printing
9.	Rev. Dr. Vanlalchhawna Khiangte	Principal, AICS
10.	Dr. Lalramzauva	Superintendant, Medical Deptt.
11.	Pu Lalrinawma	Director, Relief & Development
12.	Rev. C. Chhuntluanga	Co-ordinator, Pastoral Ministries
13.	Rev. R. Lalthangliana	Co-ordinator, Mission
14.	Pu Lalruatkima	Administrative Officer
15.	Pu. V. Vuansanga	Principal, HATIM
16.	Pi Vanlalthlengliani	Principal, Nursing School
17.	Pu R. Zosangliana	Principal, BHSS
18.	Rev. R. Lalrinliana	Manager, BLS

Institutions

The Baptist Church of Mizoram operates the following:

Academy of Integrated Christian Studies (AICS)

The Academy of Integrated Christian Studies (AICS) is a BD Level theological institution established by the Baptist Church of Mizoram in 2000 under the leadership of Prof. Dr. R.L.Hnuni. This institution offers several programs such as Theological Training, Missionary Training, Ministerial Training, Music Training and Research and Development. The institution is located in Shekina Hill, P.O. Box – 80, Aizawl – 796001 Mizoram

Baptist Higher Secondary School (BHSS)

Baptist Higher Secondary School is a school owned by Baptist Church of Mizoram. The school enrolls students for Secondary and Higher Secondary levels. The current Principal of Baptist Higher Secondary School is Pu. R. Zosangliana. The current Vice Principal is Pu. R.Lalneihthanga.

The school has three hostels, one for Junior section, the Girls’ hostel and one for the boys. The over all administration is run by the Principal with the help of the two Vice Principals. The over all strength of the staff is around 80 in number. The school's motto is "The Utmost for the Highest".

Baptist Church of Mizoram expanded the school into lower classes including Nursery to Middle Schools by merging with co-existing school called Baptist English School , thus, from 2005 it is known asBaptist Higher Secondary School Junior Section. It enrolls a number of 1,070 students in the 2019-20 Academic Session with 43 Teaching Staffs. The current Vice Principal for Baptist Higher Secondary School Junior Section is Pu. Z.D. Lalnunmawia.

Higher and Technical Institute of Mizoram (HATIM)

Courses offered by the institution are as follows:

Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA)
Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com)
Bachelor of Arts in English (BA)
Bachelor of Social Works (BSW)
Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Mass Communication and Journalism

HATIM also established Skill Training programme courses as under:

Agriculture (Sloping Agriculture Land Technology)
Horticulture
Tailoring
Carpentry
Electrical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Computer Applications
Electronics
Plumbing
Bamboo processing
Leather processing
Secretarial training
Beautician
Hairdressing
Cottage Industry
Entrepreneurship

The budget for infrastructure development, recruitment of new staff and establishment and running of the courses is INR 20,000,000 ($ 262,174 USD) ^[2]

The current principal of the institution is Pu. V. Vuansanga

Hospitals

Baptist Church of Mizoram currently runs two (2) Hospitals, Christian Hospital Serkawn at Serkawn and Christian Hospital Lawngtlai at Lawngtlai.

A brief History of Christian Hospitals in Mizoram

Medical work at Christian Hospital Serkawn was started in 1919, with the arrival of Miss E.O. Dicks (Pi Dawki) seconded by the Baptist Missionary Society (BMS), London who started a dispensary, in the bungalow she occupied. Soon a need was felt to have a separate building. Rev. W.J.L. Wenger supervised the construction of the first building with timbers and C.I. sheets roofing. ^[3] The building was ready for occupancy on 10th February, 1923. Initially the Hospital was meant for women and children with a capacity of 30 beds. There was hardly any other healthcare centre around Lunglei or for that matter in the whole of Southern Mizoram. The centre turned out to be a busy centre. Patients came from far-flung interior, roads being mule-tracks only and some patients were brought in bamboo-stretchers by volunteers.

In the intervening years, doctors and nurses from the nearest BMS Hospital at Chandraghuna, Bangladesh (formerly East Bengal before the partition) came to cater for the needs for surgical treatment as well as Gynaecology and Obstetrics, etc. During it's early days, temporary hutments were made close to the Hospital as the patients and their families attended the clinic as long as the services of the doctors and nurses were available to them. Bereft of a resident doctor, the Hospital and its administration were the responsibilities of the BMS Missionary nurses who, ably looked after the basic healthcare of the community.

In 1957, the BMS deputed Dr. H.G. Stockley (Dr Zomuana) and his wife who was also experienced with health-care, came to be the first resident doctor to serve the community at Serkawn. They were sent as BMS Missionaries to mainland China but political turmoil saw a direction of their services were recalled in Mizoram. The main speciality of Dr. Stockley was in "Eye Department", for which he made acquired a good reputation amongst the public. He and his wife with their engaging personalities endeared themselves extremely well with community. He was assisted by the late Sister Romawii whose service was requisitioned from the Jorhat Christian Hospital, Assam where she did her training in GNM. Dr. Stockley left the Hospital in 1963 as the Central government pronounced a new policy not to entertain foreigners any further in Mizoram declaring the areas politically sensitive. The Medical Board decided to start a training school for Nursing and this very important component was started in 1952, with a course in Auxiliary Nurse Mid-wifery (ANM) with the help of Miss E.M. Maltby (Pi Zohnuni), who was then the Nursing Superintendent. Over the years many students have been trained in ANM whose services are in constant demand by the Hospital as well as by the State government. The benefit of training students in ANM is also a boon to the Hospital in meeting staff requirements. The ANM School is now upgraded to Train students in General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) in accordance with the policy of the Indian Nursing Council, New Delhi.

