Southern Mizoram churches to celebrate Gospel Centenary

Churches in Southern part of Mizoram state in North east India are preparing to welcome the 100th year of gospel to their land. The preparation is going on in full swing. Their Northern counterparts – The Presbyterian Church of Mizoram and Baptist Church of Mizoram have all celebrated their Gospel Centenary before the year 2000.

The Churches in Maraland are founded by British Missionaries Rev. & Mrs. Reginal Arthur Lorrain from London, UK who arrived on September 26, 1907 at Saikao (also known as Serkawr) town in the Southern–most tip of Mizoram to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ among Mara people (also known to outsiders as Lakher). They came to pioneer the gospel among Mara people under the banner of 'Lakher Pioneer Mission' which the Reverend founded two years earlier in 1905 in London.

The Church established by the Pioneer Missionaries was called an Independent Church of Maraland. The Church had to split into two due to India's partition in 1947. Half of the Church falls under the new country – Burma (today known as Myanmar), and the rest under India. The Churches east of River Kaladan became Mara Evangelical Church (Myanmar) and West of the River Kaladan inherited the old name, which was further splitted into two – Mara Evangelical Church of Maraland (India) and Congregational Church of India (Maraland) when different opinion arise due to shifting of mission headquarters, change of name of the denomination, etc.

Mara people are one of the most fierce tribes in the region, known to Arakanese in South–western Burma (Myanmar) as Shendus. They were once the head–hunter in the region. They inhabit one of the most rugged mountains in the region; West to the Blue Mountain (also known as Phawngpui). When the British govern most part of India before partition (including today's Bangladesh and Myanmar), it took more time to govern these fierce tribe who are sandwiched between today's India and Myanmar.

The Pioneer missionaries made alphabets for them. These written ABCs are derived from English alphabets with few accents like acute and obtuse accent in French. Within few years the Missionaries started translating the book of Matthew into the local language which proved pivotal for the growth of Christianity in among Mara people. Today, these people are 100 percent Christians. Many educated people are coming out from these Christians like their Christians counterparts in other parts of the country.

In order to celebrate this historical event in a unified body, Maraland Gospel Centenary Committee was formed and the Committee Secretary Rev. Dr. M. Zakonia issued a statement, stating, "The Maraland Gospel Centenary Committee has extended an invitation to all the kith and kin of the missionaries in any parts of the world to come and celebrate this historical moment with us."

According to Maraland Gospel Centenary Committee, the grand celebration to mark the 100th year of Gospel to the land is scheduled into three phases, the first phase will be held on 26th September 2007 and it expected to last for about 3 days. The first phase of celebration will be observed at Saikao village – the Pioneer Missionaries' first Mission Headquarters and also all the Churches are expected to celebrate the occasion in their own Churches. Saikao is also the current Headquarters of Congregational Churches of India (Maraland).

The second phase of Celebration will be held in early November 2007 at Siaha (Saiha) town, the Headquarters of Evangelical Church of Maraland (India), this phase will last for about 10 days.

The third phase will be held at Sabyhpi, one of the Headquarters of Mara Evangelical Church (Myanmar) around the third week of November 2007.

The theme of the Gospel Centenary Celebration will be, "The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy," taken from Psalm 126:3.

As a part of the preparation of the event, Women and Youth fellowship have been marketing specially designed Gospel Centenary neckties, hats made from bamboo, shawls, etc. Maraland Gospel Centenary Choir is expected to grace all the functions with hit choruses including Halleluiah Chorus.

To celebrate this historical event Mara people and their friends in different parts of the world are expected to join them.

For further information, The Committee Secretary can be contacted at the following address:

Rev. Dr. M. Zakonia
Secretary
Maraland Gospel Centenary Committee
E.C.M, Hqrs, Office Siaha
P.O. Siaha – 796901
Mizoram, INDIA

Phones : +91–3835–222071/226114.
Mobile Phone: +91–94363 79294.
E–mail: zakonia_2006@yahoo.co.in

Notes:
1. Restriction are in place for entry of Foreigners to visit some place in Mizoram. Restricted Area Permits for Foreigners can be obtained from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners' Regional Registration Offices (FRRO) and Immigration offices at Airports at New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chief Immigration Officer, Chennai apart from All Indian Missions Overseas, I.G.Police or Home Commissioners of all the above mentioned states.

Foreign Tourists will be allowed to visit the above places for a maximum period of 10 days and in groups of 4 or more persons. However, married couples can be allowed.

2. For Indians (domestic tourists) to enter Mizoram state one needs to obtain Inner Line Permit (ILP) as the state is under Restricted Area. However, for the purpose of the Gospel Centenary Celebration a Temporary ILP can be easily obtained at Aizawl Lengpui Airport on arrival from Kolkata (Calcutta) or from any other cities in North east.

Fees and documents required: 3 copies of Passport size photograph, Rs. 20/– for Application form and another Rs. 120/– for Processing fee.

Should you have any problem with Restricted Area permit, kindly contact The Secretary of the Gospel Centenary Celebration Committee.

3. Evangelical Church of Maraland (India) and Congregational Church of India (Maraland) are members of World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC), India Evangelical Mission (IEM) and partners of Bible Society of India, World Vision India, etc.

For further information, please visit:
1). www.maralandgospel.com
2). Mizoram state website for Entry Formality (http://mizoram.nic.in/more/entry.htm)
3). Gospel Centenary Celebration Invitation