Southern Manipur Missionary Day : May 7

*Missionary Day chibai! Manipur Simlam gam ah Christian masapen Pu Thangkai leh Pu Lungpau-te jana sângpên i piau a hi. Amau ziak in mi tamtak in kumtuang hinna I nei khawlaw u a hi.* 

*BLESSED MISSIONARY DAY*

Christian missionaries first reached Manipur in 1894. William Pettigrew, an Anglican missionary, arrived in Imphal on February 6, 1894, with the intention of spreading Christianity. He initially faced restrictions on preaching and began teaching the children of government officials. He later established a school and mission center in Imphal and subsequently worked in the hills of Manipur. 

*How May 7 came to be Observed as Missionary Day?*

In Manipur Christianity made its entrance through two routes. One is through the Northern Route and pioneered by William Pettigrew an Arthington Aborigines Mission arriving at Imphal on February 6, 1894. He later joined with the Baptist Mission and that is why most churches in the North have Baptist background. Christianity made its first entrance in the district of Churachandpur from the neighboring Mizoram state in 1910. Watkin R. Roberts, a young missionary from Wales, who had come to help Dr. P Fraser a Missionary at Aizawl, Mizoram, became the man who was instrumental in bringing Christianity to the people of Churachandpur district.

The Gospel of John which was translated into Lushai dialect had been distributed among the people for evangelistic purpose, and copies of the booklet were also circulated to the chiefs of the villages. Kamkholun Singson, Chief of Senvon also received one such copy and could not understand its contents. He wrote back to the senders inviting them to come and explain the booklet. On receiving the invitation to explain the Gospel, Watkin Roberts accompanied by two of their supported students from Manipur, Thangkhai Vaiphei and Lungpau Vaiphei , came to meet Kamkholun Singson the chief of Senvon, a Thadou-Kuki village to explain the Gospel to him and the Villagers. That was in early 1910 and no explicit record of the particular date has been found.

On their way back at Vervek village in Mizoram, his companions Thangkai and Lungpau decided to become Christians and received their baptism. Once the team was back in Aijawl, Dr. P. Fraser and Watkin R. Roberts went into immediate preparation to send missionaries to Senvon village. They sent a telegraph message to the Political Agent in Manipur Lt. Major Cole requesting him permission to send their men into Manipur. As soon as an affirmative reply was received, they asked for volunteers among their supported students and three persons- Savawma, Vanzika and Thangchhingpuia (known as Taitea)- came forward to work among the people of Manipur South.

Within three months after their initial visit these three young men were sent to work among the people of Senvon. They left Aijawl and after a few days crossed the Tuivai river at Rahnamchhuah. There were some Meitei people cutting bamboo who helped them crossed the river by their small boats. After being transported to the other side of the river, the Missionary trio spent a few minutes in prayer, committing themselves afresh for the task that is before them. They sang a “O God we thank you for your Gospel” and after giving thanks to God in prayer they proceeded and entered the village called Senvon to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The day was May 7, 1910 and this day has been observed as Missionary Day by the churches for the last fifty years now.

In fact, the observation of May 7 as a Missionary Day was started by some local churches in and around Senvon village during the mid nineteen twenties. As more local churches began observing this day, the Leaders’ Conference of the North East India General Mission adopted a resolution in 1960 to observe this Day as a Missionary Day by all churches. This decision was well accepted by the general Christian population that even those outside of the NEIGM churches have also been observing this Day. Now, it is not only the churches observing May 7 as a Missionary Day.

The first Mission founded by Walkin Robert at Senvon was known as the Thadou Kuki Pioneer Mission. Christianity spread so fast that it took only a few years to spread across the whole of Manipur South hill region. The first Annual Conference was held at Senvon (under the Chiefship of Pu. Kamkholun Singson) on 26th December, 1914. The number of believers increased every day and after five years the number of believers reached 1000. As the number of believers increased there was a need to set up a sub-centre. The first sub-centre was set up in 1911 at Khopibung village (under the chiefship of Pu Bungkhothang Sitkil/ Singson) in Churachandpur.

In 1924, the gospel reached almost every nook and corner of Manipur southern hill. The Thadou Kuki Pioneer Mission was changed to Northeast India General Mission (NEIGM). For better administration and communication the headquarter of the Mission was shifted from Senvon to Lakhimpur. As the number of believers further increased, the need arose for a Bible School to teach Bible course to new believers. Rev. Paul Rostad and his wife Ella Rostad reached Lakhimpur on 9th March, 1928 to start the school. Rev Paul Rostad graduated from Moody Bible Institution, Chicago USA. Moody Bible Institution is an evangelical dispensationalist college where the doctrines of the Bible are taught. Rev Paul and his wife established a Bible college at Lakhimpur and the Bible college was named after the pioneer missionary “Dinwidie” as "Dinwidie Bible School”. Many Singsit pioneers have graduated from this Bible school.  Pu S.T. Henpu and Pastor Tongkhokai Singson are among the first Bible students from the Thadou tribe.

In the year 1930, the mission headquarter was shifted again from Lakhimpur to Churachandpur. In 1967, Rev Khupjapao Singson became the first General Secretary among the indigenous people. Rev K. Singson was the first to graduate B.D. (Bachalor of Divinity) from the Thadou tribe. Tragically, he met with an accident and died in 1979. His premature death was a great loss for the Singsit as well as the NEIGM.

STAY BLESSED 🙏

~ WKZIC

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