The Bible has chronicled an instance of a 15 year extension of the life of Hezekiah through prayer as in 2 Kings 20:5&6.
The ideal Christian stance of an aged man and woman is drawn from the words of David in Proverbs 71:18 that says, " Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation.
The literal honouring of the Grand dads and grand moms took place at 4.00 pm. Out of the 15 aged people expected, 11 were able to make it to the 4 pm service arranged for the 65 plus Church members. They shared their testimony and perspectives of life.
1. Upa Biakvel (75)- father-in-law of Upa Thangkhosiam, is from a Presbyterian background responded to the honour with soft voice. He had set out from Mimbung village for medical treatment, never thought that he would need to proceed from Aizawl to Delhi on March 4, 2015. He attended every Church service (of EBCC Delhi) during his stay. In spite of his feeble qualification, he had been anointed elder/upa by the Church in the year 1994. He considered the day's honour as God's plan in his life.
2. As for Chingnu Ngaihte w/o Upa B. Langkham the honour conferred by the Church's governing board is a precursor of the honour beckoning her in Heaven. She'd been through much difficult times conceiving, delivering and raising children. She was emotional about the period between the years 1985 and 1988 which according to her was a period of perforation scare threatening a possible surgery in her body. She prayed along with a pastor and two friends. She had experienced many miracles. Over her prayer for granting 50 years of life, she had just turned 65 !! That testifies to God's love and grace shown to her. Living apart from her husband due to his work demands, she made the best use of her time. In fact she is instrumental in the relentless publication and circulation of Ruth Messenger and got various books written in English published in vernacular language.
She had trespassed God's command many a times which got overlooked by God as many times. Her spiritual life is aptly summed up by Lun Thomte's gospel song, 'Jesu Nang vang in', the chorus of which loosely translated goes like this-
How great is the love of My Lord, His love for a sinner like me so deep and high, condemned to die, yet His love, Suffered Him death upon the Cross for me.
3. Pastor retired Thanglian f/o Linda T. Pauli, is leaving Delhi for Manipur in a short while. Hopes that he'd be heading heavenwards therefrom. For 21 years his father had served the Lord. He read his father's biographies. He heard a call- won't you continue the legacy, which he responded in a positive way. He warned Christians about the danger of joining the ministry without full baked commitment. The strength to challenge the sheep/parishioners with the attitude of , '... me and my household will serve the Lord' as found in Joshua 24:15 is of utmost necessity.
The self taught, Government school educated man was sent to Mualnuam village for a paltry pay of INR 40/- per month wherein he happened to cause the wrath of the village chief's cabinet. Consequently he was summoned by Dorcas Hall (the headquarters of the Church) located in Lamka and advised to ignore social work and concentrate only on his teaching job. From being a teacher he was sent for a full time ministry. At the height of his service as a pastor, he looked after 29 villages from his station at Songtal and later sobered down to a single parish of Lamkatung. God saved so many lost souls through him.
The retired Pastor said that transfer and postings within the Church should be understood as God's dispensation. Even with a questionable fluency in Mizo language he served at Aizawl as local pastor post retirement 2004. He never regret his commitment in life. It had always been his maxim that " whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord and not unto men". He warned about the tendency to doubt the genuineness of the Holy Bible in a modern society which underscores the need of good and highly educated people in the Ministry.
4. Donzaching m/o Chingkhojam was short and crisp in acknowledging the good work done by God through the Church. She sang, 'Lord I'll hold your hand and walk with you without murmuring'
5. Upa Daizapau f/o Biaka of Safdarjung Enclave, was emotional over how he'd utilize his remaining years. He counseled that one should always surrender one's life to the Almighty God.
6. Khamkhochiin m/o Mami, came from the tough life of Bukpi village. She was overjoyed to be honoured by the Church.
7. Thangmuan Khuptong f/o Thuamzalal exclaimed Ebenezer! In fact he was hardly educated but always attended the Church as a child. He still remembered some of the Church elders say that the offering collected on sundays was for the heathen (gammial).
7. V. Dongzathang IRS (retired) f/o L/Upa Vumlunmang, saying that the best appetizer is hunger, reminds the congregation in lighter veins, about the tea and snacks awaiting. He was proud of his 65+ year, claimed that age is something no one can extort from you. Heroes are remembered with epitaphs. In making one such epitaph, the artists and relatives of the expired recalled an instance wherein the man was spotted sitting in the front row of the Church. The 65+ also related a story about an illiterate man who was fired from his job in the Church and went on to become a cigarette tycoon. Asked what would he have been had he been educated, the cigarette tycoon replied that he would be a Church janitor!
8. Upa Chalau, f/o Mungte, thanked God and the Church's governing board (TBSUC) for the honour given to him.
9. Upa B. Langkham prayed the previous night so that he wouldn't sound boring at the honouring ceremony. He was still delirious about the fact that that the revival in Wales (UK) happened to infect Manipur hills through Mizoram, an undeniable evidence that God had chosen the tribe of Paite, who, unlike other scheduled tribes, are hardly represented in any legislative body. Even at the moment of such a poor show in law making platforms, generations of useful officers are dotting the administrative offices of Indian Government. One of the most successful doctors in the country, he still remembered his extremely precarious health condition while being in high school. So he was in a why me Lord? mode as he intensively praised God. He winded up his speech with a counsel that every one ought to receive the love of God. Nothing else matters !
Pastor V. Nenglian announced that:
1. In class X and XII the following had inadvertently been left out in the Gamchiam vol XVII/No. 05 dated May 31, 2015: Ms Manthianhoih d/o Thianzalal; and Hau Joseph s/o Thangsiam.
2. BYF Summer Retreat at Sattal is being organised from 24 to 27 June, 2015 where 3 buses are likely to be deployed
3. Wedding Ceremony scheduled to take place at EBCC Hebron Church, New Lamka on 21 June, 2015, every one invited.
4. BSI Certificate was handed over to Vanlallian Valte at 11 am worship service
Brochure 2015 (hard copy)may be obtained
5. His family outing from June 4-23 to visit Gawahati and Shillong
-----------------------------
By- Lianpu Tonsing
i/c, Media Team
i/c, Media Team
