ISPCK re-dedicates to spreading Good News on tercentenary

The Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (ISPCK) on Friday celebrated its tercentenary with a thanksgiving and rededication service led by Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams.

President of the ISPCK, Rev. Purely Lyngdoh, greeted the guests and gave a welcome speech in which he thanked God for blessing the ministry for the last 300 years.

The commemorative service was joined by several pastors, bishops and church leaders of who included Archbishop of Delhi Vincent Concessao; Rev. Richard Howell of the Evangelical Fellowship of India; the CNI Bishop of Delhi, Rev. Sunil Singh and the general secretary of SPCK, UK, Simon Kingston.

The thanksgiving prayer was made by Rev. Dr. Karam Masih, chairperson of ISPCK. Masih prayed that the ministry will "continue to proclaim the Good News joyfully through printed words and the witness of lives".

In his sermon, the Archbishop of Canterbury, praised the works of ISPCK and said it promoted Christian life and discipleship.

"By translating Scriptures to the various languages in India, the ministry has incarnated the love of God and has brought glory to Him. It is a great task," he said, adding "the ministry has given voice to the minorities, the needy and the discriminated."

"ISPCK has its roots in the great vision of Thomas Bray and a group of friends who wanted the Good News to be spread in different languages. They began the work to incarnate the Word of God in different cultures," he informed.

In his exhortation, he urged ISPCK to continue its endeavour in making the "Good News become flesh and blood in a new context".

After the sermon, the Archbishop released a book that contained the history of SPCK's 300 years in India. A copy of the book was handed to Rev. Purely Lyngdoh and Praveena Balasubramaniam, the co-author.

Later, the ISPCK ministry was re-dedicated with the prayer led by Rev. PK Samantaroy, Bishop of Amritsar.

A civic evening followed the service with a cutting of the tercentenary cake and cultural performances by students of ISPCK Free School.