India Missions Association conclave concludes

Delegates at the annual general meeting-cum-India Missions Summit of the India Missions Association held at Ao Baptist Church Diphupar, Dimapur from August 31 to September 2.
 

‘For such a time as this our response is not to be reactionary’

  Morung Express News Dimapur | September 2   The annual general meeting-cum-India Missions Summit of the India Missions Association (IMA) concluded today. The conclave, which started on August 31, was the 41st summit of the IMA and was hosted by the Ao Baptist Church Diphupar (ABCD), Dimapur.   Around a hundred delegates representing indigenous missions-based organisations in India participated. The 3-day long conclave was held under the theme ‘For such a time as this’.   With a membership base of 261 organisations from all over the country, this was the first time in the history of the IMA that a church has organised such an annual summit, informed IMA General Secretary Wati Longkumer.   Interacting with a section of the media today, Longkumer said that the summit and its theme gains significance in the backdrop of growing religious intolerance in the country. He said that going by the present socio-political scenario in the country, a rise in anti-Christian sentiments is being witnessed.   “As Christians, what should be our response? Our response is not to be reactionary but rather to introspect and respond in prayer,” he said. He added that the situation only calls for Christians to become one and stronger instead of reacting negatively.   ‘Persecution issues’ was the topic of a plenary session held today. General Secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India Rev. Vijayesh Lal, who is also the convenor of the Religious Liberty Commission and Advocate Balakrishnan of the Alliance Defending Freedom were the resource persons. Rev. Moses Parmar of the IMA was the moderator.   Greater synergy among the faithful formed the basis of another session themed ‘Exploring ways for a synergised witness’. Pastor Paul Radhakrishnan of Mahamian Ministry and Rev. Shaik Perez of Vision 5:9 helmed this session.   The conclave concluded with an evening session – Celebration of Missions – with ‘For such a time as this’ as the topic. Dr. Prabhu Singh, a faculty member of the South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies, Bangalore was the main speaker.