Many attend ICI youth conference
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 12 2016:
On April 6 last week, over 1000 North-Easterners headed to New Delhi to attend the 32nd general conference of the Youth Department of the Independent Church of India (ICI) held from April 8 – 10 at the National capital, setting a record of sorts for the most number of Hmar people travelling by train on the same day.
The Independent Church of India (ICI), headquartered at Sielmat, Churachandpur is one of the pioneers of Christianity among the Hmar tribe of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo community and also among various other tribes through its missionaries scattered all over the Northeast and outside, including Odisha, North India, Nepal, Bhutan, etc.
The recently concluded Youth Conference saw a gathering of over 2000 people at the auditorium of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi on its main day (Sunday), coming from all the NE States, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Shimla, etc and from neighbouring countries of Nepal and Bhutan.
Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Govt of India, who was chief guest of the day, delivered his greetings to the congregation, expressing his appreciation for the works of peace and humanity that the ICI has done in the land.
An intercessory prayer for the Minister was said by Rev Lalneikhup Hmar, secretary finance, ICI.
Rev Vijayesh Lal, general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) and prominent leaders of the ICI preached on the theme 'Unchanging word (of God) in a changing world' through the 3-day long conference.
Performances from the ICI Central Choir, Bhutan, Arunachal and North India mission fields and the ICI's Delhi Youth Wing were highlights of the conference.
Lalhmunmawi of Cachar, Assam won the coveted Rev Thangngur Award for her outstanding singing abilities while the Assam Hills Presbytery Choir of Dima Hasao, Assam were recipients of the Buonglienkung Award in the choir competition.
This year's Conference provided a one-time opportunity for many members of the Church living in the remotest parts of the Northeast to see their country's capital, "Even grandpas as old as 70 attended the Youth Conference", said David Hmar, who himself hails from Parbung, a small village in Manipur.
The business session of the Conference, chaired by the Rev Zothanghrim, Chairman of the Youth Department, declared 2017 as the 'Year of Unity'.
In his farewell speech, Rev HP Runremthang, youth secretary and coordinator, announced that the next general conference will be held next year at Churachandpur, Manipur.
A welcome home party for the delegates of the conference was held yesterday at Guwahati; another party for Lalhmunmawi, winner of the Rev Thangngur Award will follow today at Hmarkhawlien, Cachar, Assam.
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