Mission (Beginning)

The year 1968 had remarkable significance for the Baptist Church of Mizoram. In that year, the Baptist Missionary Society (BMS), after working for almost 65 years, decided to withdraw their mission work in south of Mizoram due to the Indian Government's rejection of their permission to stay longer in Mizoram. In the same year that the BMS decided to withdraw their mission work, the ZBM also sent Rev H. Rokhama as the first cross-culture missionary outside Mizoram. Moreover, on 18 January 1968, Rev C.L.Hminga was appointed as the first full-time ZBM Secretary, and the ZBM had also organized its own office in a separate building. From this time onward, until the Assembly of BCM decided to form a new structure, all the office works of the ZBM was conducted from this office.

A Concise Account of Mission Department

A concise account of the BCM Mission works, as it stands for 46 years (1966 – 2012) from the inception of the BCM Mission Department as the Zoram Baptist Mission, can be made as follows:

Missionary Personnel

ZBM started cross-culture missionary work, employing only two full-time missionaries in 1939. Now, (in 2012) BCM Mission Committee has more than 800 mission workers including missionaries.

Mission Fields and Stations

BCM Mission Committee has 23 mission fields including mission stations in different parts of India and works in partnership with other mission agencies outside India.

Mission Fund

The ZBM (as its previous name) had only Rs. 12.50p (Rupees twelve and fifty paisa) in its initial stage. Now the BCM Mission budget of 2012 - 2013 has grown to Rs.11, 79, 78,000.00(Rupees eleven crore seventy-nine lakhs and seventy-eight thousand).

Churches

BCM Mission Committee has established more than 1436 local churches and 25 preaching stations among different tribes and people groups.

Believers

BCM Mission Committee has roughly 1,81,768 believers in different mission fields and mission stations.

Schools and Students

At present Mission Committee runs 54 mission schools within and outside Mizoram, of which 10 are High Schools, 5 Middle Schools, 39 Primary Schools and having around 6500 students.

Affiliates/Association

BCM is a member of the Baptist World Alliance, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, and an active member of the BMS World Mission.

Statistics

Overall Statistics

Important statistics of Baptist Church of Mizoram according to the Assembly minutes as of 2020:^[4]

Sl. No.	Particulars	FY 2018-19	FY 2019-20	Difference
1.	Local Churches	677	663	-14
2.	Family	36242	36338	96
3.	Members	173373	169854	-3519
4.	Baptized Members	122284	122072	-212
5.	No. of New Members (Incl. New born babies; Conversion from other Religion; etc)	5569	5126	-443
6.	Loss of Members (Incl. Deceased; Joining other denomination; etc.)	1793	2549	756
7.	Ministers in Active Service	154	148	-6
8.	Pensioned Ministers still alive	39	39	0
9.	Probationary Pastors	27	18	-9
10.	Church Elders (Upa)	3229	3304	75
11.	Church Elders (Rawngbawltu)	4150	4105	-45
12.	Pastorates	85	85	0
13.	Area Baptist Councils	15	15	0
14.	BKHP Members	33746	35364	1618
15.	TKP Members	47372	48791	1419
16.	BMP Members	15684	15100	-584
17.	KNP Members	33427	33384	-43
18.	Mission Fields and Stations	24	24	0
19.	Mission Partners	29	29	0
20.	Foreign Mission Partners	9	9	0
21.	Missionaries	1001	1001	0
22.	Local Workers	296	298	0
23.	Total of Sl. 21 & 22	1297	1299	2

Area wise, Bru Baptist Church, Chakma Baptist Church and Non-Mizo Statistics

Statistics in Area wise, Bru Baptist Church, Chakma Baptist Church and Non-Mizo according to the Assembly Minutes of 2020 are as follows:

Particulars	Aizawl Area	Lunglei Area	Lawngtlai Area	Bru Baptist Church	Non-Mizo	Chakma Baptist Church	Total
No. of Churches	192	187	91	104	18	71	663
No. of Families	8836	17661	5087	3196	258	1300	36338
No. of Male members	18431	41000	12521	9002	501	3356	84811
No. of Female members	19282	42684	12391	7333	373	2874	84937
Total No. of members	37713	83684	24912	16441	874	6230	169854
No. of Pro pastors	8	5	6	3	0	3	81
No. of Church Elders (Upa)	831	1498	533	347	2	93	3304
No. of Junior Church Elders (Rawngbawltu)	1005	1518	653	483	68	378	4105

Pie Chart of Area wise members

Area wise members as of 2020.

Lunglei Area (49.26%)

Aizawl Area (22.20%)

Lawngtlai Area (14.66%)

Bru Baptist Church (9.67%)

Chakma Baptist Church (3.66%)

Non-Mizo (0.51%)

References

External links

http://www.mizobaptist.org/ official site of the Mizoram Baptist Church
https://web.archive.org/web/20090528091826/http://www.mtkp.org/ official site of the Mizoram Baptist Youth Fellowship
A brief history of Pioneered Churches in Mizoram
Baptist World Alliance Member bodies

[1] www.mizobaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/BCM-Assembly-2018-Minute.pdf

[2] ttps://www.mizobaptist.org/hatim-5/

[3] ttp://www.mizobaptist.org/hospital/

[4] www.mizobaptist.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/BCM-Statistics-2013-2014.pdf

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]