Manipur Baptist Convention convened a meeting of all the 29 associations under the MBC at Guwahati during August 19 to 22.
Dimapur, August 23 (MExN): The Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC) convened a meeting of all the 29 associations under the MBC at Guwahati during August 19 to 22. This was the first meeting where all the major groups including Kuki-Zo, Meitei and Naga were together since conflict erupted in Manipur on May 3, 2023, stated a press release issued by MBC General Secretary, Rev K Losü Mao.
The meeting was facilitated by the Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India (CBCNEI) at their head office in Guwahati and chaired by Rev Mathotmi Vasha, President, MBC. In total, about 60 participants from all the associations attended the meeting. Each Association was represented by the respective Executive Secretary and accompanied by another Cabinet Secretary.
On the first day, reading from Ephesians 4: 5&6 that emphasizes the “unity of Christ-followers,” Rev K Losü Mao exhorted that “they are bounded together in Lord Jesus Christ as one family irrespective of all the socio-political turmoil and troubles ravaging the Manipur State currently.”
In his opening remarks, the Reverend stated that the sole purpose of their gathering was to listen to grieves, pains and sorrows of one another brought about by this human-made disaster. “When one part of the human body is injured, the whole body is affected. Likewise, when one community is affected, the whole Manipur Baptist Convention is in deep groaning,” he said. Therefore, the sole purpose of the meeting was to immerse in the pains and sorrows of one another and to seek God’s mercy.
CBCNEI, General Secretary, Rev Dr Akheto Sumi led the devotionals and reflected from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians in the Bible: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
He encouraged the participating church leaders from various ethnic communities across the Manipur State that “even when we are bogged down in the depths of despair, we can look up to God who lifts us up.”
The participants from various communities shared their “stories of the pains, sorrows and persecutions” they have been undergoing due to the social strife. It was highlighted that many of the Associations including the Chongthu Baptist Churches Association, Kuki Baptist Convention, Meitei Baptist Association, and Vaiphei Baptist Churches Association are unable to function properly or being functioning in temporary locations currently, besides personal losses and destruction of local church buildings and properties.
“Despite all these pains, troubles and hardships, the participants pledged that they remain united as one in Christ irrespective of whatever is going on in the State and to continue to uphold each other through prayers and also through any physical and material assistances to one another,” the release stated.
The gathering concluded with prayers for peace and justice to prevail in the country and across all ethnic communities.
